Yoga Crave Opens in Brewster

Yoga Crave, a small, intimate studio, recently brought yoga and Reiki to the community of Brewster. “I like to think of it as personal training for yoga,” says owner Laura Papps, a yoga teacher and Reiki maser. “I cater to those who crave community and fast-bonding relationships with like-minded yogis. Smaller groups means more attention to you, your form and your experience.”  

The teachers at Yoga Crave focus on the physical and emotional strengths and weaknesses in each student’s yoga practice, working with them to overcome their challenges. “The students are what make a studio awesome, along with dedicated, compassionate instructors, who hold space for students while they learn and grow,” Papps says.

Located inside a barn-style office building on Route 22, the studio has an “old school” vibe, she says. There’s no student lounge, no retail area—“No shopping required,” she says. “I wanted to go back to a time when yoga was simple. No bells and whistles. You went to class and left feeling peaceful, put your shoes on in the hall and drove home craving the next class. That’s all.”

Drop-ins are welcome, but because of the small class size, Papps suggests registering and paying for classes in advance through the Mindbody link on her website, Yoga-Crave.com. Starting in October, Yoga Crave will also host a monthly, donation-based Reiki healing circle, as well as other special monthly offerings. 

“I’m really looking forward to connecting with the community and bringing much-needed yoga and healing to Brewster,” she says.   

Yoga Crave is located at 1456 Rte. 22, Building A, Suite A103, Brewster, NY. For more info, visit Yoga-Crave.com.

 

Golden Prana Adds Classes, Eclectic Boutique

Golden Prana in Katonah has expanded its menu of classes and added a boutique to further the studio’s mission “to foster connection, inspire creativity and support a compassionate lifestyle.”  

A Beginner’s Kundalini Yoga class Saturday mornings from 9 to 10:30 a.m., plus general Kundalini classes throughout the week, give students the tools to cope and thrive in an ever-changing, chaotic world, says Hari Sangat Kaur, a co-owner of Golden Prana.

“Kundalini Yoga is an ancient and sacred technology that uncoils the nerve of the soul to connect the finite self with the infinite self to create a feeling of balance and well-being,” she says. “It involves exercise, chanting, meditation and breath techniques and almost always involves the sound current of the gong. Rather than explain it, I recommend experiencing a class for yourself. We offer First Class Free cards at the desk.”

As Yogi Bhajan said of Kundalini, “I taught this yoga because it helps the householder who must live in and build a better life. You can find the heavens here within your life; you do not need to wait for a later heaven. During this lifetime you must penetrate to the core and build yourself to go home.”  

While the studio focuses on Kundalini Yoga, it now also offers a guided meditation with Amy Kaufman every other Monday, at 7 p.m.; Tai Chi with Cheryl Aiello every Thursday, from 6 to 6:45 p.m.; and Restorative Yoga with Jennifer Llewellyn every Tuesday (beginning September 11), from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. 

Monthly offerings include an Art and Yoga class with Hardev Kaur, “whose gentle and loving approach will inspire anyone to paint,” says Hari Sangat Kaur. The next scheduled class is September 15, at 11 a.m. There is also a monthly lunar gong/sound bath, with the next one scheduled for September 25, from 7 to 8:45 p.m., led by Hari Sangat Kaur.

But the biggest change at the studio is the addition of Majestic Hudson, an eclectic lifestyle boutique designed to sync with Golden Prana’s mission. Llewellyn serves as its chief wellness officer and creative director.  

Golden Prana is located at 223 Katonah Ave., Katonah, NY. For more info, call 914.232.3473, email [email protected] or visit GoldenPrana.yoga. 

 

 

LifeForce Grows at The Temperance Center

There is new buzz at The Temperance Center, and this year it’s all about expansion—especially a growing focus on Lifeforce Yoga. Upcoming LifeForce events include a retreat and four-week series in the fall and a training in the spring. There’s also an ongoing monthly class.

TTC’s founder and owner, Merrill Black, will co-lead a Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors LifeForce Yoga Retreat the weekend of October 12 to 14, along with Rose Kress, owner and director of The LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute. Then in late fall, TTC will offer a four-week, early-evening series in LifeForce Yoga Sun. “These two-hour workshops will incorporate gentle asanas, chakras, breath work, mantras, mudras, restorative poses and yoga nidra for relaxation,” Black says. 

She will continue to teach her monthly LifeForce Yoga class, and a training in LifeForce Yoga is being planned for next spring.

Plenty of other events are on the horizon too. For example, TTC is adding a new monthly Saturday morning Intro to Yoga and Meditation Beginner Workshop, led by Ann Casapini, for people who are totally new to yoga. The first class is September 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

On September 23, TTC will celebrate the fall equinox from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with a “taster” of yoga, meditation and self-expression exercise. As always, half the proceeds go to charity—this time, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

Also coming up in early fall is a 200-hour yoga teacher training by Awakened Warrior (Michael Baez). A Restorative Yoga workshop, led by Jo-Anne Salomone, is planned for January, after all the holiday festivities of December have quieted down.

In addition to all these new events, TTC continues to offer weekly yoga classes for all levels, with a focus on Therapeutic Healing Yoga. Black also continues to lead her biweekly evening group, Adult Guided Channeling Meditation, which has been an integral part of TTC’s offerings since its inception.  

“Keep an eye out,” she says, “because TTC will have lots of other yoga workshops as well as some new spiritually based events, meditations and teachings, including light body energy work, occurring throughout the year.” 

For more info, visit TheTemperanceCenter.com or contact Merrill Black at 914.793.2600 or [email protected].

 

“Anybody Can Be a Yogi” at Elevate

Anybody can be a yogi if they make themselves and their yoga practice a priority, says Cara Sax, owner of Elevate Yoga Studio, located at 3535 Crompond Road, in Cortlandt Manor.

“It can be challenging to schedule one more thing into your day,” she says. “Our mission is to provide you with quality teachers who care about you. We’re committed to helping you become healthy and whole—mind, body, and spirit.” 

Elevate is a warm vinyasa studio. Practicing in a warm environment (80-86 degrees) can make the muscles more elastic, she says. “People’s biggest fear is that they’re not flexible enough for yoga. At our studio, we’re not judgmental. We encourage people to let go of their fears and embrace the mind of a beginner.” 

Weekly classes include standard vinyasa classes—Basic Flow, Warm Flow, All-Level Flow, Powerful Flow—as well as several specialty classes. YogaStrong, which Sax developed, combines sun salutations and asana using light weights to add to the intensity of the asana. “Squats, pushups and other power moves are added to get you fit and flexible in the least amount of time,” she says. 

Yoga Trance-Formation, taught and developed by hypnotherapist Tamie Lobel, combines yoga with self -hypnosis. Yoga and Crystal Healing, taught by Amy Sax Luke, uses crystals to enhance healing and mind-body-spirit alignment.

Elevate also offers a monthly restorative class for those who need to unwind and release patterns of stress and tension. 

For more info, visit ElevateYogaStudios.com or call the studio at 814.422.3083. 

 

Private Yoga Lessons Help Unleash “Inner Goddess”

Although yoga classes have grown dramatically in popularity over the years, some women find private lessons more appealing, says Heather Reiners, who specializes in teaching yoga to girls and women. “Unlike traditional in-studio classes, privates are a one-on-one experience customized to your ability and goals,” she says. “Yoga bolsters your mental health and can ease the stress that often comes with the multiple hats women wear at home and at work.”

An experienced yoga teacher, Reiners has been practicing yoga since she was 14. She is certified in traditional Hatha yoga and chair yoga, holds a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies and is a Reiki master. 

“I work with goddesses of all age groups and mobility levels—preteen and teenage girls, pregnant women and new mamas, senior yogis and all those in between,” she says. “For goddesses new to yoga, private lessons are the best way to set a solid foundation and learn proper alignment in a safe and welcoming environment. Yoga helps women and girls find physical and emotional balance. My lessons focus on self-acceptance; I offer modifications for each pose, positive affirmations and encouragement to build confidence in yourself.” 

For her home sessions, Reiners provides all necessary props for each lesson. Each one ends with sivasana and a guided meditation for bliss and relaxation. 

During the month of September, Heather Reiners is offering complimentary consultations. She takes on a limited number of new clients, so book soon if interested. Contact her at 914.479.2594 or [email protected]. For more info, visit HipHeather.com. 

 

Take Practice to New Level at YogaShine

YogaShine Studio, now entering its 29th year, offers classes with individual attention, as well as private sessions, for people of all ages and all physical and emotional abilities. Vitalah Simon, the studio’s main teacher, has been practicing yoga for 50 years. She says her goal is to help all students take their yoga practice to another level of restoration, healing and consciousness. 

“Everyone has stresses in their lives,” she says. “What yoga provides are tools to meet our difficulties. The physical poses are like a doorway into an amazing room, but you don’t want to just stare at the door—you want to go into the room. At YogaShine, we’re working with the body, the mind, the heart, the breath and the consciousness. All of those things work together in yoga. That’s what the word yoga means—to unite, to bring together. As we practice, we learn to be less reactive to our sensations and be more of a witness. This creates some space in our minds, which allows the possibility of choice rather than reactivity.”

The studio also offers a free, Wednesday evening meditation group in the style of Thich Nhat Hanh, and it regularly works with children and adults with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum and with ADHD.   

YogaShine is located at 7-11 Legion Dr., Valhalla, NY. For more info visit YogaShine.com, or contact the studio at [email protected] or 914.769.8745. 

 

Workshops Combine Yoga and Alexander Technique

Karla Booth, a certified senior teacher of the Alexander Technique, will offer workshops in the method on September 13, at 7 p.m., and September 26, at 2 p.m., at Quest Yoga Arts, located at 111 East Main Street, 2^nd Floor, in Mount Kisco. The Alexander Technique is a method for learning to change postural habits that prevent us from moving with ease. 

“Over the years, we often develop faulty patterns or ideas about how to move, which put pressure on our joints and leave us stiff or feeling tight,” she says. “The technique has been around for over 100 years and is used by actors, dancers, musicians and athletes to help them deal with repetitive motion, find poise and get the most out of their body usage.”

These workshops are designed to introduce people to the Alexander Technique through its application to yoga, says Booth, who has 28 years’ experience teaching the technique and 18 years’ experience as a yoga instructor. 

“Yoga poses offer a great way to examine habitual movement and thought patterns that affect our movement quality and sometimes limit our sense of ease,” she says. “Often, by becoming aware of the habit or rethinking the purpose of the movement, we can unravel patterns of tension to find greater fluidity and create less pressure on our joints.” 

To register, visit QuestYogaArts.com. For more info, visit KarlaBooth.com.

 

Weekend Yoga and Music Festival in the Catskills

The sixth annual Ahimsa Yoga and Music Festival, for yoga lovers, teachers and seekers, will take place November 2-4 in Hunter, New York, in the Catskill Mountains. Participants are invited to enjoy a weekend of chanting and sacred music, plus classes and workshops taught by highly regarded teachers. A variety of healthful foods will be available, as well as products and services from all kinds of wellness vendors. 

The festival also offers opportunities to try new activities, from a meditation hike on Hunter Mountain and ecstatic late-night dancing, to many styles of yoga and other techniques for blissful living. This year’s lineup includes world-renowned names such as Krishna Das and Seane Corn, as well as regional experts from the local yoga and music communities. 

Several class pass options and weekend packages are available, and festivalgoers can choose from a multitude of convenient mountain lodges for overnight accommodations.  

For details, registration and lodging information, call 518.779.3511 or visit AhimsaYogaFestival.com. 

 

Yoga Teachers Association Announces Upcoming Programs

The Yoga Teachers Association of the Hudson Valley (YTA) will kick off its 2018-19 season on September 22 with Light on Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles, presented by Todd Norian, master yogi and founder of Ashaya Yoga. The YTA’s annual Prana Party will immediately follow the workshop. The party will feature kirtan with Norian and provide an opportunity for YTA members and nonmembers alike to connect with other yoga teachers and enthusiasts from the tri-state area

The YTA’s workshops will continue in October with Christa Rypins’s Pelvic Power, an experiential workshop in which yoga meets the Franklin Method of Imagery. Jeff Migdow will return in November for the Practical Wisdom of the Yogic Scriptures, and in December, Robert Rivest will present his unique approach to laughter yoga, which incorporates tai chi, mindful breathing and expressive movement. 

Other workshops in the 2018-19 season will be led by Dan Leven, Jason Ray Brown, Deborah Lubetkin, Ray Crist and Paula Heitzner and cover topics such as the karma of your yoga cues, esoteric poses to spice up your teaching, and LifeForce Yoga for the anxious mood. On June 8, beloved 100-year-old yogini Tao Porchon-Lynch will again close out the YTA season.

This year the YTA will also host its first annual retreat at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Paths to Renewal, with Luke Ketterhagen, will take place November 2 through 4. 

The YTA is an educational nonprofit run by volunteers. It offers monthly workshops in order to enhance and deepen the teaching and knowledge of yoga in the Hudson Valley. Membership is open to studio owners, yoga teachers and individual practitioners. Workshops are usually held on the second Saturday of the month, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at Club Fit in Briarcliff Manor, New York. They cost $45 for members or $65 for nonmembers in advance; continuing education credits are available for all workshops. 

For more information, visit YTAYoga.com or email [email protected]. 

 

Autumn Transformation at Yoga in the Adirondacks

Yoga in the Adirondacks (YitA) will host an all-inclusive Autumn Transformation retreat at The Divine Acres, its private sustainable farm in Adirondack State Park, the weekend of September 28-30. The retreat will be led by Rhodella Hughes, owner and director of YitA and The Divine Acres.

YitA’s premier seasonal retreat, Autumn Transformation is intended to awaken the spirit and nourish the mind, Hughes says. “Participants will connect to their authentic selves through yoga, meditation, essential oils, nutrition, journaling and so much more, while embracing the beauty of the Adirondack State Park.” YitA is located at 2 Coulter Road in Bakers Mills, near Gore Mountain Ski Resort.  

The weekend will include ecofriendly accommodations and farm-to-table meals prepared by YitA’s chef and on-site nutritionist. The Divine Acres is a family-owned sustainable farm that produces fresh organic eggs and vegetables and its own Divine Maple Syrup. 

In her yoga classes at YitA, Hughes often integrates her passion for essential oils. She is certified in AromaYoga, a practice of conscious movement, breathing exercises and chakra meditations combined with therapeutic-grade essential oils. She is also certified in Chair and Seniors Yoga and Stand Up Paddle board (SUP) Yoga, and she uses her Reiki Level 2 certification in her savasanas.

Nutrition Kaye owner Linda Lonergan, Reiki master Amy Kaufman and registered yoga teacher Mary Gathmann will co-facilitate the retreat. 

For more information, call 518.251.3015 or 914.556.8258, or visit YogaInTheAdirondacks.com. 

 

Devotion Yoga Transforms Lives through Kundalini

Devotion Yoga of Westchester, located at 2055 Albany Post Road, in Croton on Hudson, is dedicated to Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. “Kundalini Yoga is a unique system that works on the glandular system in the body,” says studio owner Pritam Bani Kaur. “Utilizing exercise, breath work, chakra balancing and meditation, the body is transformed into awareness.”

Students of Kundalini learn to be guided by their intuition, to live lives of grace, love, kindness and compassion, says Kaur, a Kundalini Yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner. “I love being able to share Yogi Bhajan’s teachings,” she says. “Seeing students grow and heal as they continue their practice is one of the most fulfilling and humbling gifts that has been given to me.” 

Devotion Yoga offers daily yoga classes, outdoor classes (weather permitting), mindful meditation and a variety of monthly workshops, including belly dancing, soul-focused meditation, Reiki trainings and healing circles, crystal and sound healing, yoga nidra meditation and Ho’Oponopono. 

According to Kaur, Ho’Oponopono is a Hawaiian shamanic healing method that empowers individuals to make dramatic changes in their lives by releasing blocks and increasing connection to others through gratitude and forgiveness. The next Ho’Oponopono workshop is on September 19, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. 

A boutique within the Devotion Yoga studio offers yoga-inspired gifts, books and items handmade by students.

For more information, contact Pritam Bani Kaur at 914.930.7707, email the studio at [email protected] or visit DailyDevotionYoga.com. 

 

The Art of Healing Yoga Studio

845.200.7088 • TheArtOfHealing4All.com  • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: We like to focus on keeping our classes smaller rather than larger, as we recognize that sometimes people feel intimidated in a larger class setting. This helps us design and focus classes on the unique qualities that each individual comes in with.

What type of yoga do you offer? We offer all-level Vinyasa, Gentle Vinyasa, Restorative and Yin/Yang.

What’s the vibe? We aim to provide the most comfortable and peaceful space for you to get back to your mind-body-spirit connection, a place that truly feels like coming home. You also leave having gained a new family, as we focus on coming together as a community. Hence our slogan: “Where we find something to love about everyone.”

Do you offer teacher training? Not at the moment, but we plan to offer it in the near future.

What else? We offer Zumba on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. We also offer many unique creativity workshops a few times a month, as well as a free monthly women’s circle that meets on the last Sunday of the month, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Check our website or Facebook page for updates.

 

Balance Wellness Studio

914.374.1471 • BalanceOn6.com • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: Believing mind-body wellness and holistic practices are necessary to a balanced life, Team Balance is dedicated to making them accessible and affordable to all. Balance has a network of independent practitioners who offer a variety of classes and services designed to help our clients live their best life. 

What type of yoga do you offer? Offering small classes allows our instructors to give personal attention to each student. Popular yoga classes include Beginner, Mommy and Me, Slow Flow, Vinyasa, Teen/Tween, YogaFit and Restorative Yoga with Guided Meditation, plus Pilates mat. 

What’s the vibe? In our cozy studio filled with natural light, you feel at ease as soon as you enter. You’ll be confident on the mat knowing our instructors are certified, professional practitioners dedicated to helping you achieve your wellness goals. We never forget that we can’t be successful unless you are.

What else? Balance is proud to be the only studio in New York State currently offering 3X3Fit classes led by a certified instructor. See Kat’s bio on our website for a one-minute video. Rounding out our physical practice offerings, Balance has a monthly Reiki circle and access to private sessions in our “quiet” room. Everyone who enters immediately remarks on the comforting vibe and healing energy in the room. Believing fitness should be fun, we also offer dance classes, Girl’s Night Out parties and other special events. We are proud to have talented and highly educated practitioners/coaches in the wellness field who lead workshops on important, relevant topics.

 

Karma Road Yoga

 

Namastesis

845.765.2299 • Namastesis.com • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: Namastesis provides a vibe in which community and individualism are encouraged and celebrated. Whether they’re an experienced yoga practitioner or a first-time student, everyone is welcome at Namastesis. We focus on the individual. Whether you are here for a yoga class or a wellness service, your session will be tailored to your direct needs.

What type of yoga do you offer? Namastesis offers various yoga classes including but not limited to Vinyasa, Yin, Gentle, Alignment, Restorative, Warm and Hot26. We also offer services such as massage therapy and Reiki.

What’s the vibe? Namastesis strives to create a welcoming and inclusive community vibe. We love to practice with you and share sweet conversations over tea after classes and wellness services.

What else? Here at Namastesis, we love supporting our local friends and other HV studios. We try to offer at least one workshop a month that represents our local Hudson Valley community.  You can join us this month, on September 23, when Hudson Valley yoga instructor Justin Wolfer will be joining us to lead two back-to-back workshops, “Yoga and Anatomy Principals” and “Entering The Flow.” Check out the details at Namastesis.com.

 

Nueva Alma Yoga and Wellness and the A.L.M.A. Institute 

914.294.0606 • NuevaAlma.com • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: Nueva Alma Yoga and Wellness is a studio and holistic center on the border of the Bronx and Yonkers—a safe and welcoming place where anyone can learn about yoga and make friends. The A.L.M.A Institute offers a transformative, interdisciplinary 200-hour yoga and life teacher training, with reasonable tuition ($4,000) and an evening/weekend format to make it accessible to everyone. We offer payment plans and work-study partial scholarships to those who qualify. Our next teacher training starts September 23, with graduation in January. Whether you are looking to deepen your practice, do some personal growth or teach, this is the program for you. Our teachers are well trained and compassionate and passionate at what they offer. We want you to enjoy all that we have to offer so you know why you walked in our doors. You will get the asana, philosophy, sound healing, essential oils, meditation and sense of total renewal.

What type of yoga do you offer? We offer a wide variety of yoga philosophies and 200-hour teacher trainings. You can take anything from Iyengar Wall, Yin and Restorative classes to Athletes, Meditation, Nidra, Fundamentals and Flow. We offer daytime, evening and weekend classes. We don’t offer kids-only classes, because we believe yoga should be a family affair. So we offer discounted rates for children (6 +) and teens so you can bring them with you.

What’s the vibe? We are serious about our yoga but don’t take ourselves too seriously. We are all human. We have our good and bad days. Our vibe is to come in and leave it all on the mat. 

What else? We offer a variety of workshops, including Restorative, Yoga Nidra, Make Your Own Malas, Intro to Ayurveda, Intro to Essential Oils, Yoga for Athletes and Yoga Sutras. We also bring in various sponsors to educate the students and community on local offerings. We are the area hub for learning how to use doTERRA essential oils for overall health and wellness. Consider joining our next cleanse and flow group, which begins in September, for 30 days. We are even a public pickup location for Field Goods, a weekly produce delivery service.

 

Putnam Yoga

845.494.8118 • PutnamYoga.com • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: We believe contemplative practices are essential for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and contemplative, Kripalu-style yoga is the practice we love. Our mission is to build a caring community and inspire peace and wellness. Our focus is on supporting embodied, compassionate self-observation. Students are allowed time to move into a pose, truly witness and find themselves in the pose, and experience the sensations and aftereffects of the pose. It’s contemplative yoga, not “gym yoga.”

What type of yoga do you offer? We offer yoga for all levels, taught in the contemplative Kripalu tradition: Beginners’, Gentle, Moderate, Restorative and Forever Young Chair Yoga, plus special, all-level community events with beloved guest teachers.

What’s the vibe? Unlike most privately owned yoga studios, we are a 501(3)c nonprofit interfaith community, largely volunteer operated—yoga for the people, by the people. Our goal is to create a sacred space for seekers yearning to deepen their connection to soul, spirit, life and the moment. The vibe is warm, welcoming to all, contemplative, spacious and sacred.ming to all, contemplative, spacious and sacred.

What else? We offer monthly gatherings for Restorative Yoga / Yoga Nidra and meditation. Special events this fall will include a three-part intro training on Saturday mornings for those who are new to yoga; an evening of autumnal equinox sound bath healing; a fall renewal half-day mini-retreat; and an evening of kirtan chanting with Sita’s Light.

 

Sacred Spirit Yoga and Healing Arts Center

SacredSpiritYogaCenter.org • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: We believe contemplative practices are essential for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, and contemplative, Kripalu-style yoga is the practice we love. Our mission is to build a caring community and inspire peace and wellness. Our focus is on supporting embodied, compassionate self-observation. Students are allowed time to move into a pose, truly witness and find themselves in the pose, and experience the sensations and aftereffects of the pose. It’s contemplative yoga, not “gym yoga.”

What type of yoga do you offer? We offer yoga for all levels, taught in the contemplative Kripalu tradition: Beginners’, Gentle, Moderate and Restorative, plus special, all-level community events with beloved guest teachers.

What’s the vibe? Unlike most privately owned yoga studios, we are a 501(3)c nonprofit interfaith community, largely volunteer operated—yoga for the people, by the people. Our goal is to create a sacred space for seekers yearning to deepen their connection to soul, spirit, life and the moment. The vibe is warm, welcoming to all, contemplative, spacious and sacred.

 What else? We offer monthly gatherings for Restorative Yoga with Sound Healing and Meditation. Special events this fall include a free class for new students the morning of Saturday, September 8, plus workshops/mini-retreats on Balancing the Immune System, Sacred Dance, “Four Noble Truths” Buddhist teachings and an evening of Kirtan Chanting and Sacred Music with Sita’s Light.

 

Yoga Teachers Association of the Hudson Valley

914.582.7816 • YTAYoga.com • [email protected]

Philosophy and focus: The YTA is a 501(c)3 volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to deepening and enhancing the quality of hatha yoga teaching and fostering the yoga community in the tri-state area. We offer monthly three-hour workshops for teachers and serious students.

What type of workshops do you offer? Workshops cover all styles of yoga and related practices and are led by nationally recognized teachers and highly accomplished local instructors. The 2018-19 season features Dan Leven, Ray Crist, Paula Heitzner and Jason Ray Brown and topics such as laughter yoga, esoteric poses, and wisdom from the yogic scriptures. The September 22 season opener with master yogi Todd Norian will be followed by our annual Prana Party, which is open to all. Workshops take place on Saturdays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and are $45 for members and $65 for nonmembers in advance or $55/$75 at the door.

Do you offer teacher training? No, but we do offer a one-year complimentary membership to current yoga teacher trainees. Additionally, Yoga Alliance-certified teachers receive three CEUs for each workshop and can therefore complete their continuing education requirement in just one year with the YTA.

What else? YTA membership is open to teachers, studio owners, and individual practitioners. Members receive $20 off each workshop, a monthly newsletter and use of the Club Fit facilities on the day of the workshop.