Dear Lara,
I was thinking it might be interesting to have an interview with a yoga studio owner in Mexico now with the Swine flu having closed down the studios in Mexico City, here in Puerto Vallarta we remain open. All social clubs, cinemas have been closed and the kids are all home from school. The folks NEED the yoga and have begged me to stay open. We have a small community and have posted a sign on the door asking people to practice at home if they have any symptoms of a cold. Otherwise, we are all happy to be practicing peace together and finding some calm in the storm.
Anna Laurita
davannayoga owner
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
www.davannayoga.com
I got this letter from Anna last week, during the flu outbreak in Mexico. Thank you Anna for sharing your yoga with the Peeps!
Why do you practice yoga?
I practice yoga so as to be a better service to my family and my community.
How did you begin practicing yoga? What advice do you have for beginners?
I began practicing yoga in Kathmandu Nepal while on a trekking trip. I awoke early and went to a teacher nearby and had a private class. I was hooked but then had three children in 4 years so my yoga practice varied between pranayama, pre-natal yoga and regular yoga classes with consciousness. Finally after all children were on there way, I went deeper into my practice and found various teachers I enjoyed.
Advice for beginners: 1) find a teacher you connect with and trust; 2) choose a great feeling space and comfortable beginner’s class OR hire a private teacher. Ask all the questions you want after the practice. Come with questions! ; 3) Study essential books on yoga. ; 4) Let yourself relax and enjoy!
Who are your most influential teachers?
My teachers are a combination of maybe lesser known teachers and some very famous teachers: MorningStar Borzoni (Merida, Mexico - now in SF, CA) for her sense of humor and teaching us to take our yoga and lives lightly. A lovely French woman in Brazil named Nicole who taught me essential Pranayama and after my third child returned my body to a beautiful shape with almost exclusively pranayama. And of course my most well known teacher Master Duncan Wong who helped me through the ranks of certification. I work with him at his teachers trainings and have assisted at international conferences. He is strong yet compassionate and will break postures down for students to help them deepen their practice with confidence. His assists are like none other. Baptiste Marceau’s pranayama practices are amazing (he lives in Mex. City - Marcel Marceau’s son!) I also study sequences and philosophies of Jivamukti’s founders Sharon and David (who are two of Duncan’s teachers along with Pattabhi Jois). I also study Buddhist philosophy and find inspiration in Buddha’s teachings.
What is the best thing about teaching? The most challenging?
The best thing about teaching is helping people to become strong and healthy in mind and body. To hear from someone “I feel GOOD!”. Then to see a student go on to be a teacher because they were so inspired. Finally having a reason to continue studying is a GREAT thing about teaching. I am usually teaching the majority of classes in the yoga shala. I have to vary the practices, vary the teachings. Nothing can be the same or boring. The students rely on me to make the yoga practice special. Therefore I HAVE to study, study, study and practice, practice, practice.
The most challenging is perhaps having a small studio and teaching all classes at All Levels. I teach on an Individual Asana Basis adjusting the asanas for individual students. People come in at all different levels. My challenge is to create a class that is beneficial to all. I may have one student in an Eka Pada Bakasana while the others are in Bakasana Prep. postures. Also finding good teachers in a small town can be a challenge. I am blessed to have “Resident teachers” fly in for the season (I have two visiting from China - students also of Duncan Wong) and have one amazing teacher who helps me year around (She is a Sivananda student who studied in India). I also constantly challenge myself to keep the teachings authentic.
Do you have any advice for beginner teachers?
Mentor a teacher you love. Start in a small studio with fewer students. Or volunteer at a community center. Be grateful to your students. Smile a lot. Thank the students always at the beginning and at the end. Greet the students as they come in the door and as they exit. Keep studying and continue your private practice.
Tell us about your practice now, (when, how long) , and what are some of the challenges in your practice?
I practice usually 1 hour per day 3-4 times per week always in the morning. Sometimes very early (before 6). I study atleast as many hours and practice meditation in addition. I teach 17-20 classes per week.
What pose do you struggle with? Gomukhasana - left arm up hand bind.
How do you keep asana fresh? I go to free podcasts and listen to other teachers when I feel stale. I also read the Bhagavad Gita or other essential books like the Yoga Sutras and create a theme from a section of one of those texts to base a practice on. I also go to international conferences and practice with international teachers there as well as those that come through Mexico (there are many as this is a good retreat part of the world and sometimes they let local teachers come for the day although it can be expensive).
What insights into your practice have you gained from when you began? To go slower, be quieter, and that bandha, bandha, bandha will save the world! Also that meditation is very important.
What is your meditation practice, is a movement practice outside, or is a still indoor sort of practice ? Both actually. I love to walk and have a silent meditation while walking. I love to cook also and find meditation in that. I enjoy seated guided meditation as well as very quiet sitting meditation. I ADORE teaching children the benefits of sitting quietly and meditating even if for 2-3 minutes. They open their eyes with such a smile.
What books do you love? Like Water for Chocolate; The Life of Pi; Bhagavad Gita; Light on Life; Light on Yoga; Yoga Nidra; The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching; Jivamukti Yoga Practice for Liberation, Body and Soul; Yoga and Vegetarianism; The World Peace Diet; The Autobiography of a Yogi;Gosh…I could go on forever!
What music do you love? Jazz, East Indian music, yoga music in general I find relaxing…for my Yogic Arts classes I love Brazilian music and African rhythm music. I also enjoy some electronica music.
How do you share yoga in non-asana ways? I am a vegetarian and I share yoga by speaking proudly about vegetarianism and how it relates to yoga (yamas/ niyamas). I also share yoga (and metta) by volunteering in my community. I help new mom’s with lactation - they call me when they have issues and I go to them for free to help; I give a free weekly yoga class to the children at the Colegio Americano and it is open to all children of Vallarta - it is an after school Yoga Club. I began a program in my yoga shala of donating your old yoga mat to the animal shelters around town to help animals live a more comfortable life while awaiting adoption and to use in the spay and neuter clinics around town (there are many clinics as there are many stray animals on the streets of Mexico).
Which of the Yamas are you most involved with these days? The Niyamas?
I spout on about ahimsa and Vegetarianism. I can also relate vegetarianism to all of the yama’s.
Certainly with the Niyamas I am closely involved these days as the Swine Flu sweeps through Mexico. I am cleaning mats daily (Saucha); I am content that my children are home with me during this time (santosha) also I am content that we have no cases of swine flu in PV; Tapas (heat ) well I live here as I LOVE a hot yoga class… the heat in vallarta is daily. Svadhyaya is ongoing as I live in a small town and have to study a lot as I can’t just go to other classes all the time. There aren’t many to choose from here. We are all surrendering to god in this flu!
(yamas:ahimsa (nonharming), satya(truth), asteya(nonstealing),brahmacharya(purity), aparigraha(nongreed)
niyamas: saucha(cleanliness), samtosha(contentment), tapas(heat), svadhyaya(study of scriptures&self), isvara pranidhana(surrender to god)
If you had a huge audience, what would you teach or share with them? It depends on the audience of course; I love to share with them the freedom of a dancing style of Yogic Arts(tm) I also love to share with them the happiness of breathing…really breathing in your Vinyasa Flow class. I would help them open their hips and give them all some thai massage throughout.
What are you working on now? Preparing for tomorrow’s Children’s yoga class where we will have a Zen Buddhist children’s meditation at the end of the practice (tomorrow is Buddha day!); Preparing my 1st Anniversary party where we will give away t-shirts; celebrate with 108 Sun Salutations; and I will cook delicious vegetarian food for them! Also I am working on a variety of Vinyasa Flow sequences that I can video for those students that travel in the Summer. Finally A childrens book about my cat that sits in my yoga classes - she was surely a yogini in a past life.
Who would you love to hear interviewed on YogaPeeps.com? Duncan Wong
