yoga: n. union

“Yoga is the perfect opportunity to be curious about who you are” ~Jason Crandell

I like to refer to Pilates and Yoga as my “two great lovers.” However, this was not always the case. When I first started practicing Yoga about seven years ago I despised it. It hurt my shoulders, my back, everything right down to my fingernails. I couldn’t understand what the draw was for anyone who didn’t have the flexibility of a ballerina. I struggled through a few classes, most way beyond my ability, then finally got fed up and left yoga in search of something that seemed a bit more “my style” (something for people who could not touch their toes). What I found was Pilates, which turned out to be the perfect match for my body. It was a combination of strengthening and stretching that catered to all body types, from ballerina to stiff guy. After two years of Pilates I decided to give Yoga another shot. Finding myself back in downward dog was a surprise, yet even more surprising was that this time I was actually enjoying myself. My shoulders weren’t aching, I felt strong and balanced, there was a sense of relaxation and spaciousness in the pose. So began my love affair with yoga, one that will last a lifetime.

Taking the core strength, body awareness, and anatomical alignment that you gain from Pilates, and incorporating it into yoga can transform one’s practice, allowing you to go deeper than ever before. When the body moves from the center, everything falls into place; correct alignment, correct neuromuscular patterns, and a feeling of overall strength, balance, with a sense of ease throughout the body. Impressed by how perfectly married the two seemed to be, I began practicing yoga on a regular basis along with Pilates, and the results were amazing. While physically I went from not being able to touch my toes to being able to effortlessly slide into the splits, what was even more significant was the effect on my overall being; deeper breath, space and comfort in the body, balanced strength, and a general sense of joy and contentment in my life radiated out of these practices.

In the spring of 2007 I departed for a three month adventure trough SE Asia and Indonesia. The focus was studying Traditional Thai Massage in Northern Thailand from one of the ancient masters, and a yoga teacher training in Bali. The experience was incredible, increasing my fascination of movement, connecting with the body’s intuitive knowledge, and exploring the deep roots and wisdom of these ancient practices. It is the passion for body movement and the personal experience of its benefits that continue to make me excited about Yoga and Pilates everyday. This fuels my teaching and serves as inspiration to my students.

I am a Yoga Alliance 200hr RYT (registered yoga teacher). My inspirations in teaching and have come from a wide rage of styles and teachers. Those I’ve studied extensively with include: Shiva Rae who teaches a very fluid Vinyasa style, Allaine Stricklen who is an anatomically focused Iyengar Senior Teacher, David Williams the king of Ashtanga Vinyasa, Edward Clark creator of Tripsichore Yoga, and Emile Wendle a yogic historian, philosopher, and pranayama master. I am eternally grateful to all my teachers who continue to walk into my life on a daily basis, for we are all both students and teachers at every moment.

Kate teaches yoga both locally at O2 Aspen in Colorado, and Internationally at Bali Spirit in Bali, Indonesia. Her passion is traveling around and sharing the joy of yoga with the world. Stay tuned for upcoming Yoga/Ski retreats: www.yogaski.com

To quote David Williams, “Yoga if done properly, will serve you the rest of your life making you healthier and wiser as you age rather than sicker and senile. It’s really all about seeing just how good you can make yourself feel!”