Yoga East is a nonprofit educational organization teaching and practising yoga in Louisville since 1971. In this feature President and CEO, Laura Spaulding shares more about their mission and the great benefits of practicing yoga.
Please share the story behind Yoga East – Where did it start and how has it evolved since?
It was started here in Louisville, Kentucky in 1971 by Maja Trigg (1927-2016), who was my teacher. It was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1978. Maja retired in 1994 and I became the president. Yoga has differentiated quite a bit since 1994 when I took over Yoga East. We started with 3 classes a week. We now have two locations in Louisville with 20 teachers and 45 classes a week plus virtual classes. Our schedule includes over 20 different kinds of classes ranging from Chair and Gentle Yoga to Ashtanga and Intermediate Yoga serving everyone from seniors using a chair to advanced yogis.
What is Yoga East’s primary focus?
Our primary focus as a nonprofit is to provide excellent, inexpensive yoga classes and yoga teacher training. Our teachers train relentlessly and some of us study in India for months at a time with very demanding master teachers. We want to be at our best as yoga teachers, as yogis and as human beings, and it is only through this that we can offer the best yoga to all of our students.
How would you describe your style of yoga?
We prefer to describe what we teach as a “system” rather than a “style”. A yoga system has been developed over a long period of time and is transmitted through a lineage of teachers. A system includes not only technical details on how to perform postures but also a methodology of teaching and a curriculum which guides how each student develops their practice over time. My teacher always says, “Our teacher training is 20 years long.”
We tend to think of spiritual practice as working primarily with the mind, soul or spirit. Why is it beneficial to have a movement or posture practice as well?
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, one of the earliest written yoga texts dating from the 1500’s, says that asanas, or the practice of postures should come first. My teacher used to explain this by saying that many students are not physically or psychologically ready for meditation. If one is unable to sit comfortably, or is troubled by uncomfortable thoughts, how can one meditate? First, the body needs to be strengthened and become steady. When one is comfortable sitting for a longer period, then pranayama (breathing) exercises can be added. From that point, undisturbed calmness of mind begins to come by itself.
What are some of the key benefits in following a routine yoga practice?
I think there is nothing “routine” about practice. Even if you are doing the same postures every day, your body is not the same day-to-day. The benefits of yoga are described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika: The body becomes steady, light and free from disease. I encourage students to develop a regular daily practice. It’s traditional to practice first thing in the morning. Your yoga practice sets the tone for the rest of the day. You’ve already done the most important thing; you can now handle whatever happens. I also recommend committing to a yoga class. Being with other yoga students is inspiring and makes you accountable, first to other people including your teacher and then to yourself.
What advice would you give to someone who has never taken a yoga class?
Go now! Don’t wait! If you wait, you will wonder why you waited so long!
