Yogi Life: Austin's Yoga Treasures and the People Behind Them
by Karie Milewski, M. Ed.
Editorial Assistant
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Sure, it’s Austin, but yoga isn’t just for hippies anymore. Nor is it reserved exclusively for young, rugged athletes or the pliable gymnasts in town. From the sweltering heat of Bikram to innovative contemporary fusions (triangle pose to hip hop beats, anyone?), you’ll find your favorite style in our guide to some of Austin’s most reputable yoga studios. Plus, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the yogi/entrepreneurs who brought them to you. All of this, just in time to take advantage of “Free Yoga Day” (freedayofyoga.com) on Monday, Sept. 7th. Namaste.
COSMO WAYNE (YogaGroove, Owner)
A little more than eight years ago, the practices of the Bikram Yoga School in India were delivered to a quaint, north Austin strip mall. The self-described “funky-cool-groovy” studio now known as Yogagroove has been there ever since, preaching a basic, but enduring mantra: take time to listen; to your body and yourself. The studio’s owner, Cosmo Wayne, holds fast to this principle, as well as the traditional 26 postures and two breathing exercises Bikram Choudhury teaches his students. No exceptions.
“Yoga, in the Bikram practice, means marriage,” explains Wayne. “Maintaining this form of yoga is like working on a marriage between the mind and the body.”
And similar to matrimony, there are customary yoga practices that keep its followers challenged and ultimately, invigorated. The instructors at Yogagroove, all Bikram-certified, gently motivate beginners while providing focus for those who consider themselves more enlightened yogis. And if you happen to find that you’re far from flexible, Wayne offers the following words of encouragement:
“Eventually in the future when you are ready, you will touch your toes and then you won’t remember not touching your toes. Just make sure to leave the “can’t,” “afraid” and “unable” out of your vocabulary.”
Yogagroove is truly a one-stop shop for those looking to relax the mind, body and spirit. In addition to more than 50 yoga classes a week, the studio features a variety of massage services, including Shiatsu, a Japanese form of bodywork incorporating finger pressure massage. After a sweaty class, you can even refuel with an organic energy bar, raw chocolate or locally brewed kombucha.
Yogagroove (bikramyogaaustin.com)
Q&A
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
Listen to your teachers to become good students. Listen to your body. Listen to yourself.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOGA POSE?
I no longer have a favorite pose since they all have different meanings. Different days hold different notions of strength, flexibility and aches or pains making poses feel different.
WHY DO YOU CONSIDER MEDITATION AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
Although not specifically practiced at the end of class, meditation is an unspoken part of the entire practice in the same way that we focus and concentrate to make the most of every pose. Bikram states that we should be able to meditate as easily on a busy highway as in a quiet room filled with candles, music or silence.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
Open your mind and give it another try. Take at least three classes in the first week before judging the practice. This applies to all styles.
LEAH KRAMER (Sunstone Yoga North Hills Center, owner)
When you walk into any given hot or power yoga class at Sunstone Yoga, the first thing you’ll notice are brightly colored wristbands worn by most of the students. Almost immediately you feel a sense of unity and self-awareness among the classmates — a key part of Sunstone Yoga’s philosophy. Each of the seven “focus wristband” colors represents a student’s current level of achievement and are used to assist in developing new goals throughout their yoga practice.
Leah Kramer, owner of Sunstone Yoga in the North Hills Shopping Center, is most likely sporting the dark purple wristband to symbolize her advanced experience. After all, she learned how to do a tripod headstand at the age of three.
“My grandmother introduced me to yoga at an early age,” says Kramer. “I’ve been doing it ever since. I practice yoga to stay sane. I crave it physically and need it mentally.”
Yoga has taught Kramer to slow down and enjoy the present, a refreshing vibe that’s become a vital part of the underlying ambience at Sunstone. Students learn more than how to perfect their downward-dog: they discover how to turn off their brains and exist in the “now.”
The five different classes offered at Sunstone are designed to help students increase their strength and improve flexibility. One that stands out in particular is their unique “wood” class which combines isometric stretching techniques with core strengthening movements. Plus, the studio is completely full-service – yoga mats and towels are provided to all students who enroll in a class.
Sunstone Yoga North Hills Center (sunstoneyoga.com)
Q&A
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TRY HOT YOGA FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Hydrate before attending a hot yoga class, especially during the summer months when we are already prone to dehydration. Come with an empty stomach and avoid eating two hours before class. Many people assume that hot yoga would be miserable without giving it a try, yet I estimate that nine out of 10 people end up loving it.
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
“Yoga” means many things to me, but the most prominent meaning is freedom from thy self. When you enter the yoga room, I encourage you to lose yourself in the moment, in the posture, in the feeling and in the present. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
ANY ADVICE FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN’T TOUCH THEIR TOES?
The person that can’t touch their toes has the most to gain! Very few people walk into the studio “flexible” — students will be amazed at the changes in their bodies over time. We all start somewhere!
MEG KANEWSKE (Austin Kula Yoga, Owner)
As far as serving the Austin yoga community goes, this bustling Tarrytown studio is at the top of the list. Austin Kula Yoga, by its very own title, represents a peaceful place where people can connect with themselves and their community. In Sanskrit, “Kula” means community, and the studio hosts everything from classes to events to yoga lessons for kids.
All in all, Kula seems to have something for everyone. High school student? Swap those moldy softball jerseys for some sweatpants and get your PE credit doing yoga. Stressed? Check out the Restorative Yoga class and lose yourself in poses that promote deep relaxation and healing. Bored with traditional yoga? Try Hip HopYoga, a contemporary class where the music beats will surely get you sweating.
Kula’s owner, Meg Kanewske, enjoys adapting to the needs of the community but prenatal yoga (also offered at the studio) is her real expertise. In fact, this was her inspiration for opening Austin Kula Yoga in the first place.
“As a mom, I felt the difficulty my student’s had in finding time to practice,” says Kanewske. “I wanted to create a yoga space where families could grow and be taken care of.”
Kanewske has struggled with back problems since the age of 16 and yoga has been instrumental in keeping her aches and pains to a minimum. She attributes some of this healing process to the spiritual and emotional benefits yoga offers. This is why she incorporates savasana, a relaxing pose that’s the equivalent to lying on the ground, into the end of each of her yoga sessions to allow the body to rest and reflect.
Austin Kula Yoga (austinkulayoga.com)
Q&A
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
When you are on the mat, the demands of life dissipate. It is just you, your body and your breath. The rest of the world is always waiting, but hopefully we can face it with a little more peace after taking the time to allow our body to open.
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
Listen, love and truly invite acceptance into every aspect of your life.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE? WHY?
The mountain pose! When you really take the time to find your toes, your feet, your legs and the spaces throughout the spine, the pose opens up your chest allowing your breath to move through your body. It symbolizes everything from healing to love.
MARDY CHEN (BYD Austin, Founder)
At the forefront of this notorious Bikram yoga craze is two serene and relaxed studios in Westlake and as of this past summer, downtown Austin. The BYD Austin studios eat, sleep and breathe Bikram Yoga — they are an official affiliate of the one and only Bikram’s Yoga College of India. The idea of holding a seemingly uncomfortable pose in a room with the heat cranked to 105 degrees may not appeal to some. But the health benefits of Bikram should appeal to all.
“This style of yoga is designed to change the construction of your body,” explains founder Mardy Chen. “Practicing in a heated room allows your body to become malleable which enables you to safely do the postures.”
According to Chen, practicing yoga in the equivalent of an Austin summer afternoon can thin the blood, efficiently detoxify the body and even lower cholesterol. Worried about holding a plank pose on the sweat of a previous yoga student? If cleanliness is a concern, BYD Austin uses triple air filtration and ozone generators to ensure a sanitized yoga sanctuary.
Chen, who has been practicing Bikram for 10 years, encourages her fellow teachers at the studio to have an “off the mat” approach to yoga. This means your class is not only about the 26 postures and two breathing exercises typical of Bikram, but also about how to handle the stresses of everyday life.
For those still hesitant about the sweaty yoga concept, BYD Austin offers 30 days of unlimited yoga for under $40 with no commitments.
BYD Austin (www. bydaustin.com)
Q&A
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
Never let anyone steal your peace.
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
I have learned the value of “ahimsa,” which means to inflict no injury or harm to others or self. I have learned about “satya,” which is truth in word and thought. In “asana,” I have learned about discipline of the body including rules and postures to keep it disease-free and for preserving vital energy.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE? WHY?
The One-Arm Peacock in Lotus Pose. I was amazed the first time that I saw a picture of this posture. With increased concentration, determination, faith and patience, I was finally able to demonstrate it.
SARAH LEMOS, DEAN MAHAN, VIC MCWHERTER (Yoga Vida, co-owners)
The first to introduce Bikram yoga to our city in 1999, Yoga Vida has changed our idea of hot yoga to keep up with the fit and active Ausitinite. Constantly evolving and again revolutionizing how yoga is practiced, Yoga Vida is now Austin’s premiere heated power vinyasa flow yoga studio inspired by the teachings of Baron Baptiste.
The classes are called “flow” partly because of the fluid connection between each posture and specific breathing techniques. Since you’re constantly moving in a hot environment, this “Baptiste” style of yoga can be noticeably challenging and vigorous. In fact, due to its intensity, Yoga Vida has been known to attract marathon runners as well as many of Austin’s triathletes.
“A hot studio helps the body transform, just as heating glass allows it to be reshaped and reformed,” explains Vic McWherter, co-owner of Yoga Vida.
Although a yoga class at Yoga Vida is sure to make your heart beat faster than a lot of others, McWherter believes power flow yoga can help you quiet the mind in order to appreciate the present moment. And, just like any other sweaty workout, this style of yoga does a really great job detoxifying your body.
“The elements of detoxification and relaxation found in yoga perfectly compliments massage,” explains McWherter. In fact, because of this synergy, Yoga Vida has built a partnership with Serenity Now Massage.
The massage service at Yoga Vida is designed to compliment your intensive yoga sessions by relieving any residual body tension. You can customize your choice with such therapies as traditional deep tissue or specialized myofascial release. The prices are reasonable too: You can snag an hour-long massage for just $40.
Yoga Vida (yogavida.net)
Q+A
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
1. The beauty of being present and aware in every moment.
2. The freedom of being more focused on what’s happening internally.
3. The gifts that are realized through patient, devoted and consistent practice.
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
“The prize is in the process.” This is a Baron Baptiste teaching that is often quoted and is important for newcomers to know. People often come to yoga with backgrounds as triathletes or marathon runners who can easily get competitive in their first few classes. But in yoga, there is no ending destination. There is only growth. We emphasize the process and not the idea of competition or perfection.
WHY DO YOU CONSIDER MEDITATION AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
Physical movement — the asana practice — is one of the eight limbs of yoga. The first Yoga Sutra teaches that yoga is about calming the fluctuations of the mind. Through the active and flowing movement of the body, we offer an avenue to merge into deeper layers of union between the mind, body and spirit: An integrated you!
KEITH KACHTICK (Dharma Yoga, Founder)
The sense of Zen is immediate upon entering this dimly-lit Central Austin studio. On the main wall, an enormous pair of Buddha eyes borders a beautiful Tibetan script that translates as “the jewel is in the Lotus.” If you can’t decipher the metaphor, it suggests that enlightenment can be found within the vessel of each pose.
Dharma Yoga is one of the few schools in the country to formally combine Buddhist practices with traditional Indian yoga. The idea of enlightenment is taken seriously here since, in Buddhism, it is the discovery of the truth about life. This means that every pose in Dharma should be practiced as a type of meditation to enhance personal growth.
“The more we practice yoga on the mat then the more yoga will spread throughout the rest of our day,” says Dharma founder and published author Keith Kachtick. “If we cultivate qualities like patience, love and fearlessness during class then those qualities will be available for us off the mat.”
Kachtick knows a thing or two about courage and love: He once taught meditation to youth prisoners in the South Bronx and Harlem — not the safest locations in New York City. The experience is what actually inspired him to get deeper into yoga and eventually open the now 2,400-square foot Dharma studio in 2005.
The classes and workshops offered go beyond just your typical yoga session. Dharma Yoga combines Thai Yoga massage, intensive core work, chanting and a wide range of world music (really, it could be anything from Chopin to Stevie Ray Vaughan) with their physically challenging poses.
Dharma Yoga (dharma-yoga.net)
Q&A
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
If your initial yoga experience was in a gym devoid of chanting or yogic philosophy, chances are the practice was largely ego-driven. The poses in that kind of experience feel more like a performance than a prostration and can exacerbate the ego rather than diminish it. At Dharma Yoga, we like it when people come to us from other studios: It’s like first trying fast-food sushi and then experiencing dinner at Uchi.
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
It teaches us how to breathe in a healthy way. Most Americans breathe 15 to 20 times a minute in a very shallow and upper-chest sort of way. That’s essentially panting, which is what we do when we’re scared or injured. This sends an ongoing message to the nervous system that the body is under attack, which can lead to fatigue, irritation, anxiety and heart disease. Yoga trains the mind and body to breathe slower, deeper and lower in the belly. Deep breathing five or six times a minute sends a message that all is well.
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
The word “yoga” translates to “union,” which means the marriage of the individual self and the all-encompassing True Self (the Source, divinity, God or whatever you’d like to call it). Interestingly, the Tibetan word for yoga translates as “re-union,” which implies a kind of return home. This marriage is the guiding principle of Dharma Yoga.
DESIRAE PIERCE (Breath and Body Yoga, Owner)
Austin is home to people from all walks of life but our city’s unofficial motto of “Keep Austin Weird” reveals that we all share one thing in common: We know how to break the mold. In light of this collective mantra, one north central studio decided to go with the flow. Literally.
Breath and Body Yoga is Austin’s only contemporary studio and the first to focus solely on Vinyasa, a dynamic and flowing style of yoga that connects movement to breath. Veterans of traditional poses have probably never tried the positions at this architecturally-savvy studio (it was designed by the award-winning architect, Dick Clark).
“We integrate progressive yoga styles and personalized service to the hip community that is unique to Austin,” says the studio’s director Desirae Pierce.
She’s not kidding about the one-on-one attention. The studio offers just as many private group and individual classes as it does regular group sessions. If you are worried about an existing injury, there is no better person to individually analyze your triangle pose than Pierce. Outside of her role as instructor, she also has over 12 years of experience directing yoga photo shoots for companies such as Wal-Mart and Target.
Breath and Body continues to expand beyond conventional yoga by offering workshops and even a boot camp on the last weekend of each month. Unlike the drill sergeant style you may be familiar with, this boot camp is more like a retreat filled with yoga, meditation and organic food.
Tight budget? Not ready to practice around other people? Check out Breath and Body’s website and download free classes recorded live from the studio.
Breath and Body Yoga (breathandbodyyoga.com
Q&A
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL YOGA STUDENT?
There’s no such thing. We all start yoga with different muscle memory from our past lifestyles. But the one thing we all have in common is how we feel inside. We all laugh, cry, feel sore, scared, uncertain and elated at times. As long you are open to personal and physical transformation, yoga is for you.
HOW DOES YOGA ENHANCE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?
Before yoga, I filled my body with poisons like drugs and alcohol. I tried to escape how I really felt inside. Yoga helped me find balance and lead a much healthier lifestyle. I am so much stronger physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with yoga in my life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
The more your body resists yoga, the more you probably need it. Yoga is not about liking or disliking, it’s about developing a relationship with your body, mind and spirit. To those who did not like it, keep trying. You might not have been ready for yoga. Find another teacher or another studio — but just practice.
MEHTAB (Yoga Yoga, Founder)
If you have yet to drive past a Yoga Yoga studio, you must be new in town. This Austin icon is easily one of the largest yoga communities in the country with five locations and more than 350 classes a week. Now staffed with more than 100 certified teachers, Yoga Yoga wasn’t always so prominent.
Before 1998, the flagship location was actually an extra room in the home of Mehtab, Yoga Yoga’s founder, and Laura Benton. In the winter of that year the first studio location opened on South Lamar and rapidly expanded to even include a wellness spa founded in Ayruveda, an alternative system of medicine native to India.
“We were one of the first in the country to offer a wide variety of yoga styles under one roof,” says Mehtab. “There is no one yoga better than another; all types have something unique for different people.”
Yoga Yoga self proclaims that they have a yoga class for moms, dads, freaks, geeks, amateurs and athletes. The studio also hopes to expand experience on the mat into everyday life by offering seminars and yoga events such as the Yoga and Art workshop on September 13.
For those who really want (or need) an extreme rejuvenation, Yoga Yoga is the only studio in Austin to offer international vacations to the world’s most beautiful places. Just think, next summer you could be practicing your half-moon pose on the Maya Tulum beaches of the Carribean.
Yoga Yoga (yogayoga.com)
Q&A
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR STUDIO?
There is a yoga for every body and yoga is for everybody.
ANY ADVICE FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN’T TOUCH THEIR TOES AND IS AFRAID THAT THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO DO THE POSES?
Yoga is not about touching your toes. It’s about opening your heart. The truth is, no one really cares if you can do a pose or not, and you shouldn’t either.
HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO YOGA?
An old yoga book I found as a college student had more than 300 yoga poses and I wanted to do them all. I found out later that I didn’t need to.
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
No matter where you are, it always makes you feel like you are at home.
HOW HAVE YOU INNOVATED YOGA?
We were one of the first yoga studios in the country to offer a wide variety of different types of yoga under one roof. There is no best type of yoga; all styles have something unique for different people.
SEAN MCNALLIE (Bodhi Yoga, Founder/Owner)
“Let love in. Let love out.” These six words serve as the foundation for Bodhi Yoga, a studio that prides itself on a more organic approach. Sticking to the traditional goals of strengthening the body and clearing the mind, all of the studio’s teachers have extensive experience with yoga masters such as Bikram and Baron Baptiste. And with such a variety of influences, Sean McNallie — Bodhi’s owner and founder – believes that the studio’s dedicated approach to yoga is certain to transform anyone’s life. Just like it did for him.
McNallie discovered yoga as an undergraduate at St. Edward’s University and initially used it to enhance his studies in theater. In 2001, he opened Bodhi to expand on the once small yoga community and to facilitate a greater sense of health and wellness in Austin. And expand it he has.
Their newest project has transformed the idea of a yoga studio into a bona fide wellness center. Bodhi Yoga Bee Cave is nearly 5,000 eco-friendly square feet of massage therapy, acupuncture, organic food and yoga boutique all rolled into one. Using recycled building material, sustainable bamboo flooring and soy-based wall insulation, Bodhi Bee Cave is the country’s first green mega-studio.
“Green is abundant in nature and signifies life and renewal, which is what yoga is all about,” says McNallie.
For those who are completely new to yoga, McNallie suggests giving Bikram a try. The classes are designed to give new students a solid foundation on the poses and, so long as you start off slow, help the body acclimate to heat (yes, even a steamy Austin afternoon).
Bodhi Yoga (bodhiyoga.com)
Q&A
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH BIKRAM YOGA, WHY PRACTICE IN A HEATED ROOM?
As Bikram Choudhury would say, “If you want to bend metal around, first you’ve got to heat it up.” It’s the same with the human body. Heat does amazing things and allows the student to get deeper into their practice. Warm blood has the capacity to carry more oxygen to the cells, which clean and heal the body on a cellular level.
WHY DO YOU PRACTICE YOGA?
It keeps me sane. Simple as that. It allows me to get back to who I am in this crazy world — it’s my church.
HOW DOES YOGA ENHANCE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?
It gives me the strength to let go of yesterday and focus on today.
MICHAEL GREY (Black Swan Yoga, Founder)
By now, you probably have an idea of just how beneficial yoga can be for the body and mind. But let’s not glaze over one little drawback that keeps many of us away from the studio: the price. Enter one of Austin’s newest yoga studios to the rescue.
In the heart of downtown, Black Swan Yoga is the city’s premiere donation-based studio. Yes, there is a suggested amount, but even that is lower ($10 a class) than the typical $15 you’ll find around town.
“After teaching thousands of students at other studios, I saw how many people quit after the initial ‘trial offer’ expired,” explains the studio’s founder Michael Grey. “I do believe yoga is amazing but I don’t think people should have to pay amazing prices.”
Although the classes are relatively inexpensive, the atmosphere of the studio feels far from cheap. Black Swan has many of the luxuries you’d find at a lavish studio (mats, towels, showers) and even some you might not (refreshing coco water).
Most donation-based studios are only able to offer one style of yoga, but again Black Swan squashes that stereotype with more than 11 completely different classes. You’ll find the traditional and the contemporary. Favorites include the tune blastin’ MP3 Vinyasa and Vinyasa Thai complete with a thai massage. The studio also has you covered if you’re short on money and time — all classes are no longer than an hour. Check out their tweets for real-time yoga news (twitter.com/blackswanyoga).
Black Swan Yoga (blackswanyoga.com)
Q&A
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A YOGA STUDIO IN AUSTIN?
Austin is an amazing city. It’s full of great people, culture, nature, hills, trees and lakes. Music is very important to me so I started naming the studio after a Thom Yorke song and went from there.
IS MEDITATION PRACTICED AT THE END OF YOUR CLASSES? WHY DO YOU CONSIDER THIS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
We do help students get into meditation at the end of class. The mind strengthens, stretches and opens through breath and meditation. The class and poses help us take away all the layers of physical stress so that we can get into the mind which, I’ll phrase Beck, is “Where it’s at!”
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
Yoga means to unite or to yoke. I hope that yoga helps people become more in touch with themselves both physically and mentally. As a studio, we are trying to unite many different styles, demographics and people. It’s all about coming together with yoga as the central theme.
COSMO WAYNE (YogaGroove, Owner)
A little more than eight years ago, the practices of the Bikram Yoga School in India were delivered to a quaint, north Austin strip mall. The self-described “funky-cool-groovy” studio now known as Yogagroove has been there ever since, preaching a basic, but enduring mantra: take time to listen; to your body and yourself. The studio’s owner, Cosmo Wayne, holds fast to this principle, as well as the traditional 26 postures and two breathing exercises Bikram Choudhury teaches his students. No exceptions.
“Yoga, in the Bikram practice, means marriage,” explains Wayne. “Maintaining this form of yoga is like working on a marriage between the mind and the body.”
And similar to matrimony, there are customary yoga practices that keep its followers challenged and ultimately, invigorated. The instructors at Yogagroove, all Bikram-certified, gently motivate beginners while providing focus for those who consider themselves more enlightened yogis. And if you happen to find that you’re far from flexible, Wayne offers the following words of encouragement:
“Eventually in the future when you are ready, you will touch your toes and then you won’t remember not touching your toes. Just make sure to leave the “can’t,” “afraid” and “unable” out of your vocabulary.”
Yogagroove is truly a one-stop shop for those looking to relax the mind, body and spirit. In addition to more than 50 yoga classes a week, the studio features a variety of massage services, including Shiatsu, a Japanese form of bodywork incorporating finger pressure massage. After a sweaty class, you can even refuel with an organic energy bar, raw chocolate or locally brewed kombucha.
Yogagroove (bikramyogaaustin.com)
Q&A
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
Listen to your teachers to become good students. Listen to your body. Listen to yourself.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE YOGA POSE?
I no longer have a favorite pose since they all have different meanings. Different days hold different notions of strength, flexibility and aches or pains making poses feel different.
WHY DO YOU CONSIDER MEDITATION AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
Although not specifically practiced at the end of class, meditation is an unspoken part of the entire practice in the same way that we focus and concentrate to make the most of every pose. Bikram states that we should be able to meditate as easily on a busy highway as in a quiet room filled with candles, music or silence.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
Open your mind and give it another try. Take at least three classes in the first week before judging the practice. This applies to all styles.
LEAH KRAMER (Sunstone Yoga North Hills Center, owner)
When you walk into any given hot or power yoga class at Sunstone Yoga, the first thing you’ll notice are brightly colored wristbands worn by most of the students. Almost immediately you feel a sense of unity and self-awareness among the classmates — a key part of Sunstone Yoga’s philosophy. Each of the seven “focus wristband” colors represents a student’s current level of achievement and are used to assist in developing new goals throughout their yoga practice.
Leah Kramer, owner of Sunstone Yoga in the North Hills Shopping Center, is most likely sporting the dark purple wristband to symbolize her advanced experience. After all, she learned how to do a tripod headstand at the age of three.
“My grandmother introduced me to yoga at an early age,” says Kramer. “I’ve been doing it ever since. I practice yoga to stay sane. I crave it physically and need it mentally.”
Yoga has taught Kramer to slow down and enjoy the present, a refreshing vibe that’s become a vital part of the underlying ambience at Sunstone. Students learn more than how to perfect their downward-dog: they discover how to turn off their brains and exist in the “now.”
The five different classes offered at Sunstone are designed to help students increase their strength and improve flexibility. One that stands out in particular is their unique “wood” class which combines isometric stretching techniques with core strengthening movements. Plus, the studio is completely full-service – yoga mats and towels are provided to all students who enroll in a class.
Sunstone Yoga North Hills Center (sunstoneyoga.com)
Q&A
ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TRY HOT YOGA FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Hydrate before attending a hot yoga class, especially during the summer months when we are already prone to dehydration. Come with an empty stomach and avoid eating two hours before class. Many people assume that hot yoga would be miserable without giving it a try, yet I estimate that nine out of 10 people end up loving it.
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
“Yoga” means many things to me, but the most prominent meaning is freedom from thy self. When you enter the yoga room, I encourage you to lose yourself in the moment, in the posture, in the feeling and in the present. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
ANY ADVICE FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN’T TOUCH THEIR TOES?
The person that can’t touch their toes has the most to gain! Very few people walk into the studio “flexible” — students will be amazed at the changes in their bodies over time. We all start somewhere!
MEG KANEWSKE (Austin Kula Yoga, Owner)
As far as serving the Austin yoga community goes, this bustling Tarrytown studio is at the top of the list. Austin Kula Yoga, by its very own title, represents a peaceful place where people can connect with themselves and their community. In Sanskrit, “Kula” means community, and the studio hosts everything from classes to events to yoga lessons for kids.
All in all, Kula seems to have something for everyone. High school student? Swap those moldy softball jerseys for some sweatpants and get your PE credit doing yoga. Stressed? Check out the Restorative Yoga class and lose yourself in poses that promote deep relaxation and healing. Bored with traditional yoga? Try Hip HopYoga, a contemporary class where the music beats will surely get you sweating.
Kula’s owner, Meg Kanewske, enjoys adapting to the needs of the community but prenatal yoga (also offered at the studio) is her real expertise. In fact, this was her inspiration for opening Austin Kula Yoga in the first place.
“As a mom, I felt the difficulty my student’s had in finding time to practice,” says Kanewske. “I wanted to create a yoga space where families could grow and be taken care of.”
Kanewske has struggled with back problems since the age of 16 and yoga has been instrumental in keeping her aches and pains to a minimum. She attributes some of this healing process to the spiritual and emotional benefits yoga offers. This is why she incorporates savasana, a relaxing pose that’s the equivalent to lying on the ground, into the end of each of her yoga sessions to allow the body to rest and reflect.
Austin Kula Yoga (austinkulayoga.com)
Q&A
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
When you are on the mat, the demands of life dissipate. It is just you, your body and your breath. The rest of the world is always waiting, but hopefully we can face it with a little more peace after taking the time to allow our body to open.
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
Listen, love and truly invite acceptance into every aspect of your life.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE? WHY?
The mountain pose! When you really take the time to find your toes, your feet, your legs and the spaces throughout the spine, the pose opens up your chest allowing your breath to move through your body. It symbolizes everything from healing to love.
MARDY CHEN (BYD Austin, Founder)
At the forefront of this notorious Bikram yoga craze is two serene and relaxed studios in Westlake and as of this past summer, downtown Austin. The BYD Austin studios eat, sleep and breathe Bikram Yoga — they are an official affiliate of the one and only Bikram’s Yoga College of India. The idea of holding a seemingly uncomfortable pose in a room with the heat cranked to 105 degrees may not appeal to some. But the health benefits of Bikram should appeal to all.
“This style of yoga is designed to change the construction of your body,” explains founder Mardy Chen. “Practicing in a heated room allows your body to become malleable which enables you to safely do the postures.”
According to Chen, practicing yoga in the equivalent of an Austin summer afternoon can thin the blood, efficiently detoxify the body and even lower cholesterol. Worried about holding a plank pose on the sweat of a previous yoga student? If cleanliness is a concern, BYD Austin uses triple air filtration and ozone generators to ensure a sanitized yoga sanctuary.
Chen, who has been practicing Bikram for 10 years, encourages her fellow teachers at the studio to have an “off the mat” approach to yoga. This means your class is not only about the 26 postures and two breathing exercises typical of Bikram, but also about how to handle the stresses of everyday life.
For those still hesitant about the sweaty yoga concept, BYD Austin offers 30 days of unlimited yoga for under $40 with no commitments.
BYD Austin (www. bydaustin.com)
Q&A
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
Never let anyone steal your peace.
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
I have learned the value of “ahimsa,” which means to inflict no injury or harm to others or self. I have learned about “satya,” which is truth in word and thought. In “asana,” I have learned about discipline of the body including rules and postures to keep it disease-free and for preserving vital energy.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE YOGA POSE? WHY?
The One-Arm Peacock in Lotus Pose. I was amazed the first time that I saw a picture of this posture. With increased concentration, determination, faith and patience, I was finally able to demonstrate it.
SARAH LEMOS, DEAN MAHAN, VIC MCWHERTER (Yoga Vida, co-owners)
The first to introduce Bikram yoga to our city in 1999, Yoga Vida has changed our idea of hot yoga to keep up with the fit and active Ausitinite. Constantly evolving and again revolutionizing how yoga is practiced, Yoga Vida is now Austin’s premiere heated power vinyasa flow yoga studio inspired by the teachings of Baron Baptiste.
The classes are called “flow” partly because of the fluid connection between each posture and specific breathing techniques. Since you’re constantly moving in a hot environment, this “Baptiste” style of yoga can be noticeably challenging and vigorous. In fact, due to its intensity, Yoga Vida has been known to attract marathon runners as well as many of Austin’s triathletes.
“A hot studio helps the body transform, just as heating glass allows it to be reshaped and reformed,” explains Vic McWherter, co-owner of Yoga Vida.
Although a yoga class at Yoga Vida is sure to make your heart beat faster than a lot of others, McWherter believes power flow yoga can help you quiet the mind in order to appreciate the present moment. And, just like any other sweaty workout, this style of yoga does a really great job detoxifying your body.
“The elements of detoxification and relaxation found in yoga perfectly compliments massage,” explains McWherter. In fact, because of this synergy, Yoga Vida has built a partnership with Serenity Now Massage.
The massage service at Yoga Vida is designed to compliment your intensive yoga sessions by relieving any residual body tension. You can customize your choice with such therapies as traditional deep tissue or specialized myofascial release. The prices are reasonable too: You can snag an hour-long massage for just $40.
Yoga Vida (yogavida.net)
Q+A
WHAT ARE THREE IMPORTANT LESSONS YOGA HAS TAUGHT YOU?
1. The beauty of being present and aware in every moment.
2. The freedom of being more focused on what’s happening internally.
3. The gifts that are realized through patient, devoted and consistent practice.
DO YOU HAVE ANY YOGA PHILOSOPHY OR MANTRA YOU’D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOUR STUDENTS?
“The prize is in the process.” This is a Baron Baptiste teaching that is often quoted and is important for newcomers to know. People often come to yoga with backgrounds as triathletes or marathon runners who can easily get competitive in their first few classes. But in yoga, there is no ending destination. There is only growth. We emphasize the process and not the idea of competition or perfection.
WHY DO YOU CONSIDER MEDITATION AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
Physical movement — the asana practice — is one of the eight limbs of yoga. The first Yoga Sutra teaches that yoga is about calming the fluctuations of the mind. Through the active and flowing movement of the body, we offer an avenue to merge into deeper layers of union between the mind, body and spirit: An integrated you!
KEITH KACHTICK (Dharma Yoga, Founder)
The sense of Zen is immediate upon entering this dimly-lit Central Austin studio. On the main wall, an enormous pair of Buddha eyes borders a beautiful Tibetan script that translates as “the jewel is in the Lotus.” If you can’t decipher the metaphor, it suggests that enlightenment can be found within the vessel of each pose.
Dharma Yoga is one of the few schools in the country to formally combine Buddhist practices with traditional Indian yoga. The idea of enlightenment is taken seriously here since, in Buddhism, it is the discovery of the truth about life. This means that every pose in Dharma should be practiced as a type of meditation to enhance personal growth.
“The more we practice yoga on the mat then the more yoga will spread throughout the rest of our day,” says Dharma founder and published author Keith Kachtick. “If we cultivate qualities like patience, love and fearlessness during class then those qualities will be available for us off the mat.”
Kachtick knows a thing or two about courage and love: He once taught meditation to youth prisoners in the South Bronx and Harlem — not the safest locations in New York City. The experience is what actually inspired him to get deeper into yoga and eventually open the now 2,400-square foot Dharma studio in 2005.
The classes and workshops offered go beyond just your typical yoga session. Dharma Yoga combines Thai Yoga massage, intensive core work, chanting and a wide range of world music (really, it could be anything from Chopin to Stevie Ray Vaughan) with their physically challenging poses.
Dharma Yoga (dharma-yoga.net)
Q&A
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
If your initial yoga experience was in a gym devoid of chanting or yogic philosophy, chances are the practice was largely ego-driven. The poses in that kind of experience feel more like a performance than a prostration and can exacerbate the ego rather than diminish it. At Dharma Yoga, we like it when people come to us from other studios: It’s like first trying fast-food sushi and then experiencing dinner at Uchi.
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
It teaches us how to breathe in a healthy way. Most Americans breathe 15 to 20 times a minute in a very shallow and upper-chest sort of way. That’s essentially panting, which is what we do when we’re scared or injured. This sends an ongoing message to the nervous system that the body is under attack, which can lead to fatigue, irritation, anxiety and heart disease. Yoga trains the mind and body to breathe slower, deeper and lower in the belly. Deep breathing five or six times a minute sends a message that all is well.
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
The word “yoga” translates to “union,” which means the marriage of the individual self and the all-encompassing True Self (the Source, divinity, God or whatever you’d like to call it). Interestingly, the Tibetan word for yoga translates as “re-union,” which implies a kind of return home. This marriage is the guiding principle of Dharma Yoga.
DESIRAE PIERCE (Breath and Body Yoga, Owner)
Austin is home to people from all walks of life but our city’s unofficial motto of “Keep Austin Weird” reveals that we all share one thing in common: We know how to break the mold. In light of this collective mantra, one north central studio decided to go with the flow. Literally.
Breath and Body Yoga is Austin’s only contemporary studio and the first to focus solely on Vinyasa, a dynamic and flowing style of yoga that connects movement to breath. Veterans of traditional poses have probably never tried the positions at this architecturally-savvy studio (it was designed by the award-winning architect, Dick Clark).
“We integrate progressive yoga styles and personalized service to the hip community that is unique to Austin,” says the studio’s director Desirae Pierce.
She’s not kidding about the one-on-one attention. The studio offers just as many private group and individual classes as it does regular group sessions. If you are worried about an existing injury, there is no better person to individually analyze your triangle pose than Pierce. Outside of her role as instructor, she also has over 12 years of experience directing yoga photo shoots for companies such as Wal-Mart and Target.
Breath and Body continues to expand beyond conventional yoga by offering workshops and even a boot camp on the last weekend of each month. Unlike the drill sergeant style you may be familiar with, this boot camp is more like a retreat filled with yoga, meditation and organic food.
Tight budget? Not ready to practice around other people? Check out Breath and Body’s website and download free classes recorded live from the studio.
Breath and Body Yoga (breathandbodyyoga.com
Q&A
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL YOGA STUDENT?
There’s no such thing. We all start yoga with different muscle memory from our past lifestyles. But the one thing we all have in common is how we feel inside. We all laugh, cry, feel sore, scared, uncertain and elated at times. As long you are open to personal and physical transformation, yoga is for you.
HOW DOES YOGA ENHANCE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?
Before yoga, I filled my body with poisons like drugs and alcohol. I tried to escape how I really felt inside. Yoga helped me find balance and lead a much healthier lifestyle. I am so much stronger physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually with yoga in my life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO HAS TRIED YOGA BEFORE AND DIDN’T LIKE IT?
The more your body resists yoga, the more you probably need it. Yoga is not about liking or disliking, it’s about developing a relationship with your body, mind and spirit. To those who did not like it, keep trying. You might not have been ready for yoga. Find another teacher or another studio — but just practice.
MEHTAB (Yoga Yoga, Founder)
If you have yet to drive past a Yoga Yoga studio, you must be new in town. This Austin icon is easily one of the largest yoga communities in the country with five locations and more than 350 classes a week. Now staffed with more than 100 certified teachers, Yoga Yoga wasn’t always so prominent.
Before 1998, the flagship location was actually an extra room in the home of Mehtab, Yoga Yoga’s founder, and Laura Benton. In the winter of that year the first studio location opened on South Lamar and rapidly expanded to even include a wellness spa founded in Ayruveda, an alternative system of medicine native to India.
“We were one of the first in the country to offer a wide variety of yoga styles under one roof,” says Mehtab. “There is no one yoga better than another; all types have something unique for different people.”
Yoga Yoga self proclaims that they have a yoga class for moms, dads, freaks, geeks, amateurs and athletes. The studio also hopes to expand experience on the mat into everyday life by offering seminars and yoga events such as the Yoga and Art workshop on September 13.
For those who really want (or need) an extreme rejuvenation, Yoga Yoga is the only studio in Austin to offer international vacations to the world’s most beautiful places. Just think, next summer you could be practicing your half-moon pose on the Maya Tulum beaches of the Carribean.
Yoga Yoga (yogayoga.com)
Q&A
WHAT IS THE MISSION OF YOUR STUDIO?
There is a yoga for every body and yoga is for everybody.
ANY ADVICE FOR THE PERSON WHO CAN’T TOUCH THEIR TOES AND IS AFRAID THAT THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO DO THE POSES?
Yoga is not about touching your toes. It’s about opening your heart. The truth is, no one really cares if you can do a pose or not, and you shouldn’t either.
HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO YOGA?
An old yoga book I found as a college student had more than 300 yoga poses and I wanted to do them all. I found out later that I didn’t need to.
HOW EXACTLY CAN YOGA RELAX AND REFRESH?
No matter where you are, it always makes you feel like you are at home.
HOW HAVE YOU INNOVATED YOGA?
We were one of the first yoga studios in the country to offer a wide variety of different types of yoga under one roof. There is no best type of yoga; all styles have something unique for different people.
SEAN MCNALLIE (Bodhi Yoga, Founder/Owner)
“Let love in. Let love out.” These six words serve as the foundation for Bodhi Yoga, a studio that prides itself on a more organic approach. Sticking to the traditional goals of strengthening the body and clearing the mind, all of the studio’s teachers have extensive experience with yoga masters such as Bikram and Baron Baptiste. And with such a variety of influences, Sean McNallie — Bodhi’s owner and founder – believes that the studio’s dedicated approach to yoga is certain to transform anyone’s life. Just like it did for him.
McNallie discovered yoga as an undergraduate at St. Edward’s University and initially used it to enhance his studies in theater. In 2001, he opened Bodhi to expand on the once small yoga community and to facilitate a greater sense of health and wellness in Austin. And expand it he has.
Their newest project has transformed the idea of a yoga studio into a bona fide wellness center. Bodhi Yoga Bee Cave is nearly 5,000 eco-friendly square feet of massage therapy, acupuncture, organic food and yoga boutique all rolled into one. Using recycled building material, sustainable bamboo flooring and soy-based wall insulation, Bodhi Bee Cave is the country’s first green mega-studio.
“Green is abundant in nature and signifies life and renewal, which is what yoga is all about,” says McNallie.
For those who are completely new to yoga, McNallie suggests giving Bikram a try. The classes are designed to give new students a solid foundation on the poses and, so long as you start off slow, help the body acclimate to heat (yes, even a steamy Austin afternoon).
Bodhi Yoga (bodhiyoga.com)
Q&A
FOR THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH BIKRAM YOGA, WHY PRACTICE IN A HEATED ROOM?
As Bikram Choudhury would say, “If you want to bend metal around, first you’ve got to heat it up.” It’s the same with the human body. Heat does amazing things and allows the student to get deeper into their practice. Warm blood has the capacity to carry more oxygen to the cells, which clean and heal the body on a cellular level.
WHY DO YOU PRACTICE YOGA?
It keeps me sane. Simple as that. It allows me to get back to who I am in this crazy world — it’s my church.
HOW DOES YOGA ENHANCE YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?
It gives me the strength to let go of yesterday and focus on today.
MICHAEL GREY (Black Swan Yoga, Founder)
By now, you probably have an idea of just how beneficial yoga can be for the body and mind. But let’s not glaze over one little drawback that keeps many of us away from the studio: the price. Enter one of Austin’s newest yoga studios to the rescue.
In the heart of downtown, Black Swan Yoga is the city’s premiere donation-based studio. Yes, there is a suggested amount, but even that is lower ($10 a class) than the typical $15 you’ll find around town.
“After teaching thousands of students at other studios, I saw how many people quit after the initial ‘trial offer’ expired,” explains the studio’s founder Michael Grey. “I do believe yoga is amazing but I don’t think people should have to pay amazing prices.”
Although the classes are relatively inexpensive, the atmosphere of the studio feels far from cheap. Black Swan has many of the luxuries you’d find at a lavish studio (mats, towels, showers) and even some you might not (refreshing coco water).
Most donation-based studios are only able to offer one style of yoga, but again Black Swan squashes that stereotype with more than 11 completely different classes. You’ll find the traditional and the contemporary. Favorites include the tune blastin’ MP3 Vinyasa and Vinyasa Thai complete with a thai massage. The studio also has you covered if you’re short on money and time — all classes are no longer than an hour. Check out their tweets for real-time yoga news (twitter.com/blackswanyoga).
Black Swan Yoga (blackswanyoga.com)
Q&A
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A YOGA STUDIO IN AUSTIN?
Austin is an amazing city. It’s full of great people, culture, nature, hills, trees and lakes. Music is very important to me so I started naming the studio after a Thom Yorke song and went from there.
IS MEDITATION PRACTICED AT THE END OF YOUR CLASSES? WHY DO YOU CONSIDER THIS AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOGA?
We do help students get into meditation at the end of class. The mind strengthens, stretches and opens through breath and meditation. The class and poses help us take away all the layers of physical stress so that we can get into the mind which, I’ll phrase Beck, is “Where it’s at!”
THE SANSKRIT WORD “YOGA” HAS MANY MEANINGS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU AND YOUR STUDIO?
Yoga means to unite or to yoke. I hope that yoga helps people become more in touch with themselves both physically and mentally. As a studio, we are trying to unite many different styles, demographics and people. It’s all about coming together with yoga as the central theme.
Austin's 10 Fittest, August 2009 Issue
Get Stoked to Get Soaked: 15 Austin Lake Activities, May 2009 Issue
Fairway to Fitness, June 2009 Issue
