Seva's Classes at St. Edward's University

I just found out that Seva teaches several classes at St. Edward's which are open to the public.

Mondays 12noon-1:00pm Gentle Opening Relaxing

Tuesdays 12noon-1:00pm Mixed Levels

Wednesdays 12noon-1:00pm Beginner's Series

Thursdays 12noon-1:00pm Mixed Levels

The Monday and Wednesday classes meet on Racquetball Court #1 in the new Gymnasium on Andre Street and the Tuesday Thursday classes meet in the Woodward Office Building Room 146 on Moody Street. People could contact Seva (heroldesta@yahoo.com) for Directions and Parking Information.

Upcoming posts on Peggy's Advanced Class and the Lois Workshop.

Devon's Yoga for Happiness Class

Yesterday, I subbed for Devon at her Yoga for Happiness Class. I attend this class pretty regularly. It is an absolutely transcendent restorative experience. Typically, she starts off each class with a supported savasana, three blocks, two under chest, one under the head, sand bags on shoulders (supported by two additional blocks), sandbags on palms and on thighs. We stay there about 20 minutes. Lovely. Then, she does varied sequences. I always feel so much better after that class. It is where I just give myself permission to slow down. Devon is incredibly knowledgeable about the effects of these poses. I also learn a lot by watching her work with the students and their special needs of various sorts. There are anywhere from 5-10 people in the class. Most people are in their late forties to mid sixties..

A truly wonderful experience. Come check it out.

Anne's Saturday Class at Yoga Yoga South

I teach an ongoing Hatha Class Saturday mornings at Yoga Yoga South. I just started the class in September. Prior to that, I had been teaching the same class up at Yoga Yoga Northwest. Well, not the same class, but the class at the same time slot. Yoga Yoga has four different locations and really pretty much serves very different sets of students at each location. There are the north people and the south people.

SO somewhere between 6-10 people show up. My boyfriend, Jeff, some of Christina's students like Jeremiah, Lisa, Ari come and then people just showing up for an early hatha class with a range of experience from 6 months to 6 years. There is not much Iyengar Yoga at Yoga Yoga since Jessica Montgomery left and so even people who have practiced for a while are new to Iyengar. I follow the first week standing poses, second week forward bending, third week backward bending, fourth week pranayama/restorative/ things that support a pranayama practice schedule.

It is a fun low key class with lots of individual attention, instruction. the class would be great for beginners though it is small enough that I can give refinements to advanced students as well. I look forward to seeing how the class grows.

Come check it out.

Lois Steinberg Workshop Next Weekend

Yoga in the Iyengar Tradition

With Lois Steinberg

September 26-28, 2008

Austin Yoga Institute and Clear Spring Studio welcome Lois Steinberg, from Urbana, Illinois, an advanced level certified Iyengar Yoga teacher for her first workshop in Austin.

Lois has nearly 30 years of yoga study, practice, and teaching experience; she has studied extensively with the Iyengars in their general and medical classes. She organized the International Women's Intensive with Geeta S. Iyengar, and is the author of numerous articles and manuals. Her most recent book, "Geeta's Guide to a Woman's Yoga Practice", is the first of a two-volume set that provides comprehensive instruction for the study and practice of Iyengar Yoga. This inspirational book includes over 800 photographs and detailed notes on the use of props, positioning, actions, and benefits for each pose. It is an essential reference for all teachers and serious practitioners. Lois travels annually for two months' study at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institue in Pune, India. For more information about Lois visit her website at www.yoga-cu.com

Workshop Schedule: Note different location for Sunday classes

Note: Friday and Saturday classes to be held at Austin Yoga Institute, 1122C South Lamar in Lamar Plaza;

Sundays classes at Clear Spring Studio, 605 Copeland off South First south of Barton Springs Road. See maps at www.austinyoga.org/about.html and www.clearspringstudio.com

Friday 4-5:30 pm Using Iyengar Yoga to rest the Knees, Low Back, Neck and Shoulders

6 - 8 PM Asana . These classes held at Austin Yoga Institute.

Saturday 8:30 - 9:30 AM Pranayama

10:00 - 12:30 Asana

4:00 - 6:00 PM Asana. These classes held at Austin Yoga Institute.

Sunday 9:00 - 11:30 AM Asana

Noon - 1:30 PM Recuperative/Pranayama, Sunday?s classes held at Clear Spring Studio.

Cost: Entire workshop: $280, $260 if paid by 9/1/08

Heide's Class at Castle Hill

Hi Everyone, One of the things I plan to do on this blog is post descriptions of Iyengar classes that I attend and teach. I want to check out other Iyengar classes besides the one or two I typically go to. I do want this blog to convey a sense of all that is out there with Iyengar yoga and I welcome anyone to send me a description of a particular Iyengar class they teach or take.

Here's an example:
This morning I went to Heide's All Levels Class at Castle Hill. What fun! It was everything that traditional Iyengar Yoga has to offer. Great sequencing. We worked on backward bends lots of attention to getting the chest and shoulders open and the legs engaged. Detailed instruction and good solid corrections. Lots of props.. we used blocks, the rope wall, chairs, blankets. Heide has a forceful, yet very friendly, teaching presence. She did a great job giving students at various levels options that were appropriate and she was also very skillful at giving instructions about the inner body and the physiological effects of poses.

Castle Hill has a lovely yoga room. The rope wall has easily adjustable ropes, inversion swings and even cushy handles so your fingers don't get crushed in the ropes. I even liked the chairs though they are a bit oddly shaped. Very tall backs which made for a very intense backbend on the chair top but a bit smaller than usual seats so I actually felt like I fit better in the chair for dwi pada.



I thoroughly enjoyed the class and recommend it to anyone looking for a great yoga class . I love that back bending adrenaline rush in the morning.

Peggy Kelley workshop in Corpus Oct 10-11

Hi Everyone, Peggy Kelley, founder of Austin Yoga Institute, is offering workshop in Corpus. Sounds like a great opportunity.

Iyengar Yoga Community News

The Next Step:
Developing a home practice & staying inspired to continue

an Iyengar Workshop with Peggy Kelley

Friday-Saturday, October 10-11

5830 McArdle @ Airline, Corpus Christi TX 78412

Peggy Kelley is a certified B.K.S. Iyengar yoga instructor since 1986. She began studying yoga in 1967 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1970, she began teaching her own classes while attending college in British Columbia, Canada. On moving to Texas after finishing an English and Biology B.A., Peggy continued teaching yoga.

In the late seventies as Peggy's interest in B.K.S. Iyengar's approach grew. Peggy studied at the San Francisco Iyengar Institute, at Feathered Pipe in Montana with Angela Farmer, and at various workshops with Judith Hanson Lasater, Ramanand Patel, Patricia Walden, and Gabriella Guibilaro. Peggy was certified to teach the Iyengar method in 1986, and has continued her studies at Iyengar's Institute in India in 1989, 1996, 2000, 2004, & 2007.

In 1990, Peggy and other yoga teachers incorporated Austin Yoga, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public in the qualities of life that yoga embodies in its practice and philosophy. When the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga National Association of the U.S. was formed in 1991, Peggy served on the initial board of directors, and continued to serve in that capacity after a national election. Today she serves on the regional Iyengar Yoga Board. Peggy appreciates and teaches the precise approach and therapeutic benefits of the Iyengar method. Her teaching is enhanced with the influence of other teachers with whom she has studied (Swami Sivananda Radha, Sri Pattabhi Jois, & others).

Since living in Austin, Peggy has completed a master's degree in English, a teaching certificate, and a law degree. She is also a registered massage therapist.

Please register as soon as possible as spaces for this fabulous event are limited.

Class Times:

• Friday, October 10: 6-8pm
• Saturday, October 11: 10am-12:30pm and 2-5pm

Registration Fees:

• Entire Workshop $95 if registered by October 1.
• Entire Workshop $115 after October 1.
• $40 per class if not registering for entire workshop.

The registration form can be found here.

For any questions please call Paula or Gretchen at Crossroads Yoga (361-992-1111), or email Paula or Gretchen.

Heide Grace Upcoming Events at AYI

Heide Grace, Iyengar teacher extraordinaire, will teach an Iyengar Yoga Immersion workshop

Monday October 6 through Friday October 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 AM. Cost is $150, $135 if paid by September 30. Calling all earlybirds!

AND she will teach an Advanced Beginners' class for those wanting to step up their practice on Fridays from noon to 1:30, beginning on September 26 through November 7. This will be a six week series for $99, $89 if paid by September 20.

The above classes will work best for those with some Iyengar background. If you have a strong practice, however, and no Iyengar training, come along anyway! For more information, call Heide at 504-427-7993 or Peggy at 512-923-4643.

Heide Grace, a certified Iyengar Instructor, began her practice of yoga in 1998. She has twice attended the Ramamani Memorial Iyengar Institute to learn directly under the guidance of the Iyengar family. She also continues her studies under several Senior Certified teachers. Between a strong practice and a balance of humor, support, and precision she easily shares her energy and knowledge.

Iyengar Workshop in Alpine Texas

Okay, this is not Iyengar Yoga in Austin, but Randy Just is a good friend of mine, owner of BKS Iyengar Studio of Dallas, and a great teacher really dedicated to the Iyengar method. This workshop he's doing in Alpine looks to be really fun. Consider making a weekend get away out of it.

Joy Moves has Iyengar Yoga

Yesterday I went to practice with Heide, Gillian, and Christina. Gillian just moved to Austin from San Diego, so welcome to Gillian.

Gillian and Heide both teach at Castle Hill and I found out that Gillian also teaches at Joy Moves as does Eleanor Harris, another Certified Iyengar Teacher. So, there are now four more class offerings listed on the Public Class Schedule.

Joy Moves looks like a lovely space to practice yoga in. I plan to check out the Intermediate Class on Friday.

Christina Sell, my sister, is an Anusara teacher. Her classes are great. I'd highly recommend her for the Iyengar Yoga enthusiast as she has extensive background in Iyengar Yoga. You can find her schedule at christinasell.blogspot.com

Upcoming Workshops and Events in Austin

Iyengar Yoga with Lois Steinberg
September 26 - 28
at Austin Yoga Institute and Clear Spring Studio
for more information call Peggy at 440-1269

Lois specializes in therapeutic Iyengar Yoga and is especially gifted at working with women's problems.

Iyengar Yoga workshop with Jaya Waters Clear Spring Studio October 18. For More information, see the Clear Spring Studio Website.

Jaya returns before returning to India for another six months of direct study and practice with the Iyengars. A fountain of information and insight!

Iyengar National Association of the United States Assessment
October 24 - 26
at Austin Yoga Institute

Regular classes will be cancelled Friday and Saturday. Contact Peggy at if you would like volunteer, to be a student in these classes or to help out the teacher training process. For more information call Peggy at 440-1269

Looking for Public Iyengar Yoga Classes in Austin? This blog is for you.

This blog is dedicated to listing ongoing public classes in Austin taught in the Iyengar Tradition and also to keeping the public informed about workshops and other events related to Iyengar Yoga in the Austin community. If you know of other Iyengar classes or events in the area, please let me know and I will add them to this listing.