– The tradition of hathayoga in itself has always been a method to help people moving towards balance, both physically and mentally. In what way is teaching yoga with the emphasis on the therapeutic point of view different then other hathayoga class? What are you as a teacher mostly focusing on? 

– Therapeutic yoga can seem like a redundant phrase, but the truth is that not all yoga classes are therapeutic for everyone. Depending on one’s constitution, one may not well be suited for some styles of yoga and/or the same style of yoga after a certain amount of time. However one can say that there are therapeutic aspects that are unique to yoga. The joining of awareness to breath and movement is soothing to the nervous system, not to mention the increase in circulation, creation of positive neurotransmitters, and suppression of stress hormones that result from a yoga practice. 

Yet there are some subtle differences between hatha and therapeutic classes. In therapeutic classes, I focus on making the practice as individual as I can. For example, I place more emphasis on injuries. It sounds kind of funny to say that, but in a regular yoga class, injuries are often an afterthought, like here’s a pose you can do instead and/or we ignore our injuries. In the therapeutic classes, instead of finding modifications for people with injuries, I tailor the class according to what people are working with that day. So far this has ranged from the common knee and back injuries to frozen shoulders, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches. The first step to healing is often acknowledging what is present and then to give space to that which is present. That’s what we do in this class, give space to whatever is present in our bodies and in our minds without judgment. 

Another difference is the focus on freeing the breathing muscles with small rubber balls. Aside from asana and pranayama, we also work with these balls to target specific points of tension in the therapeutic classes. By placing these balls in specific locations along our spine and combining that with certain movements, we not only create greater awareness of the muscles of respiration but also roll out some of the tension that might have kept the muscles locked tight and restricted our breathing. These muscles are often hard to target during a regular asana or pranayama practice. The ability to breath profoundly and with awareness is the first step to creating the union between mind and body and access the intelligence that is already present. 

Finally, in these classes we focus on releasing the body at the fascial level rather than just the muscular level. Fascia is a connective tissue which has more nerve endings than any other tissue in the body and is therefore in a sense, more “conscious” than any other tissue in the body. When we combine the work on the balls with asana and pranayama, we penetrate into layers of these connective tissues and create a profound sense of awareness of the interconnectedness not just of the body but the close relationships among body, mind, and emotion. Often when we free tension in the physical bodies, the mental and emotional bodies free up as a result. 

– Many people might hesitate going to yoga because of the idea that you have to have a certain body and be a certain age to start practicing. What is your view on this? Would you say that yoga is for everybody?

– Saying that one has to be a certain age and a certain body to start practicing is like saying one needs to be fit and strong before one can go to the gym. Having said that, I wouldn’t say that yoga is for everyone. There are some people who do not need yoga, I joke that if I’m any good at it, it’s because I was so bad at it. Also, depending on your health conditions, certain styles of yoga may be contraindicated. One should always check with a doctor to see if it’s safe for you to practice yoga. Then I would try different styles until you find one that is right for you and if you don’t, try something else.

– Why do we need to stretch our bodies?

– To get out of our usual grooves. 

– In short, what do the people of today’s society need the most do you think?

– That’s an interesting question. I think that everyone, including myself, would benefit from getting unstuck in our regular routines, whether it’s in our mental or physical lives. Most of us are so unbalanced we are not even aware of it until we challenge ourselves or life challenges us. My teacher used to say that we should switch signs on the doors so that ashtangis end up doing yin and vice versa. Every once in a while, switch it up. 

– In your opinion, what is a helpful attitude to have towards oneself in yoga class as a beginner but perhaps also as an experienced practitioner?

– Recently I was talking to a colleague about the difference about going deeper and letting go. Most of us are looking to go deeper, but we often don’t know how to let go. The overemphasis on going deeper, which is just another way of doing more, is that it can sometimes lead to injury. Sometimes we need to let go of the need to go deeper and just be where we are. 

– What do you find to be the greates challenge in the yoga practice, for your self and in general?

– I have so many challenges, but one of these challenges that I struggle with is allowing myself the freedom to play. 

– When does yoga stop being yoga for you?

– Yoga stops being yoga for me when there’s hardness in the mind.