Seattle yoga studios, teachers, and aficionados from the Live Be Yoga community have been busy this summer. From hosting free classes in parks to leading vinyasa flow sessions on a boat, it’s clear that there is yoga in every moment. Check out our five favorite moments from Seattle so far!
Live to Be Yoga ambassadors Jeremy Falk and Aris Seaberg are on a road trip across the country to share real talk with master teachers, explore innovative classes, and so much more—all to illuminate what’s in store for the future of yoga.
From feeling the fresh, welcoming vibes of a new studio to filling their cups with wisdom from two of the most revered yoga teachers in the country, Jeremy and Aris share what they learned about intention during their visits to Seattle.
A New Studio and New Teacher Can Reinvigorate Practitioners
From the moment you walk into Seattle Yoga Lounge, you feel the welcoming community vibes. There are beautifully repurposed wood trunks for seating, and you are able to see the intention and energy that Elvis Garcia, its new owner and a devotee of Annie Carpenter, has put into the studio space and class offerings. We attended an amazing, well-rounded, and anatomy-focused SmartFLOW class led by Andrea Pavela, a recent graduate of SYL’s own teacher training program, which was taught by Tiffany Russo. That in itself is a good reminder that, in yoga and life, it all comes full circle: Stay tuned for an interview with Tiffany in Los Angeles!
Purists Reminded Us to Double Down on Yoga Philosophy in Every Pursuit
Seaberg
It’s hard to describe all the wisdom that pours out of both Savitri and Aadil Palkhivala, founders of Alive and Shine Center in Bellevue, WA. We discussed many topics, including the array of yoga classes and events—goat yoga, wine yoga, chocolate yoga—around the country. While Aadil feels these are not real yoga, he does recognize their contribution. “If the intention is to actually deliver true yoga in the long run,” then these trends will better serve the students and yoga as a whole in the long run. These “fad” yogas are fun, but it’s important to implant the seedlings of yoga traditions and philosophy into these practices so the yoga will continue to do the work.
Some Hybrids Blend Two Powerful Traditions of Healing
Seattle is home to the founder of Yoga Medicine, Tiffany Cruikshank, whose background as a licensed acupuncturist allows her to teach a therapeutic form of yoga informed by multiple traditions of wisdom. We met with Tiffany and several of her trainees to film a video demonstrating how she uses Traditional Chinese Medicine in a yoga practice to balance the elements of Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire, and Water. The poses come from traditional yoga asana, but with her understanding of the meridian system, she tweaked them with a few modifications and props. As a result, we learned a mini-practice with the intention of stimulating digestion, balancing stability with mobility, strengthening the immune system, opening the heart, and connecting to stillness.
Accessibility Is Key to Expressing Yoga in Every Form
Seaberg
The weather was beautiful and sunny during our visit to the Pacific Northwest, and we attended an outdoor class surrounded by many formations of artistic expression in the Sculpture Park. We loved this class, organized by Seattle Art Museum because it brought the community together in a truly accessible way. The crowd was diverse in age and ability and clearly showed all the beautiful forms the practice can take by truly honoring an all-level practice.
Even Fitness-Based Yoga Classes Can Lay the Foundation for Tapping into the Subtle Body
Seaberg
We tried our first vibe board yoga class at Flight Room in Seattle, which showed us another great way the practice can take shape. Vibration plates have been used in physical therapy and personal training with positive results in cultivating stability, balance, strength, and tone in nearly all the muscles of the body. It was very challenging, and afterward, we felt our whole bodies buzzing. It was a practical addition to a traditional yoga practice in that it provided a new method for yogis to learn about themselves, their body, and their various energetic layers.
Namaste to Our Partner
Seaberg
There’s nothing like a warm evening in Seattle! We were so grateful for the beautiful weather so we could enjoy our favorite organic wine, Natura Wines, with rooftop views of the Pacific Northwest!
Conclusion:
This trip to the Pacific Northwest reminded us of how yoga is in everything. Whether you’re climbing a mountain, drinking tea, or doing a chair pose at your desk—you are practicing!
