‘The path begins with inquiry…’

Isaac Krauss is a Yoga teacher based in Brooklyn, New York City.

1. What style of yoga do you teach? And, where are you located?

I teach Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga, in which I incorporate techniques, postures, transitions, and the like from a variety of schools/styles that I study, love, and appreciate such as: Katonah, Forrest, Rocket/Ashtanga, Dharma, 26&2.  

And, I'm located in Brooklyn, NY.

2. What is your intention behind teaching?

My intention behind teaching is to share something I love with others and provide an opportunity for folks to delve into their Mind-Body-Spirit. To hold space for others in whatever way is needed in the given moment and to cultivate a space of mindful presence. Facilitating and guiding, movement, breath, and meditation is incredibly fulfilling, and my sincere wish is that students receive benefits spanning their physical, mental, and spiritual selves. Offering a practice that can give people a sense of contentment, efficacy, tranquility, and release is a gift. I'm infinitely grateful to be a part of teaching this practice. 

3. Who are your mentors in yoga? 

 My mentors in yoga are Rose Erin Vaughan and Jared Mcann. 

4. What have they taught you? 
     
Since stepping onto this path, they're teaching, knowledge, dedication, and compassion has impacted me in such a beautiful and powerful way. Their lighthearted reverence and commitment to passionately sharing what they believe in is for the betterment of the whole and themselves is something I strongly admire.

Their approaches resonate with me on many levels, and from the moment I met them both I knew they were the teachers I wanted to mainly study and practice with. They're openhearted individuals who put their work and the knowledge at the forefront and take on big responsibilities for the sake of the continuation of the Yoga practice/Holistic Wellness. In short, they live the practice.

They strive to help and progress, and they've developed quite a knack for connecting and effectively communicating a combination of lineages. They are genuine and fun individuals. 

5. Please mention a book that you have read about yoga that has had a positive impact on you? 

Light on Life, BKS Iyengar is one of those yoga books that's had a positive impact, for sure. It eloquently weaves the profound aspects of Yoga. It demonstrates an authentic perspective from a lifetime of being a student and teacher. I feel a blend of elder wisdom and a child's curiosity and wonderment within this book, which describes the inward journey. The path begins with inquiry, and this book has an easygoing approach in which the tangibility of the information shared is experienced. Reading it is a palpable experience. 

One other book I feel compelled to share, because I'm a nerd for reading is, Eastern Body, Western Mind, Anodea Judith. I find this one really helps in uncovering what lies underneath the surface of our development through an erudite lens of intertwining the Chakra System & Psychology. It is illuminating and fascinating. It wonderfully expresses on an individual and interconnected level, Spiritual Sage Wisdom and Modern Academia.

6. What lesson are you currently learning in your Asana practice? 

Great question. It's many simultaneously. But what is currently most apparent is, Acceptance and Forgiveness. That we are always in process. To fully immerse oneself in the process while observing it all unfold is a micro reflection of the macro. And with the patience that inevitably comes with spending time in the Asana practice, breathing and holding postures, embracing challenge on the mat to show up as best we can in life, lends itself to embodying more compassion.

I'm optimistic, I think even just the physical practice changes or expands one's perception on a profound level, even if they don't go into it with that intention. It lovingly pushes you in a beneficial direction and then there's an a-ha moment, that's really cool, because you become aware of what's happening to you while it's happening--something, a force, within you, that's also bigger than you, is at work.

The interconnectedness of all things is illuminated to me through Asana because our bodies are a metaphor. The more I practice the more in touch I get with myself, which in turn helps me to see and understand more everyone's connection to the whole as we're all in our own process, making an effort to figure things out. Meeting someone where they're at is a way to create harmony and potential. You can't really force anything, just like in the physical practice, if you try to make your body do something it's not ready to do you'll get hurt.

If you accept where you are in the process and build on it from there, then there is progress, growth, and change. It's the same interpersonally. We're all in this together, but at different paces or places, yet there is no finish line, no inferior/superior place to be, so accepting and forgiving is in service to yourself and others. Our diversity is what makes us helpful to one another--to enhance collective awareness. As Ram Dass said, "We're all just walking each other home."

7. How often do you practice? 

 How often I practice ranges based on intuitive listening/feeling. But on average, 5 days a week.

8. How do you implement the other 7 limbs of yoga into your life other than Asana? 

 I try my best to implement the other 7 limbs of yoga in my daily actions and interactions. Essentially, as a lifestyle or system to adhere to. I like the expressions, "How we do anything is how we do everything." In one training I did, one of our assignments over the course of a few months was to keep a daily journal.

One of the components of the journal was to write down examples of ways we did and didn't adhere to the Yamas and Niyamas. It was a cool and interesting experiment. It elicited some good self-reflection and introspection. Of course, it is inherent to a practice like this not to beat yourself up over mistakes, because that would defeat the purpose! ha-ha. 

9. Why is being present so important to you? 

Being present is so important to me because it's in being present that we access clarity and truth. In being present we are setting ourselves up for continued success and sustainability. If you do what serves you and the collective in the moment, those actions or ways of being perpetuate themselves. It is also calming and how we enter the Flow state.

When we're present we're vibrating on a more objective or untainted frequency and elevating our consciousness. When present, we're Waking Up--to what's actually in front of us, beyond the ordinary or the projections, excess narrations/analysis of the Monkey Mind. We get to simply, yet profoundly, just be.

10. How can we keep up with you on social media? What is your IG handle and/ FB name?

     @living_journey_yoga

Bridgett Ane Goddard is most certainly inspiring!

What a pleasure it was when I met Bridgett Ane! We were both in teacher-training at The Lighthouse Yoga School. 

Her passion for yoga is evident in her postures, which seem so effortless and seamless. Her knowledge and care is infectious and inspiring! 

1. How long have you been teaching?

Since 2005

2. What motivated you to start teaching and what have you learnt from teaching?

I was asked to teach a series of private sessions for Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams - and very nervous but also happy my yoga school owners believed in me enough to have me teach Destiny’s Child. Over the years, I have learned how we are all uniquely the same, ultimately working toward balance and doing the best we can. I’ve become a more patient person, more forgiving, more accepting and continue to learn new ways to LOVE.

3. What is something that you have learnt from a fellow teacher?

Jared McCann taught me to let go of everything, holding faith that with practice all is coming and with more frequent, creative & diverse practice I experience much more joy and fun in both my practice and personal life.  

4. How many times a week do you practice? 

I practice 6-7 days a week. At least a little bit every day makes me feel better! I practice Hot Yoga 3-4 times a week, Vinyasa 2-3 times a week usually but sometimes more or sometimes less. 

5. Who inspires your practice?

The students I teach, the teachers who teach me and our fellow yogis around the world - so many people & places to receive inspiration!

6. Has yoga helped you through something painful? If so, what and how?

Yes, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder in 2008 - it’s usually unheard of but doctors are now saying as many as 12 million people are suffering from Interstitial Cystitis - so many people and such little awareness! The pain I was suffering was coming in waves and knocking me flat out every 30 days or so and sometimes for as long as 3 weeks at a time.  I took a break from yoga at first as I was so scared my practice was worsening my symptoms but that was not the case.  When I drew up enough courage to get back in the hotbox, I had no choice but to take it super easy and was delighted to find myself more flexible and not surprised to find my strength and stamina lessened.  While my physical strength was missing, I tapped into more mental strength and determination.  There is great power in practicing self-control and yoga helped me tap into my mind in this way and it became easier to make better dietary choices.  I was on a strict diet for two years and lost a lot of weight but then I gradually gained and returned to my ideal weight.  A huge part of my healing was realising the necessity of drinking high quality water as well as supplementing with key & trace minerals.  Practicing yoga in the hot room lessened my inflammation and helped me realise how negative self-talk was exacerbating my suffering.  I learned though yoga to express gratitude, even for the pain. As, it made me slow down and relax more deeply in my mind and body, to be more accepting, forgiving and practice faith in myself, my health, wellbeing and yoga practice. I decided not to take any medication for my condition, having spoken to several women who’d been on the meds for years and had all kinds of additional medications to deal with all the terrible side effects of the drugs doctors suggest for it. Yoga is the best medicine in the world; it helped me stay open and receptive to natural healing alternatives and utilise my self-control to maintain a balanced and healthy life. 

7. Why is it necessary for you to practice?

Yoga practice is necessary for me so to ensure I am the best version of myself.  I am so grateful to (without medication) be able to reduce inflammation, flush out my organs, stimulate and regulate hormones & biochemicals in my body and brain so I feel more relaxed and happy in my life.  When I practice yoga, I look younger and feel better.  It’s SO simple! 

8. What message do you like to spread through teaching?

That we have infinite potential within us all and that through yoga practice we ultimately realise this to be true and are able to make a real difference in the world around us and help each other move toward balance more gracefully. 

         9. Where are you currently teaching?

In the UK, Yoga in the Lanes in Brighton, Hot Yoga Society & Bikram Yoga London.

10. What are the best ways that you have learnt of approaching studios that you would like to teach at?

Show up!  The best way is to be present, take a class, introduce yourself to the teacher before and express gratitude after - to be open, friendly and persistent. 

              11. What is your Instagram, Twitter           and Facebook name?

bridgettane on IG - no Tweets for me - FB Yoga in the Lanes and/or Bridgett Ane Goddard

12. Is Social Media easy or challenging for you?

Social Media can be fun and easy when I use it more for creative and/or personal expression/connection but when using it for business, I find it a bit more challenging. 

This is why Mathieu Boldron inspires

Thank goodness that Mathieu Boldron is a part of the yoga community. He has a passion and thirst for yoga that is infectious and humbling. He definitely inspires people and yogis around him.  

Now, let him inspire you. 

1. How long have you been teaching?

I've been teaching yoga for about 5 years

2. What motivated you to start teaching and what have you learnt from teaching?

I got burned out from years of musical theatre when I started teaching yoga. It was my new way to express and share something deeper. My voice was broken because of too many shows and gigs on tv.
Teaching taught me that we have the power to help a lot of people change their perspective and transform if we practice and live what we teach on a daily bases.

3. What is something that you have learnt from a fellow teacher? Teachers and teachings are all around constantly. If you want to teach classes, take classes, you want to teach workshops, take workshops, you want to teach retreats, take retreats, if you want to teach trainings, take trainings. There is so much to learn. The more you learn the less you know.

4. How many times a week do you practice?

Every single day 24 hours a day.

5. Who inspires your practice?

The number of people around the world suffering inspire me to be the best version of myself by practicing so I can light up at least people around me.

6. Why is it necessary for you to practice?

The world needs more teachers so the more we practice the more confident we feel in passing the fruit of our experiences. Practice is a lifestyle versus a style-of-life. So, to share from a place of authenticity is necessary to incarnate what I'd like to give.

7. What message do you like to spread through teaching?

I want people to awake themselves to a higher level of sensitivity, consciousness so they can see better, and make better choices for themselves and for their life. The more we learn to get control on what drives us crazy in life, the more we understand the ego, the conditioning and the corruption happening in our society. We can then integrate our personality better and become an inspiration to unify people around the True Self.

8. Where are you currently teaching?

Right now in Bali, then turkey, Greece, Paris and Mexico.

9. What are the best ways that you have learnt of approaching studios that you would like to teach at? Years ago it would simply be take classes at their studio and today is more about word-of-mouth.

10. Has yoga helped you through something painful? If so, what and how? Yoga asana has cured so much problems in my physical body: back problems, voice problems, allergies and food imbalance. In my mind: trust issues, power of decision and limited beliefs

11. What is your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook name? mathieuboldronyoga on IG FB and Twitter.

12. Is Social Media easy or challenging for you?

I'm getting better at it. It used to be challenging in the past. But I understand now better how I can use it to share with more people the powerful yoga medicine.

Sarah Ghilardi inspires us, by sharing her experience of yoga with us.

The first time that I  took Sarahs class, I felt as though my body was burning in my places that I had never imagined. It was an inferno hot pilates class- a pilates class done in surroundings similar to a hot yoga class. Truly, the only thing that kept me going was her bubbly energy and her convncing me that I could make it through. She inspired me that day and inspires many as a yoga and pilates teacher. 

These are some inspirational words from her:

1. How long have you been teaching?

Five years. I teach bikram yoga, vinyasa yoga and inferno hot pilates. 

2. What motivated you to start teaching and what have you learnt from teaching?

The students, their problems, their willingness to change and willingness to listen. Leadership, command and helping them to change. 

Teaching gives me the ability to learn, command and share positivity with my students.

3. What is something that you have learnt from a fellow teacher?

Their experience, their passion, their command and there enthusiasms for teaching.

4. How many times a week do you practice?

6 classes a week

5. Who inspires your practice?

Actually me, myself, and practitioners around me.

6. Why is it necessary to you to practice?

Because it feels good, it inspires me, it gives me clear vision and stability.

7. What message do you like to spread through teaching?

That health is wealth, your body is your temple. Take care of yourself first before taking care of others. 

8. Where are you currently teaching? 

Lighthouse yoga school in Brooklyn 

YOBK in Brooklyn 

Bikram yoga LES in Manhattan 

Yoga Herald Square in Manhattan 

The Yoga Room in LIC

9. Has yoga helped you through something that you struggled with? If so, what and how?

• I was trying to know more about myself-yoga gives me more clarity about myself.
• I was learning to be a presenter-yoga gives me that presenting capability.
• I was trying to learn a good diet for me - yoga gives me clarity about what my body want.

10. Tell us about Inferno Pilates. Why is it a great compliment to yoga?

It's a practice where students see benefits very fast.The heat makes them sweat even more ( cleansing, detoxing ). The music inspires and motivates them.The moments are fast but secondary. Like in yoga, first the breath and form. You also need a calm mind you get from practicing asanas to practice Inferno hot pilates to keep going and you get the strength to do the posture by practicing Inferno hot pilates. It's a great combination.