YOGA IN THE CITY: Yogasana
New York Spirit: Resources for Natural Living
by Danielle Winston
Oct/Nov 2008
Strollers line the teeny reception area, where a post-natal yoga class is breaking up. Mothers lazily filter out of the studio with artfully dressed newborns in tow. Students are still busy chatting with teacher, even with one foot out the door. It's a cozy place. Yogasana Center For Yoga: its mere minutes away in Brooklyn's trendy Park Slope but somehow the local vibe weaves quite a different spell than its Manhattan counterparts.
Founder, Kristen Davis (not the Sex in The City star) is a former modern dancer from Ohio. Her extensive background teaching the Alexander Technique drew her to Iyengar Yoga. At first she began teaching out of a tiny room in her Brooklyn apartment but when her following called out for a larger space, Yogasana was born.
Five years later Yogasana has bloomed into a lovely pistachio-toned, one-room studio with burgundy accents. The day I venture over the bridge and pay them a visit, Kristen's two-month-old son, Arlo, is lounging around the waiting area in Happy-Baby Pose.
At first I was fooled by the laid back atmosphere. Then I noticed there were no Indian artifacts, incense, or candles burning at Yogasana. Instead I was met with a friendly-looking skeleton, anatomy books and an assortment of props. I asked Kristen about chanting in class, and was told that the assanas themselves create their own meditation. One of only two Iyengar studios in the New York area-Yogasana's approach leans toward the scientific, skillfully merging its method with the teachers' eclectic backgrounds.
Witold Fitz-Simon is a seasoned teacher with multiple yoga certifications, who's been with Yogasana from inception. Born in England, Witold resides in Manhattan and commutes to Brooklyn daily. His English accent resonates as he speaks, "Iyengar has the reputation as being good for the injured and elderly and it makes it sound as though it's a real feeble kind of yoga, and it's not. Our students are physically strong and healthy people. The yoga does a lot for them."
When I ask what a student might expect from the Iyengar method, Kristen shows me a stack of books about the body which are often referenced in class, "We're not the trendy kind of yoga and we have these complicated challenging ideas about the body and our students are eating it up." Positive energy warms her pixie face as she flips through pages. "We're pushing through boundaries and going new places in terms of working with the body in very subtle ways within the framework of Iyengar yoga. And the students are right with us on this path."
The popular neighborhood spot draws a steady stream of intellectual artist types. According to Kristen, friendships readily trickle off the mat and lead outside onto the quaint streets for a spot of tea or a wholesome brunch.
Not just locals frequent the studio. Tim Seggerman, a long time student, tells me he understands why people brave far distances to take classes here. During my brief visit it occurs to me: being small affords Yogasana a unique sort of freedom. The homey setting creates the perfect climate for students to move past their comfort zones, allowing them the opportunity to deepen their practice.
Before leaving, I ask the staff what makes this place so special? Witold puts it simply, "There's a level of intensity and enthusiasm I think you wouldn't necessarily find in a little corner studio."
Not too shabby for a quick ride over the bridge!
Q&A with Kristen Davis founder and director of Yogasana
What styles are taught?
The teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar are at the core of all of the classes. Some teachersfollow a more traditional approach, while others explore modes like Body-Mind Centering, the Alexander Technique, and Structural Integration within the framework of Iyengar yoga. We emphasize correct anatomical alignment, with the use of props. Poses are sequenced and directed in such a way to link the mind and body and create a meditation in action.
What is the attitude when you enter?
Yogasana is very much a neighborhood studio-welcoming, warm, and supportive. Very friendly.
What types of people come here?
Our style of yoga accommodates the whole spectrum of physical ability. We do seem to attract a lot of artists, writers, musicians, dancers, psychotherapists, and teachers-but ultimately I think we just attract people who want an authentic physical practice of self-study.
How many students are in each class?
Our studio accommodates 24 students, but there are only a couple of weekend classes that ever get that big. Most classes range between 8-15 students; it's what I consider the perfect size-it affords the teacher the ability to give individual instruction and help each student make any necessary modifications.
How is this studio different than others?
We are one of only two Iyengar-style yoga studios in the city. But beyond that, our teachers are some of the most highly trained in the city, and I feel what we are bringing together in our teaching is innovative and exciting-that we're really doing something new.
What could a new student expect from her first class?
A feeling of greater freedom and ease in their body, a peaceful and steady mental state, and a new piece of information that shines a light on the way their mind/body/spirit overlap. I would like for a new student to get a taste of their own potential-to recognize that they're not done being formed.
What would you say to a hesitant new student?
Try it! Yoga's good for you. We've been very careful to create an environment that caters to beginners and more advanced students at the same time. You won't feel intimidated in any of our level 1 Classes. The teachers are trained to accommodate all experience levels and injuries. The adage that "yoga is for everyone" is true.
How much training do the teachers have?
We have some of the most experienced and gifted teachers in New York City, and I'm not bragging. The Iyengar method requires rigorous training and tutelage under senior teachers, a process that continues over a lifetime. The most experienced of us have been studying and teaching for over 15 years, and the least experienced still have at least 9 or 10 years of experience.
Is a student encouraged to move beyond their limits?
Certainly we push students, if they want it. I get excited when a student challenges a misconception and comes to a new understanding about their mind-body relationship. These misconceptions and preconceived notions are the limits you have to move beyond in order to find peace and balance in your life.
What do you think is the most common misconception about yoga?
A lot of people think yoga is a replacement for the gym-another physical fitness routine. Yes, it's a physical practice, but the amazing thing about yoga is that you're actually letting go of the world's stimulating effect. You don't "zone out," you draw your senses inward, refine your awareness, and develop a keen sensitivity to your own nature.
New York Spirit: Resources for Natural Living
by Danielle Winston
Oct/Nov 2008
Strollers line the teeny reception area, where a post-natal yoga class is breaking up. Mothers lazily filter out of the studio with artfully dressed newborns in tow. Students are still busy chatting with teacher, even with one foot out the door. It's a cozy place. Yogasana Center For Yoga: its mere minutes away in Brooklyn's trendy Park Slope but somehow the local vibe weaves quite a different spell than its Manhattan counterparts.
Founder, Kristen Davis (not the Sex in The City star) is a former modern dancer from Ohio. Her extensive background teaching the Alexander Technique drew her to Iyengar Yoga. At first she began teaching out of a tiny room in her Brooklyn apartment but when her following called out for a larger space, Yogasana was born.
Five years later Yogasana has bloomed into a lovely pistachio-toned, one-room studio with burgundy accents. The day I venture over the bridge and pay them a visit, Kristen's two-month-old son, Arlo, is lounging around the waiting area in Happy-Baby Pose.
At first I was fooled by the laid back atmosphere. Then I noticed there were no Indian artifacts, incense, or candles burning at Yogasana. Instead I was met with a friendly-looking skeleton, anatomy books and an assortment of props. I asked Kristen about chanting in class, and was told that the assanas themselves create their own meditation. One of only two Iyengar studios in the New York area-Yogasana's approach leans toward the scientific, skillfully merging its method with the teachers' eclectic backgrounds.
Witold Fitz-Simon is a seasoned teacher with multiple yoga certifications, who's been with Yogasana from inception. Born in England, Witold resides in Manhattan and commutes to Brooklyn daily. His English accent resonates as he speaks, "Iyengar has the reputation as being good for the injured and elderly and it makes it sound as though it's a real feeble kind of yoga, and it's not. Our students are physically strong and healthy people. The yoga does a lot for them."
When I ask what a student might expect from the Iyengar method, Kristen shows me a stack of books about the body which are often referenced in class, "We're not the trendy kind of yoga and we have these complicated challenging ideas about the body and our students are eating it up." Positive energy warms her pixie face as she flips through pages. "We're pushing through boundaries and going new places in terms of working with the body in very subtle ways within the framework of Iyengar yoga. And the students are right with us on this path."
The popular neighborhood spot draws a steady stream of intellectual artist types. According to Kristen, friendships readily trickle off the mat and lead outside onto the quaint streets for a spot of tea or a wholesome brunch.
Not just locals frequent the studio. Tim Seggerman, a long time student, tells me he understands why people brave far distances to take classes here. During my brief visit it occurs to me: being small affords Yogasana a unique sort of freedom. The homey setting creates the perfect climate for students to move past their comfort zones, allowing them the opportunity to deepen their practice.
Before leaving, I ask the staff what makes this place so special? Witold puts it simply, "There's a level of intensity and enthusiasm I think you wouldn't necessarily find in a little corner studio."
Not too shabby for a quick ride over the bridge!
Q&A with Kristen Davis founder and director of Yogasana
What styles are taught?
The teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar are at the core of all of the classes. Some teachersfollow a more traditional approach, while others explore modes like Body-Mind Centering, the Alexander Technique, and Structural Integration within the framework of Iyengar yoga. We emphasize correct anatomical alignment, with the use of props. Poses are sequenced and directed in such a way to link the mind and body and create a meditation in action.
What is the attitude when you enter?
Yogasana is very much a neighborhood studio-welcoming, warm, and supportive. Very friendly.
What types of people come here?
Our style of yoga accommodates the whole spectrum of physical ability. We do seem to attract a lot of artists, writers, musicians, dancers, psychotherapists, and teachers-but ultimately I think we just attract people who want an authentic physical practice of self-study.
How many students are in each class?
Our studio accommodates 24 students, but there are only a couple of weekend classes that ever get that big. Most classes range between 8-15 students; it's what I consider the perfect size-it affords the teacher the ability to give individual instruction and help each student make any necessary modifications.
How is this studio different than others?
We are one of only two Iyengar-style yoga studios in the city. But beyond that, our teachers are some of the most highly trained in the city, and I feel what we are bringing together in our teaching is innovative and exciting-that we're really doing something new.
What could a new student expect from her first class?
A feeling of greater freedom and ease in their body, a peaceful and steady mental state, and a new piece of information that shines a light on the way their mind/body/spirit overlap. I would like for a new student to get a taste of their own potential-to recognize that they're not done being formed.
What would you say to a hesitant new student?
Try it! Yoga's good for you. We've been very careful to create an environment that caters to beginners and more advanced students at the same time. You won't feel intimidated in any of our level 1 Classes. The teachers are trained to accommodate all experience levels and injuries. The adage that "yoga is for everyone" is true.
How much training do the teachers have?
We have some of the most experienced and gifted teachers in New York City, and I'm not bragging. The Iyengar method requires rigorous training and tutelage under senior teachers, a process that continues over a lifetime. The most experienced of us have been studying and teaching for over 15 years, and the least experienced still have at least 9 or 10 years of experience.
Is a student encouraged to move beyond their limits?
Certainly we push students, if they want it. I get excited when a student challenges a misconception and comes to a new understanding about their mind-body relationship. These misconceptions and preconceived notions are the limits you have to move beyond in order to find peace and balance in your life.
What do you think is the most common misconception about yoga?
A lot of people think yoga is a replacement for the gym-another physical fitness routine. Yes, it's a physical practice, but the amazing thing about yoga is that you're actually letting go of the world's stimulating effect. You don't "zone out," you draw your senses inward, refine your awareness, and develop a keen sensitivity to your own nature.