About Yoga

The word 'yoga' comes from the root word 'yuj' in Sanskrit which means to yoke or unite. Yoga is an opportunity to unite the mind and body. The practice of yoga leads to a deeper sense of physical, emotional, and spiritual awareness on many levels. Through awareness we find our center through which we can access tools to live more fully and compassionately in our complex world. We invite you to join a class and check out our yoga links section to learn more about yoga.

The Gift of Yoga

by Stacey DeGrasse

In 1997 my Ph.D. advisor and dear friend, Collin, gave me the gift of yoga classes. At the time I was starting my graduate studies in oceanography. While I didn’t see the connection between yoga and my training as a scientist, I certainly enjoyed the introduction to yoga and the extra time that I was able to spend with Collin outside of our lab. Upon reflection, I realize that (1) my yoga practice informed and enhanced my role as a scientist, (2) Collin’s gift drastically changed my life in a positive way forever, and (3) her gift continues to give not only to me but also to others.

Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, can be defined as the unity of mind, body and spirit. My initial interest in yoga was mostly on the physical level (as I think it is for many when they register for their first yoga classes). I practiced to get in shape and increase my strength and flexibility. However, over time and especially after starting my study in the Anusara tradition, I began to not only observe physical changes in my body, but also in mind and spirit. These positive changes were principally the result of applying the first of the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment: Opening to Grace.

Opening to Grace reminds us to connect to a bigger picture and maintain perspective. This Principle teaches us to first soften and delight in the intrinsic goodness in all things and in all situations. Conversely, in graduate school I was trained to think critically and to examine details and specifics. It is easy to see how such an analytical approach would be beneficial for a scientist. As with all things, however, there must be a balance. I now apply the first Principle of Opening to Grace to my job as a scientist. I evaluate the big picture first. I look for the good in research projects, proposals, and manuscripts. From this place of opening and becoming receptive I can then focus on the details of projects, the methods employed for a given study, and the results. I have found that by applying the first of the Universal Principles of Alignment to my science that I can offer constructive criticism to enhance the quality of science. I even notice that when the constructive criticism is presented in this way, it is better received.

I soon realized that my yoga practice opened me to life. Yoga was no longer a weekly physical practice on a mat in a studio. It was a way of life for me. I began to feel a sense of freedom in mind, body and spirit that I didn’t know what attainable. It was at that time that I realized the magnitude of the gift that I had been given. This realization immediately inspired me to give the gift of yoga to others. So I embarked on my yoga teacher training journey so that I could acquire the skills and knowledge to offer this practice to as many people I could possibly reach. It is my hope that my students will not limit their practice to the mat, but that they will also Open to Grace off the mat and live their yoga. It is in this way that we can share yoga with everyone in every situation.

My friend Collin lives in Maine and unfortunately is not here to take my classes. So a few years ago for Christmas I made a personal yoga practice guide for her (complete with sketches of each pose), and I shared with her some of the valuable lessons I have gone on to learn in my yoga practice, in particular in the Anusara method. A couple of years ago I finally had the pleasure of her visiting DC and taking my class for the first time. It was a gift to me to be able to show her the path that she put me on, and it was a joy for her to meet my students and see that her initial gift is now being shared with others.