AYC Charity of the Month: Our VOICE
Asheville Yoga Center Fundraises to Support Our VOICE Yoga studio dedicates classes, workshop & 10% of proceeds on April 26 to fight sexual violence To raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and join the fight against sexual violence in our community, Asheville Yoga Center has selected Our VOICE as its Charity of the Month […]
5 Yin Yoga Poses to Try at Home
5 Yin Yoga Poses to Try at Home Learn how Yin yoga can increase your flexibility and reduce stress Before signing up for a Yin yoga class, consider starting your practice at home with these five poses. #1 – Meditation Seat Sit upright with your legs either crossed in front of you, in half-lotus or […]
How Yoga Can Improve Your Active Lifestyle
How Yoga Can Improve Your Active Lifestyle 5 ways that practicing yoga can benefit athletes Athletes and people who lead an active lifestyle are no strangers to muscle tension and soreness — especially if that lifestyle includes kayaking, climbing, biking, or running. While these recreational activities will keep you fit in their own right, supplementing […]
Yoga for Paddlers Dedicated to Maria Noakes
Asheville Yoga Center Dedicates Upcoming Yoga for Paddlers Workshop to Maria Noakes Foundation All workshop proceeds will be directly donated to the Live Like Maria Memorial Fund Asheville, N.C., March 7, 2018 — Following the passing of Maria Noakes, Asheville Yoga Center and Anna Levesque are dedicating the upcoming Yoga for Paddlers workshop to the […]
AYC Charity of the Month: Girls on the Run
Asheville Yoga Center Fundraises to Support Girls on the Run Yoga studio dedicates classes & 10% of proceeds on March 29 to empower young girls in Asheville Asheville Yoga Center is supporting Girls on the Run as its charity of the month for March 2018. Since 1996, Girls on the Run has worked to create […]
5 Yoga Poses for Better Sleep
5 Yoga Poses to Help You Sleep Use these 5 easy yoga poses to improve the quality and amount of your sleep. If you’re struggling with the snooze button in the morning, try adding these five, simple yoga poses to your before-bed routine every night to enhance your sleep experience and wake up feeling refreshed. […]
How Yoga Can Help with Anxiety & Depression
The Balance of Yoga How yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices can help overcome anxiety and depression. By Kimberley Puryear Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting over 40 million people over the age of 18 according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Not surprisingly, depression and anxiety […]
AYC Charity of the Month: WNCAP
AYC Charity of the Month: WNCAP Asheville Yoga Center is working with the Western North Carolina AIDS Project to help improve the quality of life and reduce barriers to medication for those living with HIV/AIDS in the community. Starting on February 1, donation boxes will be stationed in the AYC Studio and Boutique for studio […]
Charity of the Month: Asheville on Bikes
Charity of the Month: Asheville on Bikes Asheville Yoga Center is cycling into the New Year with Asheville on Bikes to help support eco-friendly transportation and bike safety in the community. Starting on January 1, there will be donation boxes in AYC’s studio and boutique locations for monetary contributions. On Thursday, January 25, 10% of […]
Transform Yourself with Yoga in 2018
Transform Yourself with Yoga in 2018 New year, new beginnings. It’s a cliché, no doubt, but the idea tends to resonate in all of us. As we enter a new year, we often reflect on the past and set expectations for the future — but are we taking the time to embrace the present? If […]
Asheville City Schools Selected as Charity of the Month
Asheville Yoga Center Fundraises for Homeless High School Students Yoga studio dedicates classes & 10% of proceeds on Dec. 28 to Asheville City Schools The solution to poverty begins with providing quality education to all children, no matter what their socioeconomic situation. To support this effort, Asheville Yoga Center is collecting donations for Asheville City […]
10 Reasons We’re Thankful for Yoga
10 Reasons Why We’re Thankful For Yoga By Cynthia McDermott The holidays are a time of joy and togetherness, but sometimes in all the hustle and bustle, we lose sight of what we’re actually celebrating. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to reclaim your happiness — gratitude! Cultivating a daily gratitude practice can help tremendously with […]
Yoga Studio Repainting – Updated Class Schedule
Dear AYC Community Members, We’re giving the Blue Room and Green Room a fresh coat of paint, and some of your regularly scheduled classes may be affected while we improve our studio from November 6-9. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause, and we are grateful for your patience as we refresh the […]
AYC Charity of the Month: MANNA FoodBank
Asheville Yoga Center Fundraises for MANNA FoodBank Yoga studio to donate 10% of proceeds on Nov. 30 to help feed the hungry for the holidays Asheville, N.C., November 1, 2017 — One in four children in Western North Carolina are faced with hunger and the insecurity of not always knowing where their next meal will […]
6 Benefits of Japa Meditation
6 Benefits of Japa Meditation By Timothy Burgin, Founder & Creator of Japa Mala Beads While there are numerous traditions and styles of meditation one can practice, I’ve found that using a mantra with mala beads is the easiest and most powerful way to meditate. In addition to all of the benefits of meditation, japa […]
What’s so scary about Yoga?
What’s so scary about Yoga? Debunking common misconceptions and reservations about practicing yoga. By Matthew Ceurvorst Yoga draws people in for a myriad of reasons: perhaps it was a doctor’s recommendation, the testimony of a friend or family member, or just sheer curiosity. Regardless of the paths that have led to this point, most people […]
AYC Charity of the Month: The Hope Chest for Women
Asheville Yoga Center Fundraises for The Hope Chest for Women Charity Yoga Center to donate 10% of Proceeds on October 26 to local cancer-support nonprofit. Asheville, N.C., October 1, 2017 — Asheville Yoga Center is shining a ray of hope for women in our community who are battling cancer by supporting The Hope Chest for […]
20 Minutes of Turning Inward
20 Minutes of Turning Inward Meditation accounts for four of the eight limbs of yoga, and is an important aspect of any yogi’s practice. To meditate is to bring yourself into a state of thoughtful awareness, one that allows you to look inward and focus on yourself. Meditating can begin by focusing on your breath, […]
Thank You, Asheville
Thank you for 20 Years of AYC!As we look back at the past 20 years of Asheville Yoga Center, we are so humbled and grateful for the wonderful community of people who’ve made this milestone possible. Thank you to everyone who attended our 20th Anniversary Celebrations on Sept. 14, we hope that you enjoyed our […]
20 Inspirational Mantras
20 Inspirational Mantras Contributed by AYC Instructor Michael Johnson Asheville Yoga Studio, building a community of yogis since 1997. To help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asheville Yoga Center, I would like to offer you these 20 mantras with a brief explanation. Mantra means resolution. It is derived from the words manas ≈ mind […]
20 Yoga Poses Peace
20 Yoga Poses and Movements for Peace By Instructor Julia Albertson In todays modern world, finding peace can take effort. Our days are often absorbed with long and busy work hours and sometimes our self-care needs get put on the back burner. Then, our stress can accumulate in our bodies and minds. When we allow […]
The Therapeutic Wisdom of Yoga
The Therapeutic Wisdom of Yoga Hatha yoga was never simply about stretching, or even seeking simply ‘fitness’ and strength, though it certainly includes the benefits of flexibility and strength. Hatha yoga focused on the blocks or ‘knots’ — physical as well as energetic and emotional — that get in the way of the creative flow […]
20th Anniversary Celebration
A Day of Celebrating 20 Years of MemoriesDo you remember when AYC was first operating out of a gym? Or when we began our 200-Hour Teacher Training program? Can you recall practicing in the building on Liberty St. just down the road from our current studio just a few years ago? We would like to take […]
20 Minutes of Relaxation
20-Minute Sequence for a Great Night’s SleepIt can be hard to make the transition from a busy day to a restful night’s sleep. Try this 20-minute sequence to help you relax, body and mind, and ease you into dreamland. To enhance this gentle practice, listen to calming music or use calming lavender essential oil in […]
20 Years of AYC History
In truth, we are all students and we are all teachers. – Stephanie Keach, co-founder, Asheville Yoga CenterFollowing a dream This year, Asheville Yoga Center (AYC) celebrates twenty years of changing the world through yoga. What started in a small rented space has grown to a nationally renowned yoga center located on an eco-friendly campus with […]
20 Years & $20 Workshops
Asheville Yoga Center is excited to announce $20 special workshops throughout the month of September in celebration for our 20th Anniversary! We are offering a diverse schedule single session workshops each Monday and Wednesday throughout September!We’ve got some new instructors and fresh topics to offer our yogis! The month starts off with Michael Johnson leading […]
Kundalini Yoga
Most of us know that the word “yoga” comes from the word “yoke” and that this word’s origin is in the Sanskrit word “jugit”. All of these words share the meaning “to join together” or “to unite”. From there, many of us draw the conclusion that the essence of yoga is a unification of our […]
Summer Solstice
“Arjuna, I am the taste of pure water and the radiance of the sun and moon. I am the sacred word and the sound heard in air, and the courage of human beings. I am the sweet fragrance in the earth and the radiance of fire; I am the life in every creature and the […]
May Charity of the Month
Asheville Yoga Center Announces Charity of the Month for May 2017Funds raised will support ABCCM Veterans Restoration QuartersAYC is pleased to announce ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters as the May recipient of its Charity of the Month program. Through the Charity of the Month program, AYC partners with a local non-profit to help generate awareness and […]
2017 Yoga in the Park
Asheville Yoga Center launches our fifth year of the popular Yoga in the Park series on Saturday, May 27, 2017. The donation-based classes are held at Reuter Terrace in Pack Square Park on Saturdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and run from May 27 through September 2, except on June 3, July 1 and 29, and August […]
Healing Veterans through Yoga
Healing Veterans Through YogaAnthony Scaletta, a 36 year old veteran that served two tours in and around Iraq, says, “Yoga has completely changed everything for me. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say it saved me because I was on a destructive path at different times in my life and it kept me from […]
Yoga for Allergies
It’s that time of year again. People are feeling the relief that winter has ended and spring is blooming all around us. But with that bloom comes the itching, red eyes, and sneezing of allergies. We’ve got 5 poses for you to integrate into your practice that can help alleviate some of the symptoms you […]
Instructor of the Month: Kimberley Puryear
Instructor of the Month: Kimberley PuryearTaking one of Kimberley Puryear’s classes is to get an hour-long education in authenticity and self love. The moment you lay out your mat in her Tuesday evening Yin class, you are welcomed by Kimberley with a smile (usually followed by a funny one-liner). Although the class is always packed, […]
Community Member Profile: The Millers
What is your “Yoga Story”? Lori: My yoga story is different from Thom’s… I began “doing” yoga about 25 years ago with Cindy Dollar at a studio where I taught step aerobics and body sculpt called Sport Dance. I decided to give it a try because I felt so tight and inflexible from weight training… the […]
Instructor of the Month: Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson is a compelling mix of creative yoga instructor and curious student of the mind. The root of his interest in meditation lies in its ability to help with neurological disorders and for developing wellbeing.Michael’s worldview and meditation practiced changed when he read Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson and Richard Mendius. In this book, they […]
Instructor of the Month: Becca Odom
The minute you meet Becca Odom, an instructor here at Asheville Yoga Center, you immediately recognize her genuine kindness. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Yoga Teacher, her warmhearted nature compliments her ultimate goal of empowering individuals to release stress and trauma through yoga and self-regulation. Combining her backgrounds as a Social Worker […]
Community Member Profile: Liz Goodman
What is your “Yoga Story”? I doubt if I will ever be finished with the story, or, I hope not. Yoga is the one activity that touches all senses, when open to it, both mind and body. I am grateful for how the practice has helped me to grow in being compassionate to the journey I […]
Community Member Profile: Lorraine Lordi
Community Member Profile: Lorraine LordiWhen people talk about how yoga has changed their lives, I can add one more to that: yoga saved my life. You see, ten years ago, I was diagnosed with MS. I went from being someone who could go like the Ever-Ready bunny to a person who could barely walk down […]
Community Member Profile: Gloria Wetjen
I ran across a book on yoga in my early 20s, bought it and pretty much set it aside. Higher education and career were at the forefront of my mind and purpose. Jump several decades into the future when career becomes secondary, and it’s time for me to focus on me. Yoga is back in […]
Community Member Profile: Jay Gertz
Community Member Profile: Jay GertzWhy do you practice yoga?Yoga marks an endpoint of a long search and a new beginning in my life. For far too many years, I was seeking an elusive something that would fill that nagging emptiness inside. Yoga has provided a spiritual contentment and a physical nourishing that really sustains me. This […]
Is Yoga Enough?
How Ayurveda Compliments Your Yoga PracticeBy Stephanie KeachHatha Yoga does an amazing job at strengthening, stretching and detoxifying the body, while helping to replenish and rejuvenate all the internal glands and organs. Yet for some, it may not be enough for full wellbeing.Yoga has a sister, her name is Ayurveda (both born in India). If […]
Power Flow Vs Slow Flow
Power Flow Vs Slow FlowOne of the most beautiful aspects of yoga, is that it invites practitioners from all backgrounds, ability levels, and personal goals to share in the benefits of yoga and hopefully even transform the world towards peace and goodwill. The most popular style of yoga at the Asheville Yoga Center is Flow […]
5 Yoga Tips for Aging Gracefully
5 Tips for Aging Gracefully with YogaBy Stephanie Keach
5 Reasons Steph Loves Ashtanga Yoga
5 Reasons Steph Loves Ashtanga Yoga1. Strength BuildingI have the genetics for flexibility, which makes Yoga a dream job. Except that flexible people get injured in Yoga three times more than non-flexies. We apparently go too far into the stretch, injuring the tissues around our joints. Yup, I see it all the time. But lucky […]
Yoga for Stress
Yoga for StressDo you feel great? Alive and vital? If not, consider the role that stress might be playing in your life.Stress can greatly diminish our energy. Stress quite literally robs us of our vitality. We live in anincreasingly stressful world and the potential for the experience of stress comes at us from manyplaces: work, […]
Instructor of the Month: Sara Levine
Instructor of the Month: Sara LevineWhy do you teach yoga?Teaching gives me the opportunity to be joyful with those around me. As humans, we aren’t always able to be present and kind to ourselves and others, but when we’re on our mats, we are all equal – we are all graceful, clumsy, learning, falling, succeeding […]
The 5 Tenents of Jivamukti Yoga
The 5 Tenents of Jivamukti YogaHot, hip, and holy.Created in 1984 by Sharon Gannon and David Life, Jivamukti yoga strives to help us fulfill our true potential, liberation in this life! It is a practice that allows us to access the underlying, subtle, and esoteric teachings of yoga. Through the practice of the 5 tenents we strive for […]
Instructor of the Month: Rich Fabio
Instructor of the Month: Rich FabioWhy do you teach yoga?It agrees with me. Every other line of work I tried I wasn’t very good at. I used to work so I could be a yogi in my off time. Now, I see work as a contribution to society and my community. It is an extension […]
Instructor of the Month: Denise Daneck
Instructor of the Month: Denise DaneckWhy do you teach yoga?Yoga is amazingly healing on all levels. It is a gift to share and anyone who feels called to should! What an incredible opportunity to dissolve boundaries, connect unconditionally on a soul-level, and explore the power of collective group energy with sacred intentions! I love all […]
Striving to be our Best
Striving to be our BestAsheville Yoga Center has been sharing yoga love from the heart of Asheville for the past 18 years. Not just from our downtown location in the center of our beloved city, but also from our central values, which happen to be Asheville’s too. We do it because it’s who we are, […]
Yogi Tips for Spring Cleansing
Yogi Tips for Spring CleansingSpring is the ideal season for cleansing. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is related to the wood element, which tends the liver and gall bladder. These organs focus on the cleansing process: secretion and detoxification. As things get moving in nature, our bodies need to get moving too in order to […]
Yogic Chakra Guide
Yogic Chakra GuideOur chakra system is composed of subtle energy centers that hold the key to our spiritual evolution and development, which affect our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Through powerful pranayama and meditation practices, dynamic interactive lecture and discussion, as well as creative chakra sequencing in asana, we will begin to understand how […]
Yoga and the Pelvis: Beyond Mula Bandha
Yoga and the Pelvis: Beyond Mula BandhaLet’s just admit it: on a cultural level, we are wildly dysfunctional about all things pelvis. We have near-epidemic urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, fertility and birthing challenges, progressively lower sperm counts, and a variety of pelvic pain syndromes. And we have yet to overcome our cultural judgment and outright […]
Yoga Stories: Rosie’s Story
“I am old- I turn 55 in April. I started practicing Yoga when I was 14. The nuns asked my parents to have me see a doctor about putting me on meds for my hyperactivity. I was in a very small private Catholic school in Coconut Grove, Florida. The doc and my parents were against […]
Hot Yoga 101
Hot Yoga 101Some Like it Hot, Some Not.Hot yoga classes are one of the most popular styles of yoga in the U.S. today. Without debate, those that like hot yoga, really like hot yoga. Hot yoga isn’t everyone’s favorite, however. Whether it’s your thing or not, studies are showing while there are some amazing benefits […]
Confidence-Building Lessons for Your First Yoga Class
Confidence-Building Lessons for Your First Yoga ClassOnce you’ve finished your yoga instructor training, you must tell yourself you’re ready to actually lead a class. Your training at Asheville Yoga Center has prepared you for this moment. You’ve worked hard and even helped out in some classes. You know your postures backward and frontward. You’ve created […]
Winter Wellness with Ayurveda
Winter Wellness with AyurvedaYoga and Ayurveda are considered to be sister sciences. These ancient traditions developed over a period of thousands of years and provide models for self-care and optimal well being. Ayurveda uses three “doshas”—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha— to explain an individual’s unique constitutional makeup. Each is aligned with certain elements and a time […]
Focus & Communication — Two Skills a Yoga Teacher Needs
Focus & Communication —Two Skills a Yoga Teacher NeedsIn the universe of skills you need to develop during your yoga instructor training, two of the most vital are: learning how to focus and learning how to communicate effectively. Your training will teach you both skills, but first you must learn to listen. While you will […]
How Do You Become a Yoga Instructor When You’re Over 50?
How Do You Become a Yoga Instructor When You’re Over 50?The easiest answer is to practice every day, increase your knowledge of yoga, challenge yourself to go deeper into your practice and take the required courses to earn your certification. Your age doesn’t matter.
What Yoga Teacher Certification Means
What Yoga Teacher Certification Means What are the different certifications needed to teach a yoga class? Why does that “RYT” suffix matter? Is it worth pursuing both a 200hour and 300hour program? Who is making sure the school I have chosen is excellent? These are all good questions, but before we delve into the answers, […]
Choosing to Become a Yoga Teacher
Valuable Tips for Becoming a Yoga Teacher What brings people to the practice of yoga are often deeply personal issues. As a Yoga teacher, to be able to handle the variety of students, in all their shapes and sizes as well as expectations, ideas and goals, requires an excellent and comprehensive education. Yoga continues to grow […]
10 Tips for Leading a Yoga Class
10 Tips for Leading a Yoga Class Yoga teacher training can take you only so far. You still have to actually lead a yoga class by yourself. If you’ve trained at Asheville Yoga Center, you’ve had some experience that gave you the foundation for success. Like life, yoga requires continual learning and a curious approach. […]
Yoga & Emotions — On Becoming a Yoga Teacher
Yoga & Emotions — On Becoming A Yoga Teacher Yoga, when done regularly and with intention, is known as a way to integrate your mind, body, and spirit. Through a mindful yoga practice, you can learn to better control your emotions and bring peace and harmony to your outer and inner lives. This is but […]
Becoming a Yoga Teacher in Demand
Becoming a Yoga Teacher in Demand While yoga continues to grow in popularity across the country, the demand for certified yoga teachers also grows. Being a successful yoga instructor means you are fostering respect, enthusiasm, and loyalty. You know you’ve made it when students are waiting to get into your classes and you are supporting […]
8 Ways to a Peaceful Class
8 Ways to a Peaceful ClassWhen you first asked how do you become a yoga instructor, you probably weren’t thinking of becoming a peacemaker, negotiator or disciplinarian. The focus of your answer to How do you become a yoga instructor was more likely on the poses, the marketing and the yoga philosophies that drew you to the teaching […]
5 Tips to Prepare for the Training of Your Life
5 Tips to Prepare for the Training of Your Life Once you’ve developed a strong desire to move from the role of student to become the teacher, you may wonder: How do you become a yoga instructor with the tools you have now? You may feel that you are ready, but there are several steps […]