The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. A male who practices yoga is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini. The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas(observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment).

Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Patanjali's eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind.

Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible. This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being.

Depending on your physical condition, your health, and your motivation for practicing, I can help guide you to the right style for you. Vinyasa is an active, heat-producing styles of yoga where the breath links one movement to the next. Yin and Restorative are much quieter, slower-paced classes designed for you to go deeper—into your body and into a quieter, meditative state. Classes like Flow & Stretch are a combination of both. Please contact if you are unsure where to start.

Yoga is not a religion. It is a philosophy that began in India an estimated 5,000 years ago. The father of classical ashtanga yoga (the eight-limbed path, not to be confused with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' Ashtanga yoga) is said to be Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutra. These scriptures provide a framework for spiritual growth and mastery over the physical and mental body. Yoga sometimes interweaves other philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but it is not necessary to study those paths in order to practice or study yoga. It is also not necessary to surrender your own religious beliefs to practice yoga.

The answer depends on the style of yoga you select, as well as the frequency and intensity with which you practice. Although the focus in yoga is about balance, healing, and reconnecting, a regular practice of Vinyasa will not only open your mind and offer you a fresh perspective on your life, but it also will absolutely change your body. While not an intense aerobic workout, it does burn calories as you create long lean muscles and cultivate flexibility and greater range of motion in the joints. Just as important, as you move into an improved state of well-being, you will make choices off the mat that also improve your health.

When done under proper supervision of a trained yoga teacher, there are no side effects. If at all the effects are only positive.

Namaste is a word of greeting. It is in common usage on the streets of Nepal and India even in modern times, and is generally accompanied by drawing the hands together and slightly bowing the head. Translated directly, Namaste means “to bow” and is considered a greeting from the heart that is reciprocated in kind. Expanding that definition, Namaste recognizes light and goodness of the self and others, and honors the sacredness of all.

The sound of “om” is actually a-u-m—three separate tones/vibrations. It is considered to be the original sound from which all other sounds emanate. It is the sound of creation and life you hear all around you—the wind in the trees, the buzz of a bee, the hum of a car engine, the rumble of a train. In chanting om before or after practice, we are looking to create unity of breath, sound, and vibration, reminding us we are connected to each other, and the unifying power of the universe. The OM symbol represents the three states of consciousness—waking, sleeping, and dreaming–as well as the universal consciousness that underlies and connects everything.

Aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil therapy, can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It seeks to unify physiological, psychological and spiritual processes to enhance an individual’s innate healing process. Yoga and aromatherapy are holistic and ancient practices, both offering physical, mental and spiritual benefits for the practitioner. The use of aromatherapy blends while practicing yoga can enhance the practitioner's experience and benefits from both therapeutic areas. Not only are the senses enthralled by the beautiful aromas during your practice, but the focus and effects of your practice are intensified by the use of carefully chosen essential oil blends. The practitioner can use specially chosen aromatherapy blends to enhance a particular aspects of their practice, whether it's physical, spiritual or mental.

Part meditation, part listening exercise, sound baths are healing musical performances played with Himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls, gongs, biosonic tuning forks, shamanic drumming, and chanting. Participants lay on the floor in supported savasana (corpse pose) and let the waves of sound wash over them. Proponents suggest that sound bathing calms our often overstimulated nervous systems and balances the subtle body. (If you’re not familiar with the subtle body: it’s also known as the energetic body, where our life force – Qi, Chi or prank – exists.) Sound bathing is said to work both the physical body and the subtle body to help heal depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and insomnia, and to deepen meditation and spark creativity.

1. Bring Your Own Mat / Blanket / Eye Pillow Three words: yoga mat BO. I made the mistake of not bringing my own stuff to my first sound bath, and I spent the hour trying to find my bliss while enveloped in the odor of a stranger’s sweat rising up from the mat I borrowed from the studio. So bring your own stuff. And keep in mind that it may feel like a sleepover for yogis, with everyone camping out and getting cozy. 2. Be Open to an Intimate Experience You’ll probably be laying with your face and feet next to other people’s faces and feet. Many times, the sound healer will have her singing bowls with her in the center of the room, with everyone spread around her in a circle, heads close to the bowls. (Greater vibrational healing that way.) It’s usually a small space, often a yoga studio. It’s intimate. It can feel awkward and vulnerable. It can be hard to get comfortable and relax. Just breathe into it. It’s weird . . . but wonderful once you let go. 3. You Might Feel Like Laughing – or Crying It’s said that sound healing works to release emotions trapped deep in the subtle body. I have to admit: I have experienced tears during a sound bath. They came and went quickly, and they weren’t brought on by a conscious thought. They were spontaneous and fleeting – almost like part of me was defragging itself (to use an old computer analogy), aligning things inside and creating space. Then there was the time I got a bad case of the giggles. You know the feeling, when everyone is perfectly quiet and suddenly, for no reason, you think you might erupt into uncontrollable laughter? Well, that might happen. Just let it come and go. 4. Get Ready to Be . . . Soft Tias Little is a world-class yoga teacher; in his new book Yoga of the Subtle Body (Shambhala, May 2016), he uses the anatomy of the physical body as a tool for navigating the subtle body. Highly recommended reading! In yoga we often strive so hard with the physical body, we deteriorate the subtle body and lose many of the benefits of our practice. So in your sound bath, don’t strive. Don’t even listen. That’s right, don’t listen. Just lay quietly and let the sound wash over you, gently and without effort. Chill out. 5. You Will Feel the Sound in Your Body Have you ever been to a concert where the bass is so thumpin’ you feel your bones vibrating to the beat? That’s the power of sound. Fans of sound bathing believe that specific frequencies of sound can bring our physical and subtle bodies into a state of balance. So during your sound bath, place one hand over your heart and one hand over your belly – imagine the vibrations permeating both your physical and subtle body. Sometimes feeling the sound in this way can lead to a deep state of relaxation. 6. You Might Fall Asleep That’s okay. I’ve been told that we receive the healing of sound bathing even if we sleep through the session. (Just try not to snore!) And even if you don’t fall asleep during the sound bath, you might enjoy an intensely deep sleep that night. I’ve experienced that myself, and it’s one of the most common things people say after sound bathing. Ahh, delicious sleep.

All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your body, your mind, and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of yoga leggings, or shorts, and a t-shirt that's not too baggy. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot. It's nice to bring a towel to class with you. As your practice develops you might want to buy your own yoga mat, but most studios will have mats and other props available for you.

In yoga practice we twist from side to side, turn upside down, and bend forward and backward. If you have not fully digested your last meal, it will make itself known to you in ways that are not comfortable. If you are a person with a fast-acting digestive system and are afraid you might get hungry or feel weak during yoga class, experiment with a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts, or juice about 30 minutes to an hour before class.

The language of yoga is Sanskrit, the language of ancient India. Some teachers use it more than others, and it is nothing to feel uncomfortable about. Although you may never say the words yourself, you will come to recognize them over time. If this is an area of interest for you please contact me for more info.

I do! I have experience in offices, hospitals, and schools, as well as offering special team-building classes at the studio for corporate groups. I love to promote yoga as a practice for living a happier, healthier life; a practice that is accessible to everyone. I am committed to offering yoga anywhere and everywhere I can! To arrange a corporate yoga class or series, please contact me.

That is a question only you can answer for yourself. In order to move forward on this path, you need a qualified guide and a supportive community. Misty Powell services are created to offer you both. All teachings are of the highest caliber, and I continuously studying with senior teachers around the world. I practice yoga & dance daily and have offered up a large part of my life to share this practice with others. I offer a fun supportive, student community that is constantly growing. My goal is to create something truly unique with you