A wise man sitting
with folded legs.
Fill my bowl with Life
he begs.
Or fill it as full as,
you think I need.
And fill my heart with,
desire not greed.
Mike Troy, Poet Laureate, Student
Seekers craving peace
Converge, cross-legged. Breathe stillness.
Spirits freed, now soar!
Stephanie Jenal, Psychologist, Student
Confessions of a reluctant yogi –
I had thought about yoga for years and when I ran out of excuses for not taking care of myself, I screwed up my courage and went to yoga. I was full of fear of touchy feely skinny people in flowing garments at one with the universe. Most days I am ambivalent about the Universe at best. Okay so I walked in and no one laughed at me or pointed and told me to leave. So far so good. Then Bryan, the teacher, walked in wearing a bow tie and blowing all my stereotypes of yoga teachers. Getting better. The next 6 Saturdays were sheer willpower to attend every week. That’s when my conversion happened….when I moved from a reluctant once a weaker to enthusiastic I’m moving in member of the Patanjali’s Place family. Two years later, I could point out 15 pounds lost, absence of shoulder pain, increased upper body strength, flexibility, blah blah blah. But for me, the best thing is a sense of place, of belonging. I call Patanjali’s Place is “my” yoga studio. But come….I’m willing to share.
"Patanjali's Place is the most welcoming and enlivening place I know. Each
class becomes a small, accepting community where one can strive and be at
peace. Practicing yoga there makes me feel open, invigorated, connected,
and whole---within and without. Patanjali's Place make me feel good about
the world and good about me!"
M. D.
"Patanjali's Place is an oasis of calm in a noisy world. As a newcomer to Durham, I was thrilled to find this warm and welcoming community just down the street from my home. Bryan Carey and his team of teachers encourage us to explore, expand and embrace the practice on the mat and to carry that discipline into our daily world. In addition to the physical benefits of the asanas, the meditative aspects of yoga also inform my studio work as a visual artist. The focus required to bring body, mind and spirit together is essential to creative thinking and establishing a harmonious balance in life."
W. C. S.
"My time at Patanjali's place has been wonderful, and I am so honored to a part of a place that is building community through the practice of yoga, and making it available to "all ages and stages". Teaching Kids Yoga to students from the Central Park School, I have seen the beautiful way that children can learn so eagerly and energetically, and I have seen how much there is to be learned from them. Doing yoga with kids has brought levity and joy to my practice and to my life, and seeing the impact that yoga has on them has been profoundly rewarding. The kids take such pleasure in learning the poses - the names of them in English and Sanskrit, the way they feel in their bodies, different variations on them - and they constantly bring creativity to it, describing things in nature that different poses remind them of. They love the relaxation and breathing, and they are very articulate about describing how they feel as a result. It is wonderful to see how each child has a different way of practicing, and how they don't judge or compare as much as adults can sometimes. The experience of sharing yoga with kids has led me to a new understanding of yoga, and it has been a refreshing, exciting, and deeply fulfilling journey."
N. B.
Quite simply, yoga has changed my life. While the draw for me was not immediate -- it took about two months for it to "kick in" -- I found that through yoga, I was able to access parts of myself that I had buried over the years. After several years of repeated loss, serious family illnesses and deaths, I was depleted. I had lost my center. Through coming to yoga consistently, I was able to re-find my center, find the will to lose 40 pounds with ease, stand my ground in difficult situations, and learn to treat myself and my body gently and with love. I am healing chronic pain and mobility problems in my neck, shoulders and feet, and continue to enjoy increased strength, flexibility and confidence which continue to unfold on an ongoing basis.
B. B.
Patanjali’s Place is a Yoga studio with a diverse group of smart, warm, kind-hearted people. I feel welcome here and feel a part of a community. This place feels safe enough to explore; light-hearted enough to play relax and enjoy; and serious enough to study, get stronger and deepen my understanding of self and of my connection to all things and the divine.
Bryan Carey the owner and lead teacher is a great mentor, and truly enjoys his students and the opportunity to interact with them on an individual and group basis. He is mindful and kind, funny and sincere—and he is very comfortable with people and feelings. This is important to me, because emotions can come up as one deepens mind body awareness through yoga practice, and when they do having a supportive and knowledgeable teacher is important. I appreciate also that at Patanjali’s Place there is ample opportunity to study a variety of different forms of yoga and movement. I’ve taken many of the different classes offered at the studio and all of the instructors whom I have worked with as proficient instructors, and have a fun, kind and caring nature. Finally, in addition to asana practice, I also like that we have the opportunity to hear and discuss readings from Patanjali’s Yoga sutras, and participate in organized group and community events including films, lectures, potlucks, volunteer events for charity. Come and join us!
T. M.
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