Mark Fruehauf: Teacher Feature

I found my way to yoga by a combination of looking for a low stress type of exercise and discovering in the process a powerful support for meditation practice.   It was fortunate that my first teacher offered a daily class that included a 15 minute seated meditation.  I suppose like many people I initially thought of  yoga mostly as the physical asana poses. As I got more involved I learned that asana is only one aspect of yoga. I found that yoga with the deepening awareness of breath, of vitality and attention to the body, of feeling and emotion has many powerful benefits.  Removing  stubborn obstacles to deeper meditation.  I also discovered the therapeutic benefits of  asana that reduce stress,  can realign and heal the sore joints and muscles that were the reason I sought out a low stress way to exercise in the first place.

Yoga helps me in many aspects of my day – taking  time to appreciate the moment – each day on this beautiful  earth –   awareness and space to create options in difficult and challenging situations – this life is full of sweetness and sorrow – yoga supports the courage and heart to live fully.

3. What’s your favorite thing about the Lila yoga community?

My favorite thing  is a community of supporting and dedicated people with a sense of lila – play.

I am not sure I would say it is a “nemisis”  pose but Hanumanasana  is very challenging for  me – on a few  levels – it is physically hard for me.  Tight hamstrings and a habitual tendencies make this a difficult pose and over working it (a bit of ego at work here) has caused stressed muscles and the need to take a break – slow down – and work with my body in a more relaxed way – will I ever get to a “perfect Hanuman”?  maybe & maybe not & maybe it doesn’t matter.