Moriah has been practicing yoga for many years, beginning in 1980 as she studied Dance Movement Therapy at Antioch University. Feldenkrais, Laban Movement, and Body Mind centering, Bartenieff fundamentals, anatomy and authentic movement were all part of her training at Antioch. Eight years ago, she received her 200 hr training certificate from Boston Yoga School and a Restorative Training certificate from Margo Rossignola and continues studying with Josh Summers and Terry Cockburn in Yin yoga and Qi Gong and is a member of the River Bird Sangha. Moriah incorporates these healing practices into her yoga classes.

Classes are small, with attention to creating a healing space as well as offering individual instructions within the group. Moriah works with individual students or small groups. Inquire for more information.

When I was first introduced to the practice of yoga, there was Hatha Yoga, Ha meaning the esoteric Sun and tha, the Moon. The practice was meant to join, yoke, or balance these two energies. And that was it. A few books with photographs of people in strong shapes, 15 primary asana, each with a Sanskrit name, were shared among friends and we were meant to take on the shape we saw in the photograph. Breathing into the shape. Or a teacher guided us into the prescribed form. Class always ending with a few minutes of Sivasana. Not a lot of talking. No explanation of body uniqueness and differences. Spirituality may have been assumed, but was not spoken to directly in the classes. No flow from one asana to the next. No special yoga clothes. This was around 1976. Simple breathing practices. Simple, but strong poses. Each participant was left to his or her own experience of bliss. Or struggle.

Some say Yoga first developed in India and Nepal as part of the Hindu tradition. It was part of a series of practices to refine the body and mind, helping to “burn off” past karma. The early practices were all passed down through oral tradition, therefore no one quite knows when Yoga first developed, but there are statues illustrating a seated meditating figure dating back to 2700 BCE. in India. The Upanishads and Vedas, which are sacred texts used by the Brahmans and Rishis, mention the word yoga as well as documenting sacred practices leading to self knowledge and wisdom. These writings date back to 500 BCE. The Yoga Sutras of Patajanli, written in the second century, lay out an eight limbed path, containing the steps toward Samadhi, or enlightenment. These sutras are part of a modern yogi’s repertoire of sacred texts.

The ascetic practices of the East merged with European gymnastics and body building as early as the 1800’s, as yoga practices moved westward. In Chicago, in 1893, Swami Vivekananda lectured in a conference on world religions, and yoga began to have a presence in America. Three men, all students of Krishnamacharya, brought their unique teachings to the West and three branches of yoga followed. BKS Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and TKV Desikachar. Almost all branches of yoga which are taught today, follow in one of these lineages. Sivananda, a prolific writer who published 200 books on yoga is the author of that book I mentioned that was passed around between friends. The renunciates’ practices in India were nothing like the adaptive asana practice which quickly developed in the West. Yoga asana expanded from the original 84 poses which were meant to support the development meditation and enlightenment—asana meaning seat—expanded into a plethora of postures which may or may not lead the practitioner towards meditation and balance. In the latter 20th century, an explosion of variety, of choice, of “exercise gurus” came in to offer courses in all types of yoga. Centers where specific lineages of yoga sprung up, and people went on retreats where silence, specific foods, very specific yoga asanas and meditation would be offered. An experience of spirit/mind/body connection occurred. This “yoga lifestyle” was still only practiced by a very few people and was a bit hidden and perhaps misunderstood.

Now, in the 21 st century, if one hears the word “yoga”, immediately images come to mind. Sometimes it is of lithe bodies flowing from one shape to the next, wearing very specific “yoga” clothes. Sometimes it is of a person lying on bolsters, covered in a blanket with lavender scented pads resting on their foreheads and eyes. Or someone standing upside down, resting only on their hands, or arms, or head........We have gone from one extreme to the other with the introduction of yoga to the west. So many choices. So much spiritual materialism. And yet, we love the feeling we have when engaged in flowing breathing movements. When one engages in the practice, with consistency and dedication change does occur. Some people love being “upside down”. Others love the rest found in supported restorative asanas. We have created a phenomenon of body- based practices where each person can feel met. Where quiet, slow inner striving brings us to an honest place of presence.

Union. Meditation. Breath. Embodied presence. Chanting. Mudras, which are hand gestures. Inhabiting these ancient, prescribed shapes with the awareness of your own unique body is now the possibility. Listening in, quieting the mind, balancing the emotions and finding a sense of expanded self is possible and is at the center of so many of the varied types of yoga offerings.

Maybe it is a flow—vinyasa—class which invites these qualities into your life. Or you may prefer Yin style where we emphasize the fascia body—the deep connective tissue, found in and around joint capsules—which responds to long holds in a mostly floor based practice. There has been so much recent research about fascia and the information carried throughout the body through this important network of tissue. Bringing blood and oxygen to the fascia layers has been shown to bring relief to chronic conditions of muscle aches, arthritic conditions and lack of energy. One can find Yin Yoga for athletes as well as Yin Yoga for seniors.

Recognizing body differences is another important shift in yoga practice. We are not meant to be moving just like one another. Our bones and muscles—our structures—are varied from birth. They change as we age as well. Another way of incorporating yoga into your life is Structural yoga, where these individual bodily differences are honored and no two people will inhabit the pose in the exact same way. The teacher will emphasize ways to find “your yoga” and hone the shape from the inside out, helping direct the placement of your body by asking the question, “How does this feel?” From those early practices—seeing an aesthetic shape in a photograph and trying to mimic it, we have found that the development of structural yoga allows for all bodies, all ages, all temperaments to find benefits from developing a practice of yoga.

I discovered yoga at the same time in my life as I was exploring all forms of movement and dance, while in college. I loved the ease of movement when breath was guiding the movement and I was able to listen inwardly, allowing the shapes to flow from within. I needed the balance yoga provided to ballet and modern dance. And in those days, my early twenties, I was quite happy to have a more vigorous practice.

Throughout my studies I always return to the listening body approach. I love the exact placement and astute observation I have learned through my studies with excellent Iyengar teachers. I enjoy the challenge of a strong Vinyasa practice at times. But I feel now, as people come to my studio, that they are searching for quiet. They are seeking ways to find nourishment through gentle practices of coming home to their bodies. Stretching, making space for deep breathing practices, chanting and easing into relaxation seems to be the need at this time. I love creating and sharing a healing atmosphere where my students enter and receive what they are searching for. The invitation is to be present to ourselves. To find quiet and laughter. To find ease. To create a community of folks seeking health and balance. The mystery of each individual making space for their own healing nature is possible.