From first glance they all seem to be doing the same thing. The overwhelming gathering of the breath. What do I do? Ekam in-then Dwe exhale? Jump back? Float where? A bit of a grip. Wow, what I'm doing is not what she's doing. Look where? The teachers guide us with hand, foot, and voice. Deepening this personal adventure. From a quick glance it may seem like warm up for our circus performance. In a way, we are but we mold this practice to suit our bodies. This eight-limb path of mind and body entices our strengths and parades our weaknesses, chipping at both to bring balance. A balance achieved through regular practice. Ashtanga is what I call my practice. Ashtanga is what I do. 

My path to Yoga starts with Hong Kong Action. Watching the films and playing the parts of classic heroes in my head led me to Martial Arts. Life got in the way, as it does, and soon I found Yoga. "I can bend in funny ways. I can do this." So I did, off and on, until Ashtanga. My lady leads me to my first teacher. Through the generic glass door, up the dark, stale stairwell, and through a plain wooden door we go. The lobby's warm and welcoming and the owner's just the same. To the changing room! The practice space: soft and bright. Ganesha standing at the front of the students all lined up in their rows. Class is world changing. I have never sweated so but the urge to return wells inside. I found a Yoga that fits and changes me for the better. I have been practicing Ashtanga since 2009 and teaching it since 2014.

Most of my training hours have been spent between Kino Macgregor and Tim Feldmann, over 200 hours. But there are so many others to listen to. Some I have had the privilege of learning from include: David Swenson, David Williams, David Keil, David Garrigues(Okay I just wanted to list all the Davids because it's funny). I have trained with them and others. Even completing Asheville Community Yoga’s Teacher Training Intensive. Learn from everyone. If I'm not i'm not listening. 

Jonathan Harrah 200-ERYT