Why are there so many “hoops”?

This morning I got to thinking about yoga, and teaching yoga,specifically me teaching yoga.

I have been TEACHING yoga for 10 years spring 2010. It is amazing how things in my life have evolved over a decade.  Wow!

Let’s see… I have gone from mid 30’s to mid 40’s.  I started off with a Bikram certification and a desire to teach Bikram yoga differently. Back then, you could.  Well… you could until you pissed off another studio!  I wont go there. But I did teach Bikram yoga with love, humor and compassion. And it was different. And GREAT!

Shortly though, I was fired for being a Bikram renegade. In response- exactly 12 weeks later I opened my first studio! I studied, moved forward, and taught a ton of classes.   LOTS and LOTS of people came and it was very successful. Many teachers came and taught in this place and many more went off to be certified and some went on to open their own successful studios. So rewarding!

I opened a bigger studio- it was a horrible construction mess- it failed.  An epic dramatic failure.  But  life goes on, so I went on. I started teaching my hot yoga at the local hare krishna temple in a very hot room above their kitchen!! This was surreal. Incredibly- the yogis came. Darling, loving kind yogis.  So many lessons were learned there. Humility, patience, openness.  It was grace that I was offered the opportunity to teach there. I will be forever grateful to krishna’s sweet devotees.

In time I was certified by Jimmy Barkan in his flow series. (yeah, I need to get back to florida for some refresher) Then I travelled to Rhode Island and Seattle to be certified by Ana Forrest.

I became an E-RYT 500 registered teacher with Yoga Alliance. (of course that’s another interesting path …) and I got married!  We regrouped and took a couple of years off to sort things. (I had shoulder surgery that’s another blog post- but I am back to head stand stregnth)

This brings us to now.  We have built another studio.  It’s in the Houston Heights. It’s beautiful! The hot room is amazing.  It’s clean, its warm and loving- all the things that make it feel right.  While my husband and I build the house we will share- I sleep upstairs in an apartment with my standard poodle. So it’s also my home.

My favorite thing?  It’s small.  15 people and myself are all that I will book for each class.  Essentially it is a semi-private studio.

The best thing is, you won’t vie for space. You don’t need to get here early for a spot. There are no dirty looks- we are expecting you, and you are welcome.  (We promote green living. We use hand towels not paper towels and wash them. We have a filtered water system we offer free to the students.  We also supply refillable water bottles for your use. AND weekend bike riders get a discount-  see? We try.)

So here’s the deal.   I want you here.  I want you to do yoga. I also want to know who you are and if you are a fit for the hot room.  It’s not elitist or mean or difficult.  It’s just me being safe and smart.  If you are coming here, you would want no less… right?

So you have to email me, you have to answer my questions, you have to tell me about your physical self and you have to make a reservation.  Once you get here you have to call to be buzzed in. There are security cameras.  You park behind a beautiful iron fence amid huge groves of bamboo.  You are offered all you need for your class, including mats, rugs, towels, straps, blocks, water and electrolytes. No, we don’t have a boutique, all you need is here for you to use as part of your experience. Everything is  clean and sanitized and available for you.

Oh-and your class is the best hot yoga in Houston.

You see, Darla’s Yoga Garden is different.  It’s not about ‘doing it right’ or volume cookie cutter yoga.  If you just want a hot room and a place work out this is not the place for you. If you want the same postures the same way the same day everyday this is not the place for you.

BUT, if you are looking for a yoga home, a place to learn and develop your practice, a place with a loving nurturing vibe. Please email me. immediately!

Have I got a place for you!