Ambassador’s Corner: Dharma Yoga

When’s the last time you took a moment (or two) to slow down? I used to practice yoga regularly throughout college because I enjoyed learning new skills and taking a break from the hustle and bustle of finals weeks.

Now that I’m well out of college, it’s more of an “every so often” occurrence. This is counteractive to what we should focus on as we age! Did you know you lose about 25 to 30% of your flexibility by the age of 70? We become less mobile, hunch over our computers, work from home and generally just tend to move less the older we get. But it doesn’t have to be that way and yoga is something for anyone at any age that can bring so many benefits.

But before we dive in, this Ambassador’s Corner is supporting the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that helps veterans and service members transition into their civilian lives. Whether they have sustained physical injuries while on duty or have developed severe depression or PTSD, the Wounded Warrior Project aims to help as many veterans and service members as they can. Learn more about them and how you can help by visiting woundedwarriorproject.org.

Sydney’s Chosen Nonprofit: Wounded Warrior Project

Click here to donate!

Now, let’s get to the recap!

Dharma Yoga has been around since 2005 and was founded by Austinite Keith Kachtick, who also happens to be a Texas Longhorn alumni! The classes range from vigorous vinyasa flows to relaxing end-of-day gentle Hatha nightcaps to allow their students to expand their yoga repertoire and continuous flow through all stages of life.

Now, let’s talk a little bit more about Keith because his resume is incredibly impressive and I had the opportunity to take one of his classes. He’s taught meditation and yoga nationally and internationally for over 25 years. From 1998 to 2005, he even traveled to New York and was a senior instructor for the Lineage Project, which is a Buddhist nonprofit that offers meditation and yoga asana to New York City prisons.

Out of the many memorable moments from Keith’s class, a few stuck out to me in particular that I’d like to share. First, he’s extremely charismatic and makes everyone feel so welcome. No matter if you were a student of his for years or it was just your first class, he made you feel welcomed and truly allowed everyone in the class just to let go and enjoy the moment. Second, the class style was truly one of a kind. Out of all the yoga classes I’ve been to — and let me just say, it’s been quite a few — this was, by far, the most out of the box and extremely unique. If you’ve ever done any standard vinyasa class, you’ll know there is a specific flow the teacher will take you through and then repeat that or variations of it for most of the class. Although his class was technically a vinyasa, it wasn’t like any other class I had been a part of. He tailored the class to fit the needs of the attendees, asking all of us what area of the body or specific poses we wanted to focus on. He worked in core work that also included class participation. And overall, the music style and way he flowed through each section were exactly what you’d expect from someone who’s been practicing for 25 years — fantastic.

If you need a yoga class that’s completely different from what you’re used to or you’re like me and need a bit more relaxation to slow things down and balance out your current workout routine, I’d highly recommend a class at Dharma Yoga. Not only are you experiencing someone’s yoga style, but you’re also helping support a local business that has been around for almost 20 years!

As I mentioned, they offer so many different styles of classes that range from more upbeat and sweat-inducing to completely soothing and everywhere in between to show off their unique talents and backgrounds while giving you the variety that is so beneficial when it comes to your workout routine.

Maybe you’re reading this, and you’ve already had the opportunity to experience Dharma Yoga but it’s been a while — take this as a sign to go back and try another class. Maybe you’re reading this and are already Dharma Yoga’s number one fan. In that case, keep spreading the word and encourage a friend to join you next time!

Yoga has something for everyone, and Dharma Yoga is the perfect place to experience that. When you do, make sure to share your experiences on social media and with your friends because that support goes a long way for our small local businesses!