I have had a regular Yoga practice for several years, and live within blocks of Yoga Heart Studio, but I drove right by it for three years before I finally took a class there. I used to sit on the patio at Chacho's looking at the Yoga Heart Studio sign across the street, and wonder what it was like, but something seemed a little intimidating about it. It might have been the fact that I wasn't sure about where to park and how to find the studio in the kinda dated looking two-story office building next to Blum's Furniture, which has been having a "going out of business" as long as I can remember. It might have been the mystique of Iyengar Yoga, which I was familiar with, but had never attended an Iyengar class. It seemed different than the Vinyasa classes I had primarily been attending, and I wasn't even sure about the name of the studio, because even it sounded different. Basically, I didn't know what to expect, so I stayed in my comfort zone and kept doing the same thing I had been doing until I knew I was ready for something more and started to explore my options. Let me say that I am I glad I finally did, and I have been a dedicated student at Yoga Heart Studio since that day. By the way, the studio is on the second floor of the building, in the NorthEast corner, and it is a lovely, welcoming space.
The Heart in Yoga Heart Studio is Selise Stewart. She has been practicing and teaching yoga for many years, and is one of few certified Iyengar Yoga teachers, which is a much more rigorous certification process than most. The majority of Yoga teacher training is a few months, where it takes years to become certified as an Iyengar teacher, almost the equivalent of an Associate's degree vs. Master's degree. She is not dogmatic or cult-like about the Iyengar system, and intelligently adapts some verbal cues from other alignment-based systems to make it clearer. She has a mastery of the mechanics of the human body, and of proper alignment, and the ability to communicate this to her students, regardless of experience level or capability of each individual student. She pays attention to details, and takes time to help each student become aware of their body, and how to be in correct alignment in each pose.
As someone who started practicing at Yoga Heart Studio after a few years of daily practice, I had developed some bad habits I was unaware of, except for the fact that I was starting to have knee pain. Selise has helped me understand why these habits were not ideal, and how my poor alignment was contributing to undue stress on my knee, and has worked steadfast with me to help me retrain my body to work in a healthier way. I do not have knee pain at all, after a few months practicing with Selise.
If you have never practiced yoga, start here! Selise is a true professional, and you will be welcome and feel comfortable at the studio. I am in my mid forties, and I am sometimes the youngest person in the room. The regular students are a great group of mature, responsible, and stable folks who are serious about improving their mobility, flexibility, strength, and balance, as well as the calmness and peace of mind a dedicated Yoga practice brings. There are all shapes, sizes, and ages represented, and you really will feel comfortable. She has a three classes for $20 introductory offer, which is how I started, and it's a no brainer to check it out for that price. If you have an established practice, or have never stepped foot on a yoga mat, it may be the best twenty bucks you spend on your health. Since the first class at Yoga Heart Studio, I have attended every class I can, which works out to 3 a week and an occasional workshop. My practice has grown more in this time than in the years of practice before. Check it out, what do you have to lose? read more
