MIAMIYOGA miamiyogamagazine.com
Asana How to Kathryn Budig Explains Side Crow
fall 2013
Teacher Feature
Tim Feldmann
Healthy Eats The Special Review & A Sweet Recipe
The Power of Ashtanga Yoga Book Review
Studio Feature Bala Vinyasa Yoga Miami
Living in the World but not of the World
Certified Ashtanga Yoga Teacher, Mark Robberds
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Nikki Myers: Healing through Yoga
miami life center 736 sixth street, miami beach,  33139 305.534.8988 miamilifecenter.com
miami life center 736 6th Street, Miami Beach, Fl 33139 miamilifecenter.com 305.534.8988
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
August 30, 2013 - September 01, 2013 Certified Ashtanga Teacher Mark Robberds from Australia!
September 06, 2013 - September 08, 2013 Yoga of 12 Step Recovery Leadership Training with Nikki Meyers
September 21, 2013 - October 02, 2013 Sacred Wisdom for Transformation in Guatemala with Lorraine Meyer Location: Guatemala, Central America
September 29, 2013 - October 04, 2013 SOLD OUT! One Week Course with Kino & Tim
October 19, 2013 - October 25, 2013 Second Series Ashtanga Yoga: 7 Day Adjustment & Practice Workshop with Kino MacGregor & Tim Feldmann
October 31, 2013 - November 03, 2013 FL Yoga Journal Conference with Kino MacGregor & Matt Tashjian Location: Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, FL
November 08, 2013 - November 10, 2013 Ashtanga Yoga Weekend with Eddie Stern • DO NOT MISS!
December 13, 2013 - December 15, 2013 Ashtanga Yoga Weekend with Greg Nardi
January 19, 2014 - July 31, 2013 Yoga Goa, Purple Valley Retreat with Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann Location: Purple Valley Retreat Goa, India
March 3 - 28, 2014 One month teacher training. 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certification
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MIAMIYOGA miamiyogamagazine.com
Editor in Chief Kino MacGregor
Letter from the Editor
Layout Design/Art Direction Annette Gonzalez
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Editorial Contributors
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Studio Feature Bala Vinyasa Yoga
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Asana How To Side Crow
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Unity Through Yoga Dawn B. Feinber’s YogArt
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The Funnies
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The Brainwashing Cult of Meditation
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Teacher Feature Tim Feldmann
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Book Review The Power of Ashtanga Yoga
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Healing through Yoga Excerpt from “Namaste Muthaf$#ka”
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Healthy Eats Restaurant Review
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Healthy Eats Recipe
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The Photo Session Anais Benoudiz Photography
Kino MacGregor Christina Algeciras Kathryn Budig Dawn B. Feinberg R. Nikki Myers Mark Robberds Angelique Sandas Tayler Alexis Smith
Photo Contributors Anais Benoudiz | anaisbenoudiz.com Kristie Kahns | kristiekahns.com John Miller | eyecbeauty.com Dragi Stankovich | grdotija@yahoo.com
Advertising Contacts
Tayler Alexis Smith info@miamiyogamagazine.com
Editorial Comments/Questions 305-534-0000 info@miamiyogamagazine.com
Cover: Tim Feldmann Photography: John Miller Miami, FL.
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Contents King Janaka: Living in the World but Not of the World
MIAMIYOGA miamiyogamagazine.com
Letter from the Editor
Dear Miami Yoga Magazine Readers, Miami has two seasons, hot and hotter. Sometimes the sun is so constant that there is a feeling of eternal summer. But the seasons come and go here, just as the inevitable truth of change is inescapable. There is a new direction at Miami Life Center, the yoga center that my husband, Tim Feldmann and I opened more than six years ago. Tim is joining forces with Matt Tashjian to become the new Owners and Directors of Miami Life Center. Matt brings his experience in the business world into the mix and Tim brings the essence of Ashtanga Yoga. Together they will craft a business plan focused on aligning everything at Miami Life Center with the core values of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois’s teaching. In other words, Miami Life Center will be a true Ashtanga Yoga center, concentrating on both the physical and spiritual lineage of Ashtanga Yoga. I could not trust two people more than Matt and Tim to marry the yoga tradition with sound business practice. This year has seen the release of my second book The Power of Ashtanga Yoga, a Chanting CD and the growth of my online videos on YouTube. My new focus will be on meaningful projects that include a third book on the Second Series of Ashtanga Yoga and the Miami Yoga Magazine. Whereas Miami Life Center will be focused exclusively on one discipline, Miami Yoga Magazine is open for all styles of yoga and all studios. Please send article ideas, yoga events, teacher feature suggestions, studio details and anything else you want to see in Miami Yoga Magazine to our email at info@miamiyogamagazine.com. Om Shantih. Kino MacGregor Miami Yoga Magazine Founder, Editor
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King Janaka: Living in the World but Not of the World Mark Robberds
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ften in our journey along the yoga path we come across difficulties that make us question whether or not it is possible to maintain a daily practice, and at the same time, function in our everyday lives. In the Yoga tradition there are so many ideals and possibilities presented to us – liberation, self-transformation, freedom and enlightenment, which are so enticing and draw us deeper and deeper into our practice. But, despite this, we are still troubled by doubts and fears, which prevent us from truly believing that it is possible to give ourselves fully to this way of life.
Recently, while in Mysore, and studying the Yoga Sutras with my philosophy teacher, I asked a similar question: “is it possible for a yogi who has reached the ultimate goal of yoga – samadhi, and having absolute knowledge of everything, to still function in the world? To have a career, to have a family?” I think this is a very important question for us all to consider. Often, when we start off on our yoga journey, we quickly become so involved in the practices that we forget to inquire about the goal that they are pointing us towards. Since we are on this path and following the steps, we should at least ponder whether the final destination is one that we would wish for. It is a matter of common sense that when starting off on any journey we should at least have an idea of our final destination. But what if that destination meant that you could no longer function in the world? What if you could no longer be a part of society? Would that be a goal that you still want to reach? So, my teacher told me a story – as is part of the Indian tradition to pass on these teachings - to illustrate how it is indeed possible to be both a yogi and a part of this world…. “The divine sage Narada visited the court of King Janaka. In those times King Jananka was very famous as being the authoritative interpreter of all spiritual knowledge – even though he was the king. Narada could not believe it. Narada wanted to test his authenticity – he wanted to know how it was possible for the King, who had all these fine clothes, was wearing this elaborate gold crown, who has to look after the administration, and so many political conflicts, and what’s more, who had a big harem with so many queens and mistresses, could be in the knowledge of the Atman, of the Ultimate Truth. King Janaka welcomed Narada into his court and said: ‘Sir, I will answer your questions in the evening. Before that you have to do one thing.” “What is that?” “You have to take a tour of the quarters where my queens and princesses live”. “No problem” “But there is one condition – you have to carry, in your palm, a burning lamp (an earthen, Indian oil lamp – which would be similar to carrying a bowl of milk and not spilling a
drop). Two swordsmen will be following you with swords ready. If the flame of that lamp is extinguished, even for a moment, those swordsmen will behead you”. “You have to carry it and you have to go around all the quarters”. “Ok” Narada said. Everything was given, and with that lamp he went around the quarters. There were the most beautiful queens in various states of their makeup. He passed the bathing quarters. Some were undressing, others getting dressed. All kinds of ornaments were being used to decorate them. But he could not pay attention to any of those things because if the flame was extinguished the sword would fall. So, by 100% attention to the flame, he took a full tour - fortunately with his head still on his shoulders! By the time evening came it was time to question to the king. King Janaka said: “Sir, now what was it that you wanted to ask me?” To which, Narada replied “ Sir, I have no more questions – you have already answered them. If something is so important, in spite of everything around, one will not lose his attention towards that – I have understood this. So, in spite of all the paraphernalia of the kingdom, the administration, of the governments and all your duties, you are able to keep your sight on the Atman all the time – I have understood this sir.” And this is what my teacher had to say. He added that it is believed that it is possible to be, as Jesus once said ‘living in the world but not of the world’.
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studio feature: Bala Vinyasa Yoga Bala Vinyasa Yoga
1430 S. Dixie Hwy. Coral Gables, FL 33146 786-953-7709 bvyoga.com
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Mollie Graves
With over 5,500 square feet, Bala Vinyasa Yoga’s state-of-the-art facility is Miami’s first and only Baptiste Affiliate Studio, one of only 27 affiliates in the world. As a 200 and 500hr Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School, Bala Vinyasa Yoga offers teacher trainings, retreats, and workshops throughout the year. Weekly, Bala Vinyasa Yoga offers over 50 yoga classes with a variety suitable for all levels including Power Vinyasa, Basics, Prenatal, Therapeutic, Kids, and Restorative Yoga. BVY also has a beautiful boutique that carries everything you need for your yoga practice and lifestyle.
Each class at Bala Vinyasa Yoga has a strong foundation of the Baptiste Yoga methodology: a holistic, spiritual and physical practice that transforms and empowers students through the practice of meditation, asana, and inquiry. It is the mission of the Bala Vinyasa Yoga team to welcome, inspire and empower each and every person while upholding a space of excellence. BV Teachers are committed to leading world-class programs and classes from the heart, with impeccability and integrity. “We are passionate and committed to continually expand and grow ourselves, community and to be of service by contributing locally and globally, sharing the transformational power of yoga,” says Kiersten Mooney, founder and owner. “We aspire to offer a physical practice and an inspirational experience that carries you off your mat and into your life, transforming the world in which we live.” A senior Baptiste teacher and E-RYT500, Kiersten graduated with a double B.A. in Sociology and Exercise Sports Science and Sports Medicine from the University of Miami and completed graduate studies in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition. She built a strong understanding and foundation of physiology and sports medicine during her years at UM, and then shortly after graduating in 1995, had her first experience with yoga and its transformational effects. The depth of the practice and holistic approach to health and wellbeing, combined with the powerful transformational process kept Kiersten coming back to her yoga mat again and again. “Through my own personal transformation and empowerment, I realized it was my purpose and passion to share this practice with as many people as possible,” she says. This led her to become a yoga teacher and to open her first yoga studio, Bala Vinyasa Yoga Naples in 2007. Kiersten knew a second studio was just a matter of time, and when that moment came, she had no doubt that Miami was the right place. The Bala
Vinyasa Yoga Miami studio is located just minutes from the University of Miami, the place that helped shape her love for health and wellness. Since the grand opening in April 2012, the Bala Vinyasa community has grown to over 15 teachers and hundreds of students who daily make coming to Bala Vinyasa an amazing experience. Another inspiration for Kiersten’s Miami location was her desire to reconnect with her graduate professor, Dr. Joseph Signorile, and collaborate on research examining how yoga affects the biomechanics and physiology of our bodies. Since its opening, BVY has teamed up with UM’s laboratory of Neuromuscular Research to examine muscle utilization patterns during yoga as well as a study to examine how the practice of yoga can support and prevent falls in the elderly population. This winter, Bala Vinyasa Yoga will be offering their next 200 hour Teacher Training, and in October it will host an Advanced training, “Mastery Of Empowered Teaching” retreat in Tulum, Mexico. Whether you are a student wanting to deepen your practice or ready to take your teaching to the next level, Bala Vinyasa offers an extensive array of classes, teacher trainings, workshops, events, and retreats suitable for all practitioner levels. BVY encourages students to fully express and accept themselves, and to exceed selfimposed limitations to facilitate physical and spiritual transformation. The Bala Vinyasa Yoga motto: “Practice three times a week to change your body, practice 5 times a week to change your life!” 7
w o r C Side
ASANA HOW TO? Kathryn Budig
There are plenty of students who want to arm balance but fall short (or face plant out of) the pose because of fear. There’s a fear that we’ll hurt ourselves or that we lack the strength and flexibility to do the pose. First off, let me tell you—there’s a support group for this. You are not alone! Arm balances bring up demons, fears and insecurities and without the proper guidance can remain terrifying. This article is going to tackle side crow, a lovely twisted version of one of the most classic arm balances in yoga. I’ve provided ample variations and ask that you take your time. It’s easy to allow the ego to take the reins, but give that ego a break and listen to what feels good. Be okay with not understanding or being able to tackle the full posture yet because it means that you always have something juicy to work towards on your mat! Find the step that is most appropriate for you whether it be one or the final and make a dedication towards yourself and the pose that you’ll practice awareness, patience and joy! These postures hopefully teach us empowerment and playfulness so set that into your intention and enjoy your flight school. 8
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Begin in Tadasana. Keeping the weight in the heels, bend the knees, and drop the hips. Take a
peak at your toes. If you can’t see them, shift the shins back remaining in the heels until you see the tips. Descend the tailbone as you lift the arms and chest. Take one full breath in chair pose. Keeping the knees bent, draw the palms to the heart and twist to the right landing the left elbow on the right thigh. Stay here or reach the armpit towards the thigh. Push the namaste palms into each other, aiming the right elbow at the ceiling. Keep the knees even (you can look down to make sure) and take 8 breaths. Come back to chair pose for one breath then push to stand. Repeat the second side. Understand that these are the same actions as side crow just higher off the ground. . .look for basic postures like this that can make you more comfortable about shifting into a deeper challenge.
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Place a yoga block to its lowest level on the mat. Step onto the block
coming into a squat with the heels and arches lifted. Keep the knees and big toes touching. Swing the left arm to the outside of the right thigh. If the elbow touches, keep working up the arm to get closer onto the leg. Place the fingertips down onto the floor and start to shift your energy to the hands with a slight bend in the elbows. Keep the thighs drawing tight into the chest. Take 8 breaths and switch sides.
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Struggle with bearing weight on your arms? This move is for you. Drop
down into squat balancing on the balls of your feet. Inhale, lift the left arm tall, exhale, drop the left arm to the outside of the right thigh to create the twist. Grab a yoga block with the right hand and place it to the inside of the right hand, with palms shoulder-width apart. Bend the elbows, leaning the chest forward until you can rest the right shoulder head on top of the block. Depending on your size you may need to adjust the location of the block a bit. Once you can bear weight onto the block, sweep the shin bones parallel to the ground, lifting the heels in line with the knees, knees in line with the hips. Extend the sternum forward along with the gaze.
Take 1-8 breaths. Enjoy the experience of having both feet leave the ground! Set the feet down and switch sides.
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Come into a squat with the knees touching, balancing on the balls of the feet. Inhale, lift the left arm,
extending upward through the heart, exhale, twist and reach the left elbow to the outside of the right thigh. Work the elbow down, getting closer to the armpit. Place the right hand in front of the right heel and bend the elbows toward chaturanga. As you lower, place the right hip onto the right elbow for extra shelf support. Once you can’t lower anymore, sweep the feet up away from the ground, working toward being parallel with the mat. Hug the elbows in and find a small round in the upper back. You will feel compact, but just keep trusting. Take 5-8 breaths. Place the feet down and switch sides.
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Begin in the same twisted squat as in step four. Instead of lining the
right hand up with the right heel, walk the palm out so the hands are shoulderwidth apart (this will require a deeper twist from the left arm, so work the elbow down as much as you can). Bend the elbows, keeping them stacked over the wrists. Reach your face toward the ground as if you were about to take a bite out of something delicious on the floor. In a sweeping action, keep the knees and feet touching as you lift the shins away from the ground. Hug the heels in tight to your bottom, and work on keeping the feet in line with the knees. To straighten the arms, round the upper back as you push the palms firmly into the ground. Keep a tiny package in your bent knees as they pull into your chest. The shoulders will gently pass forward of the wrists, so keep the outer upper arms firming in and the index fingers and thumbs firmly rooted. Spread the toes. Take a few breaths here and come down and rest. Congratulations!!
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unity through yoga: Creating Community by Pairing Jivamukti Yoga and Art at Wynwood Last year’s event featured South Florida’s own Dawn B. Feinberg, a widely recognized certified yoga instructor and licensed movement therapist, plus live music from DJ Drez and The Mayapuris, healthy bites, cocktails, and more. YogArt sessions took place December 6 – 9, 2012 at Wynwood Walls, the breathtaking graffiti art park located in the heart on the Wynwood Arts District. This pairing of Jivamukti yoga practice with the inspiring art at Wynwood Walls along with the captivating live music offered everyone the opportunity to “Take a Breather During Basel” and participate in an enhanced yoga experience during one of Miami’s busiest weekends of the year. YogArt sessions were available during both the morning and early evening hours. Coming all the way from Los Angeles to join the event, world renowned DJ Drez brought his vast experience with the Jahta beat - an exploration through hip-hop and down tempo with a focus on vibrations from India - to YogArt for the first time. The Mayapuris are a five-piece band known for their rhythm-driven style, and specialize in bringing their Kirtan influences to the practice of yoga. Having worked with them before, the synergy emulated between Feinberg and The Mayapuris, allowed participants to sink deeper into their experience without hesitation. Joining Feinberg were special guest instructors Kelly Green, Paige Held and Christy Nones. The classes lasted approximately one hour and ended with a spread of healthy refreshments to complete the nourishing experience of YogArt.
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YogArt is returning again this winter as part of the opening events for the highly anticipated grand opening of the Perez Art Museum/ Museum of Modern Art (PAM MAM). Followed by our third year of YogArt Basel, join Feinberg and other guest yoga teachers December 5th, 6th and 7th for an exciting event in a beautiful setting with acclaimed music performances and amazing refreshments.
the funnies :
Lady Yoga
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The Brainwashing Cult of Meditation Kino MacGregor
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ot everyone loves meditation but most people generally see the benefit of quieting the mind. As such, I was surprised when a yoga student in a workshop I was leading told me very passionately that she thought meditation was part of a brain washing cult. As she launched into a tirade about the experience of being brain washed at a meditation retreat a light bulb clicked on in my head. I had to interrupt her because I suddenly realized she was right. The whole spiritual path is a brain washing. And a deep, thorough brain washing is exactly what we need. Our thoughts 12
are dirty. We need to wash and clean our thoughts and run them through the tumble dryer to make sure all the stains and lint are removed. Think about how many negative thoughts go through your mind on a daily basis. Your mind may be sullied with low self-confidence, anger, frustration, lack of empathy, impatience, anxiety or depression. There are also the repetitive negative thoughts that surface when you least expect them to. These are all stains on the fabric of consciousness and these thoughts need to wash out.
The alternative is to just let the negative thoughts pile on day after day, year after year, lifetime after lifetime until we are literally drowning in the onslaught of our own misery. I would rather be brain washed than that any day. In fact, when I look back at the type of thought patterns that used to run through my mind on a regular basis before I started to practice yoga and meditation I am thankful that those have been scrubbed out of my consciousness. And ultimately it was me who did most of the scrubbing. My teachers gave me the tools, the cleaning supplies and an open room and then with the methodology of the practice, I sat cross-legged and washed and scrubbed my thoughts until they were much more clean. I understand the resistance to the spiritual brain washing that intensive meditation courses ask students to go through. In the course everything from when you eat, sleep, rest and meditate is controlled. Even what you think about is controlled. The difference between a cult and a true path of spiritual evolution is sometimes hard to see form the outside. I didn’t see it like a cult, I saw it like going to the army for boot camp. Many trainees resist the intensity of army boot camp as well. I wanted to train my mind to be strong, brave, peaceful and free and I was willing to do the work. My greatest motivation for undergoing the brain washing of the spiritual path was to see just how dirty my thoughts were. One way to that is to get brutally honest about the truth of your own thoughts. Going to a therapist along with some honest self-inquiry will help you see the truth about your thoughts. Byron Katie, the founder of The Work, has a powerful personal growth tool that she calls the “Judge Your Neighbor” sheet. In this four part exercise you are asked to judge someone in your life with no filter and then question that thought. Let’s say you are fighting with your spouse and you think negatively about your partner. You would literally write down, “My husband is a jerk.” That’s step one and it is the easy part. The next step asks you if you know that statement to be 100% true all the time. Most of the time you end up having to answer no. Step three asks you to turn the thought around and find an opposite thought that is equally true, such as “My husband is not a jerk” or “I am a jerk” or “My husband is a good person”. This is usually harder to see and it is the beginning of the process of cleaning your thoughts. The last step is the hardest to grasp, which asks you who you would be without your original thought. Many people cannot fathom the idea that their identity is separate from their thoughts, so they resist this last step. However,
if you use your imagination it’s easy to see that if you simply were not thinking that your husband was a jerk you would be a nicer person, more patient, more loving and more forgiving. On a personal level without the weight of that negative thought you would also probably be happier, freer and lighter. It is this last step that the meditation practice seeks to give everyone a chance to be free from the weight of their own negative thoughts. Whenever something is repetitive and constant it becomes the status quo. Human beings are attached to their homeostasis and they will automatically protect what they know. When you resist the type of spiritual brain washing that allows you to let go of past suffering, you cling to the negative cycle that created the pain in the first place. Once you realize how destructive your thoughts can be to yourself and to those around you, submitting yourself to the spin cycle through the spiritual washer and dryer is an easy choice. You will notice when you need a deep cleaning and you will volunteer yourself to go on retreats, intensives and anything that promises a full and complete brain washing. My daily meditation practice is the one thing that keeps me sane. I have done three 10-day meditation retreats in the Vipassana style of S.N. Goenka. Each one was like a powerful detox of destructive thoughts that I was carrying in my mind. During these retreats the teachers all say that a sign of progress along the inner journey often shows up as happier, friendlier thoughts. In other words, you literally think cleaner, more pure thoughts. The very evidence of brain washing is the evidence of progress along the spiritual path. These courses are donation based and held all over the world. The only thing they ask for is your commitment to stay and follow the full ten days. Sadly the student who so enthusiastically disregarded these meditation retreats as part of a brain washing cult told me she left about half way through the course. She left before her thoughts were fully washed clean. That would be like a dirty pair of jeans jumping out of the washer the moment they got wet. The stains look worse when they start to spread and the jeans are heavy and full of water. The jeans will look ruined and the washer will seem to have malfunctioned when in truth there is nothing wrong with the jeans or the washer. The braking washing cycle just needs to run its full course. It is dangerous to quit on something in the middle of an intense procedure. When what is being worked on is your mind that risk is even greater. 13
teacher feature:
Tim Feldmann
How long have you been practicing yoga? My first yoga class was in 1994 at the old Jivamukti Center in East Village, New York. I fell in love with it instantly. I was teaching dance at that time and began to include the ‘breath-of fire’ I was being taught along with sun salutes, warriors and a few other magnificent editions to being a living, moving and dancing creature. Later, as my passion for the yogic paradigm began to rise I let go of dance.
Why did you start yoga as a student? I was a young 25-year old dancer at the time, and I had just picked up dancing again after a 2-year rehabilitation process as a result of a near fatal falling accident in the mountains of Caracas, Venezuela. I remember my knees soaking up what in retrospect must have been Prana from the downward facing dogs. They had been pretty badly hurt with various bones breaking, torn ligaments, and meniscuses messed-up. I had many other healing injuries. It was pretty big for me that first class, and I recall dropping a tear or two. Later, I met Lino Miele, senior ashtangi from Italy. He is my first teacher of the ashtanga method, and I still hold him very dear. Later, I was fortunate enough to continue under the guidance of Guruji, the vibrant Master Shri Pattabhi Jois, and then again later under Sharath Rangaswami’s hands.
Where do you practice? What do you practice? These days mostly at home. I find it amplifies my ability to stay present to not only the asanas themselves, but to all the mind-stuff while in motion on my mat. I practice Ashtanga Yoga’s Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A series as I have been taught by my first teacher, Lino Miele, and later by my Guru Pattabhi Jois, and now as Sharath continues to direct me.
What is the most transformational yoga experience you have had? It is hard to pick one over another, but there was some irrational emotions coming up for me in those early days when I first hit my mat;
forgiveness, asking for forgiveness. I had a hard time putting my finger on it, but it raised up inside of me like a long lost issue I needed to set straight. A sense of coming home accompanied that vulnerability. It was really quite life-giving. Also, I began using the Jivamukti sequence (which in those days was much closer to the ashtanga primary series) as my warm-up, along with my daily maintenance as a dancer which I found made my dancing grow stronger and more articulate. After a while I pretty much stopped taking dance class. I relied on the information and fine tuning I got from the asana practice. Still to this day, I find myself more alive, alert and in-tune after my practice, and on days without practicing, I find I shine less brightly on my inside - moving in a more dull sphere.
Who are your teachers? Shri Krishna Pattabhi jois, Guruji, will always remain my teacher no matter his physical presence here or not. That’s the simple answer. I strive every day to come to a deeper understanding of what he used his life on, striving to discriminate dogma, style, form and method from reason, content, intention and aim. It is not easy as he was a man of few english words. we Westerners do not have much to go on when trying to decipher his words from his meaning, but it keeps the practice fresh. Also, the more I dig into the underlying philosophical basis of yoga, such as Samkhya School of Thought, I find further root in Guruji’s teachings. It broadens my view to what he could have intended with his method and leaves me enthuthiastically invigorated about yoga as a whole and the method to which constitutes my own practice. I travel to Mysore, India yearly to practice with Sharath, to stay connected to his teachings and the institute. Year by year, I find myself drawn more and more to the host of other magnificent teachers there such as Jayashree and Narasimhan’s (whom guest Miami Life Center every Autumn) chanting and philosophy sessions and other such masters. Here in the West, I have had the grand pleasure of occassionally practicing under the eye of “big Tim” (Tim Miller). Over the past few years I have met Richard
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Freeman and Chuck Miller for the first time. These American pioneers are formidable proponents of this ancient method that encourage reconnecting with ourselves.
How do you define yoga? Yoga is in effect the eight-fold path described by Patanjali in his yoga sutras. At least that is 16
the way to understand body and soul - that is what yoga is. Anything else would simply be a speculation or a projection of one of those particularly pleasant feelings we sometimes are lucky enough to carry within us for a brief flash of a moment. My own personal practice is further detailed by Krishnamacharya’s and Pattabhi Jois’ Vinyasa system. 21
What is your favorite food? Is coffee a ‘food’? If it is, then that and savory foods.
What is your favorite non-yoga activity? There would be three competitors for that: driving around on my british two-wheeler, sleeping in my own bed, and finally, a fresh french press brew under my mango tree at home.
What is your message as a teacher of yoga? Keep it simple - keep it tight, keep it stringent keep it light.
What is your advise to new students? Find that place within you where you feel inspired. Connect with your curiosity, joy and passion and let that drive feed your path, your work on your yoga mat. Find the best teacher available and practice with passion, pleasure and diligence, That will cultivate yoga within you and when yoga takes root you get happy.
What special programs are you involved in Miami? Where do you teach? I have focussed on traveling and teaching yoga for the past few years, and I have had the opportunity to work with aspiring yogis from all over the globe. It is great fun and a very special learning experience which allows me to gain knowledge, perspective and skill. Yet, the time has come to return back home and drive Miami Life Center (Kino’s and my yoga center), into a
new epoque. My close friend, Matt Tashjian, and I are in the midst of invigorating the center’s strong suits. We hope to create an even stronger urge in students to practice yoga from Miami and all the world - whom we serve daily. I am still mostly teaching weekend workshops in Miami and other U.S. cities, as well as abroad. I do teach a few master classes at Miami Life Center, but the daily classes are taught by our awesome staff. Some of the most dedicated yoga practitioners that I know. Take a look at our website(miamilifecenter.com) if you are curious about yoga but havn’t figured it out yet, and/ or want to begin to cultivate a deeper sense of practice and connection with yourself and the people around you. My schedule can be found at timfeldmann.com. 17
book review Angelique Sandas The Power of Ashtanga Yoga is Kino MacGregor’s second literary offering. Her first book was a personal narrative of her own yoga journey which highlights her experiences as a student. This second book is told from an instructor’s perspective, the Kino MacGregor instructor perspective. As someone who has had the opportunity to practice under Kino’s guidance, I found it to accurately mirror her instruction methods and style. 18
I
f you are already a student of Kino’s, the read will feel comfortable and familiar. If you have not yet had the opportunity to practice Ashtanga Yoga with Kino MacGregor, this is a great introduction to her teaching approach and philosophy. The book is divided into two sections: the first explains aspects of Ashtanga Yoga theory, and the second guides the reader though the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series asana practice. Like Kino’s live teaching approach, the book seamlessly merges the material or physical practice with the more esoteric, even mystical concepts of yoga tradition. Reading through the theory section, you get the sense that you are in a conversation with the author. Yoga history and tradition are topics that could easily become too heady and text-booky, but Kino writes about them in a gentle yet clear way that allows an accessible flow of information. The references to ancient texts and historical timelines are smoothly integrated into discussions of practical application. I never felt as though I had to switch mental gears in order to understand what I was reading. Similarly, in a chapter devoted to the spiritual journey of a yoga practice, Kino introduces what might be unfamiliar and complex eastern philosophies and practices as matter-of-factly as she explains the science and physiology of the yoga experience. She doesn’t make a big deal out of introducing aspects of the metaphysical, which many beginners may have a hard time accepting. Instead, it is presented as simple and as normal as she presents information on something as real as the breath. This approach by the author has the affect of putting the reader at ease; perhaps making them even more open to receiving information that otherwise might be difficult. It also represents Kino’s general approach to teaching Ashtanga Yoga: the mystical and the physical are interconnected, and thus constantly present within each other to be inseparable. While the theory section of the book is broadly inclusive, it also contains chapters on the tristana method and yogic diet. The portion on the asana practice is layered with detailed instruction, much like a student would hear in a workshop. It includes the requisite asana photos, Sanskrit asana names and succinct list of physiological benefits. Beyond that, Kino provides comprehensive direction on the alignment, energetic subtleties, and developmental intention of each posture. Kino writes as she would teach cueing the pose anatomically, giving allowances
for the beginner, and projecting ahead for the more advanced yogi while integrating information on the evasive bandhas, breath, drishtis, and working through every aspect until the pose is manifest. It is not the type of text that would be useful as a reference guide in the midst of a practice. But as a learning tool, it is extremely helpful. For practice reference, Kino offers an appendix of images sequencing the entire series. It is a quick and easy reminder of the order of poses in the series for those that have learned the asanas but may still be establishing memorization. Other appendixes include the mantras and the Ashtanga Primary series with traditional vinyasa counts. Additionally, true to Kino’s methodology, she offers a chapter on strength, a topic that is never absent from her workshops. As a female student of yoga, it is a treat to get information from a leading female instructor of the method. It is a cherryon-top for the instructor to address strength challenges that many of us females struggle with. In her second release, Kino shares her vast experience and knowledge of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series and gives an accessible overview of related and inseparable philosophies, traditions, and practices. She makes it very clear that she believes in yoga as a practice of selfawareness and profound inner transformation. To treat this method as anything less - in other words, to practice only the physical aspects while ignoring the philosophies, traditions, and deeper practices - does the method a disservice. In fact, is not Ashtanga Yoga at all. With this point of view, an instructor and author could run the risk of coming across as rigid and dogmatic. Instead, she manages to be welcoming, inspiring, and presents the practice as a gift rather than a burden. Something that is just as important for the advanced practitioner to remember as it is for the beginner to understand as they embark on what Kino refers to as a hero’s epic journey. In any mythological epic, the hero faces many challenges, both those of the external world and those within themselves. Kino urges the yoga practitioner to be prepared for the challenges of the practice and through discipline and devotion accept them as trials for renewal and transformation. To purchase a copy of The Power of Ashtanga Yoga, visit kinoyoga.com.
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healing through yoga: Excerpt from “Namaste Muthaf$#ka” by R. Nikki Myers
H
ello, my name is Nikki. I am a recovering alcoholic, addict, the survivor of childhood and adult sexual trauma, co-dependent, survivor of domestic violence, a recovering compulsive spender, and a love addict. And today, because of the wisdom and practices of yoga, along with the tools of 12-step programs, I can say those things with as much gratitude and grace as I also say that I am a yoga and somatic therapist, an M.B.A graduate with honors, the founder of two successful businesses, a mother, and a grandmother. All of these experiences are a part of who I am. Today, I can truthfully say that I hold it all equally divine. Free from the guilt and shame that once bound 20
me, I can tell you that today I am an integrated whole. It’s my experience, strength and hope through addiction and relapse, four marriages, prostitution, domestic violence, jail, institutions, and the deaths of not only unique and brilliant souls who I’ve had the privilege to know, but also the death and resurrection of my own soul, that I offer this story with the hope that somehow, it brings insight into yours. There are situations and people in our lives that occur as absolute muthaf$#ka’s — at least at first. Some of mine have been some of the aforementioned things: domestic violence, prostitution, addiction and relapse, divorce, death and of course a couple of ex-husbands. Here is the gist of it all: I started using drugs and alcohol when I was 14 years old and followed them down the road to hell until I was 34.
I was literally the poster child for an “at-risk” life, with all the social and psychological “perks” that it brings. In 1987, through the help of an amazing friend and the support of some people who love me, I found a treatment center that introduced me to the 12-step program — and it saved my life. During my first eight years of chemical-free living, I completed my BS degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and my MBA graduating Delta Cum Laude. I moved from Indianapolis to Boston, co-founded a software company, and co-authored a meta data integration patent. And then... After eight years of living drug and alcohol free, living the life that I’d dreamed of, I relapsed....hard. After another hell ride, I somehow stumbled back into the 12-step program. It was at this point that I was re-introduced to yoga (I had started yoga back in the 70s, but men, money, and drugs became more interesting...) Through the physical practice, I began to experience a deep reconnection to my body. I started to perceive yoga as the way out of addiction, and made it the basis of my recovery, leaving the 12-step program behind. I stayed clean that way for four years during which time I moved from Boston to Chicago and then back to Indianapolis where...I relapsed again. Again led by Grace, albeit ashamed, perplexed, confused, and frustrated, I found my way back into recovery. As I sorted through the confusion of it all, I realized that what an addict like me really needed is both. It couldn’t work as an either/or. It was then that I began to deeply immerse myself in both the practice and study of yoga AND the 12-step program. As of 2013, it’s been 13 years since the last relapse. It`s been out of my experience and through my observation that there are many addicts just like me that in 2004 the groundbreaking work called Y12SR (The Yoga of12-Step Recovery) was born. Y12SR was developed (with the support and encouragement from my many teachers) as an adjunct to the 12-step program, as another tool to support addiction recovery, not a replacement.
It supports the addict in recognizing the signs of relapse at the level of feeling and sensation in the body and gives them a set of tools and practices to help restore balance, before the relapse. This combined cognitive and somatic approach supports a person to find nervous system regulation in sustainable, non-destructive ways rather than destructive ones. Today you can find Y12SR meetings and practices all over the country and the curriculum has begun to spread to treatment centers as well. It’s effectiveness continues to be proven helpful, not only with substance addiction (including eating disorders and food addiction), but with other addictions like gambling, compulsive spending, and media addiction. I have a rich life – still full of muthaf$#kas – but with a solid, sustainable foundation for walking and awakening through them. Yoga and the 12-steps are (and I expect will continue to be) both my lifeboat and launching pad. What I’ve learned is that in every difficulty—right in the heart of the shit—is where God, light, source or whatever-you-want-to-call-it lives. I’ve come to see it as my job to sort through the crap and find the God in the midst of the muthaf$#ka. That’s actually what Namaste means to me. Introduced to me through yoga, this Sanskrit word, often used as a greeting, is definitely more than that. For me, Namaste is a way of life. It’s often translated as “the good, God, light in me, honors the same in you.” But the bigger question for me was and is: how do I put this in practice? How do I find light and goodness in abuse and abuser(s), pimps, divorce, death, racism and aging? How do I find God in those muthaf$#kas? My experience is that finding God is work. Work that involves a little hide-and-seek, excavating, planting, cultivating, sharing and much more. The great news is there are fabulous resources out there waiting. R. Nikki Myers is the founder Y12SR (Yoga of 12-Step Recovery), a yoga therapist, a somatic experiencing practitioner, a certified addictions recovery specialist, and ARISE Interventionist Clinical Intern. Nikki will be at Miami Life Ceneter Sept. 6-8, 2013. 21
healthy eats : restaurant review 22
The Special Healthy Lunches Gourmet Healthy Vegetarian & Vegan Dishes Conveniently Delivered Straight to your Door By Tayler Alexis Smith Interested in incorporating vegetarian & vegan meals into your daily menu; yet intimidated on where & how to begin? We’re all aware that healthy eating is crucial to our overall wellbeing but it can be expensive & time consuming. If you live in the Miami Beach area then your daily lunch search is over- meet The Special, started in April 2012 by local Chef Andres Orjuela. After a lifetime passion of cooking Andres was drawn towards the challenge of preparing foods using all fresh, real, & natural ingredients. He chose to focus on vegetarian and vegan diets specifically after learning that most of the major health problems facing western society (cancer, heart disease, diabetes, & obesity) are all linked to the over consumption of animal proteins. His second concentration was creating delicious alternatives that are vegan or vegetarian - taking the primary focus off animal proteins. Driven by the blind and popular misconception that many people believe vegetarian food to be bland and not as satisfying as meat based meals, he is fueled by his passion to prove to people that this is simply not true, one nourishing vegan/vegetarian dish at a time. I had my warm lunch delivered straight to the comfort of my door. I indulged in the “special� for the day which was: whole wheat focaccia sandwich with sun dried tomato spread, avocado, cheese, spinach, red onion served with mixed green salad tossed in a honey mustard dressing topped with sunflower seeds and a bowl of harira moroccan soup. What stuck out to me the most aside from the taste was the presentation! My lunch looked so pretty! Big beautiful red raspberries, orange peppers, & a purple flower topped my salad. The fresh taste implied that everything had been made from scratch including the focaccia bread. The portion sizes were bigger than I had expected and I was completely full about half-way through my lunch, so I saved the remainder for dinner. Bonus! Every day a different lunch is offered, so you never get bored of eating the same thing!
What inspired you to Begin The Special? I wanted to start a culinary company that focused more on quality than it did on profit, with the pursuit of health as the bottom line - not the dollar. I thought, I want to cook and sell the food that I would want to eat every day. I was at my doctor for a routine checkup, and after analyzing my blood work he was impressed by my numbers and asked what I typically ate. When I told him I was a chef and that I prepared my own food he asked if I would be interested in catering lunches to his office for him and his staff - and that’s how the idea of The Special was born! What is your core philosophy of providing healthy meals? 1. Eat real food, no preservatives, no pesticides, no additives, no canned products. I make all of my base products from scratch, including the breads. 2. Eat as fresh as possible- I like to work as local and organic as possible. When produce is at its peak it’s at its maximum nutritional content, and it’s obviously the most delicious. 3. Eat Variety- I read somewhere that the average American consumes 150 different things a year, eating my lunches you will consume at least 400 different ingredients a month between the spices, beans, nuts, etc. 4. I’m big into food synergy- when food is paired properly it enhances the absorption of nutrition greatly an example would be avocados and tomatoes- the healthy fat and phyto-nutrients complement each other.
Where do you deliver? Sobe and the Design District. We also deliver to Downtown & Brickell but a $3 delivery fee is added. What are some examples of lunches you offer? u Lebanese salad with parsley, mint, organic tomatoes, green onions, lentils and pearled barley and cucumber served with baba ghanoush and home baked whole wheat zatar bread. Dessert: mixed fresh fruit. u Spiced potatoes with baked beets, dahl and mango chutney. Dessert: whole wheat orange & cardamom cupcake. u Lemon & asparagus risotto with white wine and garlic topped with parmesan and served with a salad of fresh tomatoes, kalamata olives, bell peppers and cucumber dressed with an oregano balsamic dressing. Dessert: mixed fresh fruit. How can people order? & What days are lunches available? M-F Lunch only. Always delivered between 12-1 pm. The best thing to do is sign-up for our daily menu email. Everyday at 4pm we send out what the lunch will be for tomorrow and if you want it you reply a yes to order. People can also order by calling, texting, and email or through our one click order form on our website. How much does your Lunch Cost? It is always $12.50 including delivery. Every lunch comes with a main course and a side.
Photos by Dragi Stankovich
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healthy eats : recipe 24
Baked Fruit Salad Crumble By Christina Algeciras with Yogurt
Christina is the founder of Benestar Kids, an organization with a mission to foster and promote children’s well being through yoga, healthy cooking and art throughout the Miami community. Christina is continuing her education by studying holistic nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition®. For more information about Benestar Kids and Christina’s work, please visit benestarkids.com.
Ingredients
Toppings
Instructions
u Sprinkle the topping over all the peaches. u Bake for about 30 minutes until fruit is hot and topping is cooked through. u Place peaches on a plate and let cool for about 5 minutes. u Serve with 1-2 large spoons of greek yogurt. u Optional - sprinkle some cinnamon on the yogurt.
Fruit Salad 2 peaches (cut in half and pit removed) 1 pint blueberries 1 pint strawberries (stemmed and sliced) 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves (chopped) 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves (chopped) 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour 1 lime (juiced)
u Preheat oven to 350F degrees. u Combine blueberries, strawberries, lime juice, basil, mint, and tablespoon of flour. u Stir well and set aside. u Combine all topping ingredients. u Spray baking dish with a non stick cooking spray. u Place halved peaches into a baking dish. u Spoon about 1-2 spoons of the fruit salad into each peach.
½ cup rolled oats ¼ cup whole wheat flour 2 tablespoons flaxseeds ¼ cup raw sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup melted butter
Serves 4
miami life center miami life center
736 6th Street, Miami Beach, Fl 33139 736 sixth street, miami beach, fl 33139 305.534.8988 miamilifecenter.com miamilifecenter.com 305.534.8988
EDDIE STERN
11/8 - 11/13
2013
Eddie Stern is the director of Ashtanga Yoga New York and Sri Ganesha Temple in NYC. Friday, November 8, 2013 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Led class 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Ganesh Puja & Intro talk Saturday, November 9, 2013 8 am – 11 am: Mysore 1 pm – 3 pm: Chanting and lecture about Nadi systems 4 pm – 6 pm: Bhankti and worship as a yogic path and Q&A Sunday, November 10, 2013 8 am – 11 am: Mysore 1 pm – 3 pm: Yoga Philosophy Discussion
the
PHOTO SESSION
Anais Benoudiz Photography. Photo Assistant: Daniela Mantini Makeup: Carmen Wade Model: Jason Lawner
©Anais Benoudiz Photography. Daylene Christensen
©Anais Benoudiz Photography. Daylene Christensen 28
©Anais Benoudiz Photography. Rachel Novetsky
©Anais Benoudiz Photography. Jason Lawner 29
miami life center miami life center
736 6th Street, Miami Beach, Fl 33139 736 sixth street, miami beach,  33139 305.534.8988 miamilifecenter.com miamilifecenter.com 305.534.8988 Check our website or call the studio for workshop schedules. Dates & times are subject to change.
MARK ROBBERDS
Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2013 Mark Robberds has been studying yoga since 1997. He is a Certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher and has spent the last 14 years travelling regularly to India to practice with the late, legendary Guru Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, and his grandson R. Sharath, of Mysore. He also trained as an apprentice, first with Mathew Sweeney and then with Eileen Hall from 1999-2005 at YogaMoves in Sydney. He has been teaching workshops, retreats and as a guest teacher, internationally since 2005.
GREG NARDI
Dec. 13 - 15, 2013 Greg Nardi has spent many years of dedicated practice under the guidance of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. In 2003 he was given authorization to teach from Pattabhi Jois, and in 2009, he completed a level 2 authorization course from Sharath Jois. Greg studies and practices Yoga, Eastern philosophy and Sanskrit mantra chanting. He participates in Georg Feverstein’s Traditional Yoga Studies course and has studies with Vyaas Houston of the American Sanskrit Institute. Greg founded Ashtanga Yoga Worldwide, a resource which strives to explore the traditions that give rise to modern Yoga methods; to maintain the Ashtanga Yoga system as taught by Pattabhi Jois; and to make these traditions and methods intelligible to the Western Practitioner.
STUDIO SPONSORS
MIAMI DADE 305 Yoga & Outreach 7300 Biscayne Blvd Miami, Fl 33138 305-917-5886 305yoga.com
Bala Vinyasa Yoga 116 S Dixie Hwy Coral Gables, Fl 33146 855-239-9642 bvyoga.com
Bikram Hot Yoga Brickell 301 SW 17th Rd Miami, Fl 33129 305-856-6978 brickellyogacom
Bikram Yoga Falls 13847 S Dixie Hwy Miami, Fl 33176 305-253-6978 bikramyogafalls.com
Corpo Yoga
9030 SW 72nd Ct Miami, Fl 33156 305-670-2010 corpoyogastudio.com
Firefly Yoga
7600 Red Rd South Miami, Fl 33143 786-488-8739 fireflyhotyoga.com
Prenatal Plus Yoga, INC.
Miami’s Specialty Center for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond. 401 Miracle Mile, Suite 405 Coral Gables, Fl 33134 prenatalplusyoga.com debra@prenatalplusyoga.com Yoga Alliance ® Accredited-Registered School for Prenatal Yoga Teacher Certification Training 305-498-6722 - cell 305-279-1322 - office 305-446-2683 - fax
Synergy Yoga Center 435 Espanola Way Miami Beach, Fl 33139 305-538-7073 synergyyoga.com
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Red Pearl Yoga
918 NE 20th Ave Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33304 954-828-1651 redpearlyoga.com
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110 N Federal Hwy, Suite 304 Hallandale Beach, Fl 33309 954-456-6077 yogarosa.com
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If you would like to be a studio sponsor or see your studio listed here, please contact: info@miamiyogamagazine.com
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O N E MONTH TEACHER TRAINING 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certification
March 3 - March 28, 2014 Miami Life Center presents a roster of teachers who dedicate their lives to the study and practice of yoga and have come together to offer more than 200 hours including hands-on practice, practical clinics, therapeutics, anatomy, subtle-body, the art of teaching, mentorships and more. A yoga teacher does more than just recite poses, they respect and have studied the art of teaching. Join Miami’s premiere Ashtanga Studio as we present a comprehensive and all-encompassing teacher training program helping prepare you for a competitive career in the industry of yoga. Our philosophy is based on tradition. This is the only Yoga Alliance Registered School program in South Florida to present the Ashtanga Yoga method to present a wide-spectrum approach including a comprehensive knowledge of this lineage based practice from teacher directly Certified by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The result is a strong graduating teacher prepared to teach physical postures, and to continue the art of learning and teaching and guiding others down the path of this ancient spiritual practice.
ASHTANGA YOGA
miami life center 736 sixth street, miami beach, fl 33139 305.534.8988 miamilifecenter.com
florida
Oct 31-Nov 3, 2013 I Hollywood, FL
ExpEriEncE Yoga Journal
live! keynote by marianne williamson friday, nov. 1
+ use promo code mm13 for $50 off main conference register now Photo by Wari Om
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