To those of you who are new to Casa Vinyasa, or to practicing Ashtanga Yoga, I want to encourage you to be patient — with yourself, with the practice, and with the process of getting to know how things work here, both in this space and with the teachers.
Ashtanga Yoga is not just about learning a sequence of postures or understanding physical alignment. It is a yogic tradition — a way of living, an attitude towards life, toward sadhana, toward the space we practice in, and toward our teachers and fellow classmates. It cultivates humility, discipline, austerity, patience, and devotion — and it asks something deeper of us.
Here, you are not just learning asanas. You are being introduced to something more subtle and important — studentship in Yoga.
I understand that some of you may never have studied martial arts or an ancient discipline from the East. These traditions are very different from wellness centres or modern education systems in the West. (I could write a whole article about that alone.) I also know that many of you come from large yoga studios where multiple styles are taught by various teachers, and where students come and go. In that environment, it’s easy to miss the depth of a single lineage — and even harder to build a meaningful, long-term student-teacher relationship or connection with fellow practitioners.
Studios dedicated to a single method, where the teachers come from the same tradition, are becoming rare. So if you’re new here, take your time. You’re learning on many levels — not just physically. Working consistently with one teacher is very different from bouncing between surface-level connections. It’s normal to feel challenged at times — even to feel resistance or frustration with your teacher. That’s part of the process.
And if you ever find yourself feeling resistant, defensive, or taking things personally — that’s okay. That, too, is part of the process.
This kind of practice — in a lineage-based, disciplined space — may feel very different from what you’re used to. It’s normal to bump up against discomfort when we’re asked to let go of old habits, familiar rhythms, or ways of relating.
When that happens, I invite you to pause and ask yourself:
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What is being asked of me here, beyond the physical practice?
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What might this moment be trying to teach me — about myself, about my patterns, about how I respond to structure, instruction, or challenge?
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Am I willing to try a different way, even if it feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first — just to see what might unfold?
This space is not designed to reinforce your preferences — it’s designed to help you grow. And real growth often begins in those moments when we soften our resistance, set aside the need to understand everything right away, and simply allow ourselves to try.
You don’t have to agree with everything. You don’t have to get it right the first time. You’re not expected to know how it all works immediately.
You’re simply invited to stay open, to stay curious — and to let the practice work on you, from the inside out.
Give it time. Let the deeper teachings reveal themselves slowly.
You might be surprised at what becomes possible when you do.
The way things work in this space — the structure, rhythm, and guidelines — exists for a reason: to make this place and this teaching sustainable. So I can keep showing up. So the space stays clean, organized, and peaceful for everyone who comes here to practice. So things aren’t damaged. And most importantly, so I can protect my energy while continuing to hold space for a growing and evolving community.
I’m not here to be liked, to maintain more clients around me, or to give customer service the way people may want me to. I’m here to share a tradition, yogic techniques, and wisdom.
If I come across as strict or rigid, before you judge, ask yourself:
What would it feel like to open your home to a hundred different people throughout the year — sharing your space, your belongings, your energy — while holding space for each one to grow through Yoga? That’s what I do here.
And you are welcome — if you’re willing to meet this space with respect, patience, and an open heart.
Come ready to learn — not to argue, and not to insist on doing things your own way. This space invites you into something deeper — if you’re willing to step in with humility, and stay open to learning new ways.