More teachers at Yoga Tree

OK, so it's been a long while since I started this project. Been extremely busy with the 200hr Teacher Training. So, since I was going backwards in time, I'll continue on till I reach probably early this year?!



Daren Main - YogaTree Stanyan

Ah...Darren. He was one of the first teachers I started with at YogaTree, starting in March this year. It started being an easy access due to schedule and location, but after the first class, I was pretty hooked on Darren. I actually just got back from his class tonight! According to YogaTree's history of my classes, this is my 9th class with him, not counting the Yoga For Hope event. This is quite a number of classes considering my attempt all year has been and still is to experience as wide a breadth of teachers as I can. But I keep going back to Darren. And he is definitely one of the reasons I ended up choosing to do my 200hr-YTT at YogaTree.

Elise Lorimer -YogaTree Castro 8/19/10
She is one of the "mega teachers" at the Castro location, I guess you could say. I like Elise's energy - her classes are very much vinyasa-flow style. High energy with enough centering.

Peter Guinoso - YogaTree Stanyan

My first class with Peter was back in June and then again on 9/21. While I can appreciate his good energy, I found him just a tad flirtatious. The more recent class was more of a workout for me and some challenging asanas. He is pretty light hearted.

Elizabeth Rosser - YogaTree Stanyan

Elizabeth usually teaches in the late evenings, 8p.m. So it was a mellow one I went to and thoroughly enjoyed. She plays a flute at the end of class which is absolutely delightful. It's a great winding down and centering sort of vibe.

Diego Del Sol - YogaTree Stanyan 5/23/10

Gosh, now my memory is starting to fade. I believe I found his class OK. It was relatively packed. He delivers a more "testorone" packed class...not so much that it's hard, but rather not the feel-good cuddly vibe!

Stephanie Snyder - YogaTree Castro 3/4/10

I did not know what I was getting into when I first decided to check out YogaTree. I had just finished my trial period over at YogaGarden, so, this was next. And of all teachers, I ended up in Stephanie's class not knowing she was one of the most popular teachers at YT-Castro! Her class was pretty much what propelled me into more classes at YogaTree. There were probably around 80-100 students in the studio, all moving in synchronicity, giving their all, sweating it out, getting grounded, getting centered. And then all chanting at the end, putting forth their souls out there. It was beautiful.

OK, so hopefully, I'm now all caught up back-dating at Yoga Tree. Now I have to catch up from when I first started this blog-project!

namaste,

~Magi

experiencing different teachers

In all of 2010, I think I've gone to about 20 different yoga teachers' classes. Maybe more. This is an attempt to record that experience, and hopefully be able to continue a more "up-to-date" write up as I go along my 6-month long 200hr Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with YogaTree that just started last weekend. I'll work my way backwards for now, from the standpoint of taking advantage of freshest memory first!

Janet Stone - Radiant Flow on 9/15 at YogaTree -Castro.
This was actually Janet's second class I've attended ever. It was not as "hard-core" as the first class I attended back in June, which is funny since I just now realized that the one in June was a Level 1-2 class and last night's was a 2-3! Or maybe I'm a little better conditioned now? Granted, I was sweating like a pig 10 minutes into class! But I wasn't hurting. Or perhaps I'm also being more mindful about how far I stretch myself?

Janet's class is very spiritual and energetic. She incorporates a lot of singing and chanting with her glorious voice and enigmatic persona. Her classes are typically pretty jam packed, in the 80's I'm guessing. And she has 2 assistants. It's a workout for sure, but also spiritual.

Chrissandra Fox - Lunchtime Flow on 9/14 YT-Hayes
This too was my second class with Chrissandra, though I did attend a retreat with her in June as well. I've also taken her class at YogaGarden. Chrissandra tends to be more on the centering side of yoga, focusing on rebalancing and tuning in to your self. This last class was particularly beautiful for me where I felt energized and centered and calm afterwards. She has a very soft demeanour. And while it's not a workout where I sweat like a pig, I did break a sweat in the last class! She spends time in savasana where she goes around class pressing down on everyone's shoulders, which is just heavenly!

Christopher Love - Hatha Flow All Levels on 9/13 YT-Stanyan
It was my first class with Chris. He's very methodical...not the warm-fuzzy feeling you get from someone like Chrissandra. He's serious about his yoga and your practice! But at the same time exudes warmth and care too. He focussed more on the meditation time in class, which is then much like guided meditation.

Les Leventhal - Vinyasa All Levels on 9/11 YT-Castro
My second class with Les who plays 80's music! How can you go wrong with playing 80's music anywhere?! Well, I suppose there could be occasions... but I enjoy it much in Les' class - never would've imagined I'd find yoga and 80's music together. But it works! And a workout it is too. Les' yoga is very energetic and he brings in some humor, also touching on self acceptance/love/caring of yoga philosophies in his teaching. He also explains some bit of the sanskrit words in the asanas.

Saul David Raye - Living from the Heart workshop on 8/28 YT-Castro
This was a 3hr workshop which was like a long yoga class with lots of asanas enfolded into his teachings on the philosophies behind the asanas. A beautiful workshop! Saul also exudes lots of warmth/compassion and caring in his class. No sweaty class - thank goodness as I wouldn't have lasted for 3hrs! He did break into a dance 2/3rds into the workshop!

OK, that's 5 teachers written up for now. Bed time!

Namaste,
~Magi