Birmingham Yoga

I used to take ball room dancing. And there is a lot to be said about the person leading you in that dance. Something about their touch and their technique that you just know they know what they are doing, you feel good in their arms, their touch uplifts and inspires you to new levels. The same thing can be said about having sex with a man who knows what he’s doing vs some inexperienced young punk with a big ego and no skill to back it. I guess that’s why I could never be a cougar, I have never been a fan of the jack hammer technique. I know, you may be asking what in the hell does this have to do with yoga? Well, I’m gonna tell you EVERYTHING! Because the same principals apply. And sadly to say at this studio the yoga instruction is jack hammer city. In fact maybe they should just rename the place New Jack City.
The mysore program here is just weak. I think on one hand the teachers here are well meaning but on the other they are influenced big time by their egos. But the funny thing is that they don’t have the skill or knowledge set to even have an ego. The worst thing than being a big fish in a little pond is being the only fish in that pond. Not only is this the only mysore program in Birmingham but I think at the current time, it’s the only one in Alabama. And although this is a nice start, the teachers here got a hell of a lot to learn. But the unfortunate part is that the things they need to really be good teachers can’t be taught, it has to be inside the person to begin with and unfortunately it just isn’t in them. Ashtanga although very rewarding is also an extremely humbling practice. I have been in rooms where I was struggling just to make it through the half primary and every other student in the room was in 2^nd or 3^rd series and the teacher in the 4^th, but yet I left those situations strangely enough feeling good because of the kick ass vibe and energy that those people were giving off, there were no egos and no one demeaning others in the room. However at this studio they are walking a fine line and need to watch it. Some of the comments and behaviors borderline on disrespectful. For example; You don’t tell people that they can’t get a posture because they are too fat. That is ridiculous and is often the famous last words of novice instructors who don’t know how to give adjustments. I would suggest that the teachers here travel, go to Chicago, go to NYC better yet go to India!!! THAT WILL SMACK their HUGE EGOS INTO PLACE. They need to EXPERIENCE teachers and students who will blow them away and see first hand people who are NOT SKINNY rockin extremely advanced practices. But it’s not just about the physical practice, learn their humility, intelligence, manners and compassion in dealing with others. Something that is very lacking here.
There is some mousy little nervous assistant here who every 2 seconds is walking up to you interfering with your practice over minute and insignificant details. She was like a damn mosquito buzzing in my ear. An experienced and thoughtful instructor would never ever waste their time on such bull shit! This is a meditative practice. But what makes it even worse is that she and the main instructor lack insight and knowledge about you and your practice, which makes them lose all credibility with me. Seriously, I could probably deal with the attitudes a little better if they had some substance to back them up with it. I’m an old lady who has been practicing yoga a long time. So don’t walk up to me telling me anything about me unless you know about me. First make it to my age first, then we’ll talk, otherwise back up! That being said, they have this goofy ass way of doing back bends here. Great that’s on them. You can offer your suggestions to me but keep in mind THIS IS MY BODY, MY LIFE, MY PRACTICE and if I find them beneficial I will take heed. But if I don’t, I will tell you NO and you then need to move on. The little Mousy girl goes and runs to her guru tattle telling on me like a 5 yr old that I wouldn’t do their silly back bend method. I then hear his rude ass across the room say «Ohhhh no, please show her our way the correct way of doing back bends». The ego maniac then runs over and attempts to force me to do it his way. And I mean physically force me. Even after I told him I was just too tired and wasn’t physically able to do it his way.
But when you are like him the only fish in a little pond, with no skills and a huge ego the desire to have control over others reins supreme and the student is only a pawn in his power hungry pursuits. I would never go back to this place even if I lived in Birmingham. However, that’s me. It may be different for you. I guess it’s better than nothing. Maybe in time they will mature into better teachers but they aren’t there yet.

This is another local yoga studio that I enjoy dropping by a few times a month. Birmingham Yoga offers classes throughout the week for all levels of yoga for new and veteran practitioners alike. I always feel welcomed and at ease whenever I drop by and there is typically a diverse (young, older, male, female, etc.) group of people in the classes. The studio also has loaner mats, blocks, and bands for attendees to use if they do not own personal gear or happen to forget it before coming to a class. In addition, the studio offers discounts to students and pay what you can afford for the community yoga classes offered on Sunday and Monday evenings. If you are curious about starting a personal yoga practice and would like to attend structured classes with knowledgeable staff — you should definitely drop by Birmingham Yoga! You’ll be glad that you did :)

Christine is definitely the best yoga instructor in the Birmingham area. She teaches at more than one studio too. (Ashtanga and Jivamukti) If you can take her classes, I would recommend this studio. As far as the other instructors, I haven’t studied extensively with them to really know their style. However, they all seem kind. Birmingham Yoga does offer various forms of yoga. They do not seem to push the student into any type, such as a lot of the hot yoga and kundalini types do. The studio wasn’t artifically heated to an unhealthy and potentially dangerous temperature. As a former Pilates instructor, I appreciate the attention to form and the corrections. Christine and the other instructors are very conscious of the student learning to listen to her own body in placement. They don’t promote the eating disorder culture that I’ve seen much of the yoga world embrace. Kudos to Birmingham Yoga for promoting respect for the body, not abuse.