About Us
Yoga Bywater was established in October of 2003 in Historic Bywater neighborhood in downtown New Orleans. Founding member Heide Grace returned after Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans in 2008 to re-open her Yoga studio.
The teachers:
Heide Grace is a certified Junior 2 Intermediate Iyengar Yoga Instructor and teaches in the Iyengar tradition. She has been teaching since the fall of 2002 and practicing since1998. She travels to India regularly to continue her education and study directly at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, as well as travel to the Himalayas to study meditation and yoga with Swami-ji Sundaranand. She also studies regularly with Senior Certified Iyengar Instructors Gabriella Giubilaro, Patricia Walden, Randy Just and Ramanand Patel.
The Iyengar method is based on the teachings of yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar, author of the classic yoga text "Light on Yoga". This method emphasizes correct alignment, strength, and flexibility. Often to achieve this we use props such as blankets, blocks, belts, chairs, and ropes. This is not a flow method of yoga. In Iyengar yoga we hold the poses for increasing lengths of time to develop strength and stability. We work on standing poses, seated poses, forward bending poses, twisting poses, back bending poses, and inversions. Emphasis on standing poses in the beginning helps to develop strength, stamina, concentration, and body alignment. As the practice progresses we start to work on more advanced poses, balancings, and inversions.
Om Saha na-ba-vatu
Saha Nau Bhu-naktu
Saha viryam karav-va-vahai
Tejas-vi na-vadhi-tam astu
Ma vid-visha-vahai
Om shanti, shanti, shanti
Translation
May we be protected together
May we be nourished together
May we work together with great vigor
May our study be enlightening
May no obstacle arise between us
Om peace, peace, peace
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