EMILY NACHAZEL

WHAT DREW YOU TO KATONAH YOGA?

A few years back I took a class in Los Angeles and there was something about it that was different - something in the poses and breath work and the bits of theory behind it that excited my body, mind and spirit. At the time I was feeling disconnected from my power/vinyasa practice and so I was intrigued with this style to say the least. I was pleasantly surprised to find that what was being taught in this studio had origins in New York. As soon as I got back to the city I sought out The Studio and I’ve been practicing there regularly ever since.

HOW HAS KATONAH CHANGED YOUR PRACTICE & TEACHING?

Katonah Yoga has infinitely changed both my personal practice and how I teach. I have a home practice, and I actually know what that means (no, it’s not just doing yoga in your home). I am WAY more confident in my ability to see a body and give a hands on adjustment that is safe, effective and provides the student with a new experience or perspective. In addition, both my practice and my teaching are more diverse. I’m exploring breathwork, Kundalini, Taoist theory, restorative postures and so much more.

HOW HAVE YOU SEEN KATONAH CHANGE STUDENTS?

I’ve seen this practice change bodies and minds, in a single class. A woman with a back injury came into restorative class once - she was withdrawn, hesitant and hardened. Understandably! She had just been through months of pain and difficulty and focusing on what was wrong with her body and what she couldn’t do. As the class went on, I saw her start to open up. She moved with less fear and made eye contact with the other students. During a longer hold in frog pose, I saw her back release and open up as she surrendered to the props and the adjustments. But the biggest change was evidenced by her soft smile as she thanked us at the end of class. She felt a shift and was hopeful.