DAY 1 OF 30 : Eastside Yoga - I Have Pink Hair

DAY 1 OF 30

Name of Studio: Eastside Yoga
Style of Class: Hatha Flow @ 4:30pm
Instructor: Denise Deniger

Love, love, love this studio! There’s an abundance of natural light, live plants, and an all encompassing sense of joy and openness within the space. I was encouraged by Steven, the co-owner of ESY to take Denise’s Hatha Flow class. Excellent advice, the class rocked! The studio is located on east 11th St. near Blue Dahlia, Hillside Pharmacy, and the Quickie Pickie (all of which you should check out when your hungry on the eastside).

Denise has an incredible “yoga voice” and ties in yoga philosophy and life lessons into her teachings. She often reminder us to imagine the “white diamond light” that exists within and around us. I had never heard this term, white diamond light. See her explanation of what it means in her interview below. I’ve always enjoyed when instructors ask the class to visualize while practicing asana (the physical practice of yoga). It allows us to think less about the pose and more about the sensations, breath, and the present moment. Throughout class I felt the room brim with positive radiant energy as we moved through our flow together. Denise gave amazing assists. Like totally amazing. If you take her class, make sure to give her a big hug and tell her you want some love during class! Something else special about Denise is her tendency to say “please” while cueing the class. For some reason this simple “please” allowed me to become more willing to do the challenging poses we were being asked to do. A little please and thank you can go a long way. Photo by: Peter Statts

LESSON LEARNED:

Own who you are and let your inner light shine bright. Learn to love your practice as it is and while you’re at it, learn to love who you are; all of yourself, not just the pretty parts. Far too often we are judging ourselves. There needs to be no expectations, no negative thoughts, no skepticism about why we are the way we are. Shift your thoughts and energy towards acceptance, love and gratitude for yourself and everyone around you. If you tell bad jokes, own it. If you like to give bear hugs, give them. If you snort when you laugh, rock it! Embrace your inner weirdness and let it out!

ABOUT THE STUDIO:

Vision: Eastside Yoga was created to hold a sacred space of yoga for the study, practice, and Self realization of every student. Our purpose is to offer classes with a sense of care, nurturance, and heartfelt sharing from all teachers transmitted to all students. Here there is an opportunity for each student to step back and gain a wider perspective of daily life. One that recognizes there is something more than habit and routine; there is an inner reality to be discovered and lived from. Through this space we build community (satsang) and find enjoyment in the practice through sharing and living the teachings of yoga together
Location: 1050 E 11th Street Suite 150 78702
Number of Studios: 2
Natural Light: Yes!
Showers: No
Mirrors: No
Floors: Cork
Check out Steven’s first book : The Lost Verses, Teachings for Harmonious Living

Interview with Denise Deniger

Yogini, Co-Founder of Inner Jewel Dharma, Circus Phenomenon, Pranic Junkie

I had the pleasure of interviewing Denise a few days after class and learned that she is one of the coolest ladies in Austin. What began as a quick 30 minute interview ended up being a two hour mind altering conversation. We talked about her days in the circus, what brought her and her husband to this beautiful city, lessons learned while owning her own yoga studio, and all the glorious things in-between.

Denise has performed as a circus artist in contortion, aerial dance, and tight-wire. She has also trained in and practiced several massage therapy modalities, Reiki, and Thai Yoga Massage. Denise is a graduate of the Asian Classics Institute’s foundational curriculum in the Dalai Lamas’ lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and she is currently completing the advanced studies courses under Lama Sumati Marut and Cindy Lee. Denise formally stepped into the yoga world in 1996 while training for a bodybuilding competition and has been immersed in the practice of yoga ever since. She completed her first teacher training with Bikram Choudhury in 1998, and opened Dallas’ first Bikram yoga studio in 2000. Denise completed her power yoga training with CorePower Yoga in 2006. In 2009, she trained in Tibetan Heart Yoga with the Yoga Studies Institute. She studied Sanskrit at Naropa University and is currently studying the Tibetan language.

Zuzu: What’s your yoga story?

Denise: I was first introduced to yoga by my mom in 1996. I was one of those kids watching Lilias Folan on PBS in the 70’s. I began lifting weights when I was 13 years old and eventually became a body builder. While getting ready for a competition I took a yoga class that my gym offered. It was a Bikram class and it was not love at first sight.

I spent the next 16 years practicing and studying. I went through Massage School, Cadaver Lab, studied Thai Massage and ended up opening my own Bikram yoga studio in Dallas, TX. I separated from my husband and sold the studio in 2003 and ran away to join the circus. At 29 years old I decided to go to Circus School… yes there are Circus Schools.

I kept having dreams that I needed to go to Boulder, so I did. I discovered that they had a special circus school and community so I quit Massage School. It was a life shift. I learned a lot about my body while in the circus. I learned how to do tight wire, aerial, lyra, and static trapeze. I pretty much tried everything. Moved to San Francisco in 2009. I was studying a lot and teaching classes around the country and suddenly my health plummeted. I basically had metal poisoning. There were days I couldn’t even get out of bed.

After all these years of teaching and practicing yoga I’ve learned that my practice is now about slowing down. My healing process is about letting go.

There is never just one way. I decided to keep teaching from a karmic perspective, wanting to be of service. I wanted to keep giving back. At the same time I was fostering dogs. I moved to Austin with my husband in 2012 and started teaching at Dharma and then Core Power when it opened, which I worked at in Boulder as well. Now I’m at ESY!

Zuzu: Advice for new yoga teachers?

Denise: Keep it simple, always keep learning, and teach what speaks to your heart. Figure out what gets you super stoked

Zuzu: What do you love about teaching?

Denise: Being able to witness people’s process and transformations. I’m able to be with people during their life changes, pregnancies, and breakthroughs.

It’s about connection. I want to know people. I don’t want to go into class, barf out my sequence and leave.

I believe that the asana practice is what brings a lot of people to their practice. And that’s all good, but I’ve been able to experience and able to learn that it’s so much more. Connection.

Zuzu: In three words describe your yoga journey.

Denise: yes, more, please

Zuzu: What is the ‘White Diamond Light’ that you talked about during class?

Denise: It comes from a Tibetan Buddhist yogic practice. It’s the same idea of letting go of who we think we are and the fact that this is just a visual representation of our subtle pranic body. I believe the unconscious mind works in shapes and colors, so when we move along the yogi path, the idea is to get to a non-conceptual state; underneath the words and concepts. We are getting to a point of being in ‘flow’ and becoming so present that you remember who you are, you remember the connection, you remember love, as one of my teacher always says, you remember your ‘galactic’ power.

The ‘White Diamond Light’ gets us out of the thinking mind. The idea that I am this body. For me, being sick was a big thing. This body was my art my whole life and then suddenly this body didn’t work.

White Diamond Light is a way to tune in and feel. It’s not about the doing. It’s about the experiencing. It’s about feeling good and being happy. You have to let go. You have to give yourself. There’s a softness and a surrender… and that’s yoga.

Zuzu: Why no music during class?

Denise: I’ve never really used music. In Bikram I was trained to never use a mat, never practice with your students and no music. When I moved to Austin I found the norm was to ‘make a playlist’. Music for me is hard on my nervous system, so I just started to hold classes with no music and I’ve gotten amazing feedback. The quality of my student’s breath is changing and there’s a different connection between the class.

Zuzu: What are your favorite poses?

Denise: Arm balances probably from the circus stuff. It’s a great way to transform our pranic energy.

Zuzu: Your feelings on today’s popularity on yoga asana in the US?

Denise: If you look at our culture, we’re looking for feel good fast and one hit wonders. If asana pulls you in the door, you can’t argue with that. Asana was never meant to be separated, it’s one small piece of the 8 piece pie. When I first started doing asana I didn’t want to hear about chanting or philosophy or any of that stuff. One day I became interested and I found the rabbit hole. Asana is a useful platform for teaching all the ‘other stuff’. It’s about helping people become more attentive, more aware, and more kind. Who’s to say what it is to each individual person?

Asana is to open channels; it’s skillful means.

Interview with Steven Ross

Founder of ESY, Intuitive Writer + Poet, Caretaker of the ESY Collective Intention

Steven has dedicated much of his life to the search for greater truth and Self awareness through his study and practice of yoga. Born and raised in Scotland, it was his journey to Texas that transformed his outlook and began his quest in earnest. After years of searching a friend brought him to sit with an Indian Guru and from that point on he developed an unquenchable thirst to realize the higher states of yoga. This journey eventually led him to open Eastside Yoga in late 2009 so he and his wife Elsa could make a positive impact in their local community. Certified by Srivatsa Ramaswami to teach vinyasa krama yoga, a systematic method of hatha yoga utilizing several hundred vinyasas practiced with slow yogic breath. This lesser known method taught by Sri T Krishnamacharya is ideal for those looking to develop a meditative hatha practice. Steven’s teaching emphasis is to bring upliftment and enjoyment to his students then to utilize this as a gateway to controlling their life force (prana) effortlessly. His deeper teaching goal is to cultivate a meditative Self-aware practice utilizing teachings of the Himalayan yogis in a modern and easy to digest manner.

Zuzu: I read that you opened ESY with your wife in 2009. Tell me a little about the years since you opened. What have you learned? Any stories you’d like to share?

Steven: Since opening ESY in 2009 it’s been quite the blossoming of our yoga community, the first year we were open it was a struggle both in terms of finances and the sheer hard work to get into our groove and pay the rent. If you are not careful you can get caught up in the day to day stuff while forgetting why you had this dream to begin with. More than anything developing a coherent vision and working towards it is the most important ingredient for success in my opinion.

When I say success I don’t measure success in dollar amounts, rather success comes from a vibrant yoga offering that truly benefits people’s health, harmony and spiritual progress. If you forget your vision and purpose you diminish the vibe and people notice that sooner or later.

One thing I have discovered along the way is that running a yoga studio is a cross between running a small business, a social movement and a temple! Somehow these elements have to be balanced, the public needs to know that many yoga teachers don’t make a whole lot of money, we do this as an offering, it’s our calling (dharma) yet it’s not easy making ends meet….yet it’s totally worth it!

Zuzu: Describe ESY in 3 words.

Steven: welcoming, nourishing, uplifting

Zuzu: What makes ESY stand out from the other studios in Austin?

Steven: Well, for one thing I am not completely satisfied with the word studio, that label serves a purpose but I feel like ESY is more of an urban sanctuary, a place of retreat in the city where people come to return to harmony, whether taking care of their bodies, releasing stress or uplifting their consciousness. One significant reason for opening ESY was I heard so many people say they were “intimidated” by yoga, so many places opened hot and powerful studios, these are great for a few people but I thought what about the rest of us and what happens when we get older and can’t practice like this. Yoga is supposed to adapt for the stages of one’s life, we weren’t meant to practice only vinyasa, we will simply not progress to higher states of consciousness that way alone. About two years ago we started to offer Raja Yoga classes, these includes some vinyasa, talks on philosophy, chanting, pranayama and short meditation, this is actually how the Yogis intended personal practice to be. I believe this will be the future of Yoga.

ESY and our teachers are instruments for the sincere seeker to further their journey towards Self realization. It’s important we never forget the real purpose of Yoga, to experience the higher Self through action, devotion and knowledge, each person’s tendency influences their own path to greater spiritual connection. Yoga gives us the tools to get there.

I am not sure about other places, I don’t get out much these days..one thing I do love about ESY is the sense of community, from lectures to movie nights to pot luck dinners. Sometimes I perform wedding ceremonies for students, baby blessings for our mommas or I offer everyone time to sit and talk about their own path, giving advice etc. this is to me is what’s it’s all about. 🙂

Zuzu: What is your favorite thing about owning your own urban sanctuary?

Steven: I don’t consider myself owner of anything, it’s kind of funny but I don’t even have a job title the last six years. my card says “founder” but really ESY found me! There is a palpable energy here, you might say a collective intention here and I feel more like a caretaker of that intention, I sincerely try to tune into that and make decisions accordingly. However sometimes that doesn’t work but I do try…… The intention of our place carries me forward and to me it’s service to Divine Mother and if you can feel that intention in each person it changes the perspective in ever class and in every interaction.

Zuzu: Coming from the corporate world to owning your own studio must have been both exciting and scary. Tell me about this process and any advice you would give to other people in similar situations.

Steven: Gosh, the transition from 12 years corporate career into running a yoga place is scary and daunting. The day I handed in my notice at the company everyone expected I got a promotion somewhere else, you should have seen their faces when I told them what I was going to do!

One thing that really gave me confidence was I received a Vedic Astrology reading, these are quite sophisticated, my chart indicated part of my life journey was to do this, I had the reading in my pocket so to speak and even in the midst of failure it gave me a bit of faith. The other thing is remember the Yogic teachings, prayer affirmation and intention are more powerful than we realize, asking for help is quite useful. If there are others out there who yearn to do something like this, I encourage you to develop your vision and your mission. Remember Yoga teachings are vast, diverse and timeless so dive deep into them and see every student as opportunity to share something precious. For every person that purifies their consciousness it benefits the whole of humanity.

Zuzu: Any plans to open other locations?

Steven: No, never. my reason being I need to center my energy in one place, I consider myself like an innkeeper so the personal connection is more important to me than growth. I don’t care about outer growth only inner growth. It’s funny we often get calls from realtors saying “so are you ready for Westside Yoga???!” I just burst out laughing.

Zuzu: Are the plants real in the studio? Tell me about you and Elsa’s reasoning for the plants in the studio.

Steven: One of our teachers husband builds plant walls for Whole Foods, I was joking with him one night that I want a plant wall. So he built the boxes, he wanted to put them all around the walls but we don’t have time to water that many.

The plants really do love the exhales and especially the OMs!

Zuzu: Anything exciting coming up at ESY?

Steven: ESY offers a comprehensive teacher training that takes about 6 months to complete, so we only offer that once a year, the next program begins Feb 2016. Our yoga school is called Sacred Roots, we have a separate website for that.

Stay connected to find out about the upcoming Community discussion evenings. A panel of our teachers will lead a dialogue with students on key aspects of Yogic Living. On July 31st Denise, myself and one other will offer the pilot on the Role of the teacher and Guru. My goal is to engage the students in discussion, talk with them and build rapport in our community. 🙂

Zuzu: Any final thoughts or words of wisdom?

Steven: Yoga has spread like wildfire across the globe, this is a wonderful development for humanity, however it’s spread in a limited physical form.

While vinyasa and postures are fantastic in themselves but this is just one part of a complete system and philosophy. In this time we are on the crest of a wave where collective consciousness is about to transform and people are seeking higher truth. Our duty as yogis is to explore meditation, devotion, self-inquiry and ultimately our Divine heritage.

Yoga literally has the ancient wisdom and spiritual technology to change ourselves and the World, so I encourage everyone to open themselves to this possibility and in doing so they may unearth their highest potential.