Kathy prescribes to the idea of practice as being one of the cornerstones of yoga and daily life. With consistence practice we are able to develop a fertile ground from which to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. Our practice then becomes a space for each of us to take stock of our habits and tendencies in order to be more aware of ourselves and make the changes necessary for our personal growth. Yoga on the mat is then taken off the mat into our daily lives enriching our relationships with ourselves, our families, friends and our environment.
Through our practice we become more and more present. We take time to look at small things with greater awareness seeing life as a sequence of small moments all strung together. In these moments we begin to create clarity, acceptance and surrender. When we surrender to the present moment we move away from resisting. We use the present moment to quiet the incessant chatter of our mind and find that inner source of strength that connects us all to the divine source. It is by the coordinated and concentrated efforts of our body, senses, mind, reason, and Self that we as man obtain the prize of inner peace, while fulfilling the quest of our deepest nature to connect with the Supreme Spirit of the universe.
Kathy’s teaching draws students attention to small points, moment to moment to become more aware of there physical body as well as the sense organs and the mind. All of these anchors help to quiet the mind while working with the physical-ness in each asana. Kathy follows the Iyengar yoga tradition honoring the eight limbs or stages of yoga described by Patanjali. Mr. Iyengar’s teachings and those of his most senior teachers within the Iyengar community, continue to inform Kathy’s teaching as they have for almost 20 years now.
“A lamp does not flicker where no wind blows; so it is with a yogi, who controls his mind, intellect and self, being absorbed in the spirit within him. When the restlessness of the mind, intellect and self is stilled through the practice of yoga, the yogi by the grace of the Spirit within herself/him finds fulfillment.” Bhagavad Gita