Jivamukti Yoga School photo
Orlando has great yoga, but the market is more generic- hot power yoga, Bikram and basic flows. I tried different classes at different studios, but most classes were about the same. Don’t get me wrong- it was awesome yoga! The teachers were fun and fitness-related.
Asheville yoga is much different. I’ve found that there are offerings for almost every practice of yoga (variations I’ve never heard of!) and I actually can’t find a hot power yoga class like I used to attend almost daily in Orlando. The teachers are more organic with their passion for their practice and it shows through their storytelling and teaching.
So far I’ve tried Hot Dynamic Flow at Asheville Yoga Center and Anusara at West Asheville Yoga. Today I visited Yoga South for Jivamukti I/II taught by Michael.
- Jivamukti means “liberation while living”
- Emerged from NYC in 1984
- Vinyasa-style practice
- Each class is focused around a theme
The class was thoughtful and soulful. The theme was fear- what it is, how we respond to it and hot much we can control it. A fun playlist played in the background as the teacher assisted us as we held poses for minutes at a time. It wasn’t all deep breathing while hanging out in Pigeon… we spent a several minutes flowing in our own version of a sun salutation to the beat of a song. I felt stretched, happy and strong after this class. It was yoga at its best.
Women’s Health Mag has a great guide on types of yoga here.
Have you ever had a bad yoga experience?
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I have definitely had bad yoga experiences, even at great studios. I think the problem with living in a city like Boston is that it is small enough that word gets around about great places but big enough that TONS of people flock to them. Really crowded classes are a huge turnoff for me.
So I took my first meditation with yoga class today. No music just words and chanting. It was different.
And I may have giggled during an Om. But an hour and a half flew by.
I think I have converted.
I’ve never had a bad yoga practice, although I’ve definitely been left wanting more afterwards sometimes…I’ll go in expecting a flow and get a very slow practice, or I’ll go in craving holds and getting a very frenetic one. But usually I get what I need in the end!
I love that naked picture! So awesome. Glad you had such a great class, that is the best!
My first two yoga classes ever were bad experiences. I was bored, found the poses impossible and watched the clock. I think I wasn’t mentally ready for yoga and I had the wrong type of teachers those first two times.
When I was ready, I went back to try yoga again, years later. I fell in love. I was ready.
The second yoga class I ever did was a bad experience and I am just glad, that it didn’t happen in my first practice, otherwise, I probably would have never gone back.
After seeing the photo, I seriously thought you were going to say that this type of yoga is done naked. Haha.
My only bad yoga experience was my first. It was so slow and boring, I didn’t try yoga again for 5 years! Once I found a great yoga teacher, I loved it!
That naked pic is pretty nuts!
I’ve had boring yoga experiences. Like, the class moved a bit too slow for me…Most of my hot yoga sessions have been awesome and leave me wanting more! I tend to shy away from weird types of yoga that I’ve never heard of, but the class you took sounds awesome
Maybe next time I’ll give it a shot!
Usually when I’ve had a “bad” yoga experience I try to figure out what is going on in my head that I think it’s bad. I’ve always had great teachers but sometimes the chatter of “why doesn’t she stop talking” or “aren’t we going to do any forward bends for cripe’s sake? What’s with all these lunges?!” takes over. That’s usually a sign that I needed the class more than anything.
My first “real” yoga class was at a *national* gym – it was large, and we were crowded in the classroom. I didn’t get any personalized instruction (which really scares me because of the possibility of injury with yoga) and I left the class feeling really discouraged! Luckily I went back, and I can’t imagine life without it now!
My ‘bad’ experience was probably more my fault than theirs. I went to a hot yoga 90 minute class and started feeling super dizzy about 45 minutes in. I had to get up and leave. It was probably due to dehydration and overexertion!
Yes, I once had a teacher that I felt was not very good. She went too fast with the poses and would breathe too fast and too audibly, etc. But then a yoga teacher friend of mine pointed out to me that just because she was doing that didn’t mean I had to. But I do find that I have a better overall experience with instructors who teach at a yoga studio as opposed to a gym with multiple fitness classes.
That’s a really cool picture!
The studio where I have a 10-class-pass at right now isn’t the right fit for me. It’s a super nice studio but I feel like I have to constantly look up & see what the instructor is doing because she doesn’t explain the poses/sequences in detail. It’s a bummer.
I think the only time I’ve had a bad yoga experience was when I wasn’t in the right mindset.
That is awesome! I’ve been wanting to try Jivamukti for a while now but the class that’s offered near me is during my work day. Sad! I haven’t really had a bad yoga experience from a teacher or studio – but more of when I tried to push myself too far/hard and ended up getting hurt. It’s a good lesson to learn through practice – now I’m much easier on myself!
My yoga experiences are few and far between. There are no yoga studios in my town (though there are a few on the far side of the next town over), so any time I’ve taken it has been at my gym. I’ve done the P90x yoga and Bob Haper’s yoga. So I don’t know that I’ve even had any true yoga opportunities. I wish that I could.
I’ve discovered and tried a LOT of different yoga styles in Denver! In DC I only found Bikram and “power” yoga (vinyasa inspired), but I was never truly challenged. Here, I”ve found a variety of teachers and studios that keep me on my head, toes, arms and keep me stretched/flexible! I’ve never had a bad experience, and can’t get enough of my evolving practice. I’m glad you’ve had the chance to keep exploring what Yoga has to offer!
Years ago I went to a class or two with my then bf and it didn’t stick or sit well. I remember speaking to the teacher after class and saying it was my first hot yoga experience, only to have them correct me with the ‘proper’ name for it.
I only really connected with yoga earlier this year. My situation and spirit were open to it, and the studio and teachers I found through a friend absolutely a match. My soul was so overwhelmingly happy after that first class!
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