Svia Rothstein
“There is a lifetime of learning in yoga and no deadlines.” In 2004, I wrote an article for a grass roots paper, The Local, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I was enjoying one last season there after living in and falling under the spell of Alaska. After re-reading that piece which intended to dispel some of the mystery and confusion surrounding a very full field of Yoga interpretations, I found that sentence spoke the loudest to me today.
Just over 20 years into my yoga exploration, I find myself still scraping the surface and daily I am humbled by all the great teachings, teachers and practices yet unexplored. Since I began Yoga, I graduated college, had the privilege to roam as a shoe-string traveler in distant lands (the real university), wandered up to Alaska intrigued and challenged by the world of “bush flying”, opened this warm little sanctuary with my inspiring and talented business partner, Kim and became a Mom. Throughout that adventurous half of my life, yoga in her many forms, has been a constant and grounding force. My curious nature and years of living a gypsy lifestyle exposed me to a diversity of trainings over the years.
By chance, the exacting alignment principles and therapeutic applications of Iyengar Yoga set a good foundation early on in my education. The focus on body in those classes was perfect for my gymnastic background and college mindset. After graduation from CU Boulder in 1994, my love of yoga and mountains took me to the Himalayas and India. At the Bihar School of Yoga I quickly realized that the body was just one layer, level or sheath of yogic focus. In ashram life, asana (physical postures) were practiced in the sunrise hours only and the rest of the day was dedicated to other profound and spirited yoga practices. From Karma (selfless service) to bhakti (the yoga of devotion) to Yoga Nidra (guided relaxation) and meditation, a veil was lifted and there was no turning back. I knew that Yoga offered many “lifetimes of learning” opportunities. For years to follow I continued my exploration, attending workshops, seminars and trainings every chance I got. I thrived on the diversity of offerings out there and learned from each and every teacher (even those I did not resonate with). Every practice teaches me something new about ‘me’ if I pay attention. From heat building and fluid styles of Ashtanga Vinyasa and “flow” to grounding and restorative Yin yoga to the cleansing Kriyas, breath-work and meditations of Kundalini, I feel blessed to have such a vast and eclectic trove from which to practice and teach.
In February, 2009 I attended the Khalsa Way Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with renowned Kundalini teacher Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa in Hollywood, CA. One year later, I experienced the greatest lessons of all when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter and daily guru, Stella Pilar. It is with great love and respect for all women that I teach both Prenatal Yoga and Baby & You classes here in Alaska.
More recently, I have turned my sights on the enriching poetry of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Discussion and chanting of the Sutras brings them to life in a very personal way. This led me to the Level 5 Maya Yoga training in the summer of 2010. Through a traditional and multi-layered practice Maya has developed the “un-system” of yoga where the “practice is the teacher” and the individual is encouraged to connect with spirit through self exploration.
Over the years, people have asked what ‘kind’ of yoga I teach. My response: I teach what I know and in every class, I learn.
