The Mysterious Female: Knowledge and Humility by: Red
Each vinyasa is me coursing for breath,
looking up at the sky,
and
wondering if this is the best day or the last day of my life.
Absolutely killer.
Mar 29, 2010 Rating
Outstanding by: Karen
Debbie's high quality instruction combined with her true love for the practice results in the most personalized yoga instruction I have ever experienced. Kelowna is extremely lucky to have Debbie as a Ashtange yoga resource. I would recommend Debbie to anybody who either is interested in beginning a tranditional Ashtanga yoga practice or to someone who has an established practice. Thank you Debbie and I look forward to seeing on my next visit to Kelowna.
Karen Dallas, TX
Mar 28, 2010 Rating
Exceptional by: Anonymous
Fabulous studio. Debbie is the best yoga instructor I have ever been too. Her attention to detail/critique of technique allows each participant to get the most out of each class. She demands focus and in turn facilitates the growth of each particpant on their yoga journey.
Mar 28, 2010 Rating
Response to Emily by: Anjali Yoga
Emily,
You raised a very good point about the cost of yoga classes for students.
We are reviewing our pricing and will include a substantial discount for students in the very near future.
Thank you very much for the observation.
Mar 28, 2010 Rating
Response to "Bad Experience" by: Anjali Yoga
NDM,
Because this style is very fast paced, directions must be given quickly so that the pace of the class can be maintained.
Having said that, it is not acceptable for a student to feel berated. I assure you that is very far from my intentions. I try to teach with compassion and a high regard for students.
I hope to give the highest quality of yoga training and to inspire students in their practice. I am very sorry that human nature makes it impossible for me to be perfect and also results in misunderstandings from time to time.
The Shanti Path of the Yajur Veda says: "May our study together be brilliant and effective. May we not hate or dispute with each other."
This chant commonly precedes teachings specifically because the compassionate efforts of a teacher can rub students the wrong way when the teachings are having an effect. Similarly, teachers can have their own kleshas – mental afflictions – brought to the surface by a student. Teacher and student are here reminded to remain compassionate toward each other and to remember that the purpose of coming together is to overcome bad mental habits.
Shantideva advises:
Praise and compliments distract me,
And undermine my disillusion with cyclic existence.
I start to envy the good qualities of others
And thereby ruin all my mind training.
Therefore, are not those who are closely involved
In destroying my praise and the like
Surely there protecting me
From falling into realms of grief?
In this light, I am grateful for your comments as they make me better aware of how I might change to be kinder to people.
I would be happy to speak to you about your experience at the studio so that I might try to clear up any misconceptions. You can find my contact information on my website
www.anjaliyoga.ca
Mar 27, 2010 Rating
Bad Experience by: NDM
I had a bad experience at this studio. While she was likely well qualified, I found the teacher to be very harsh and sharp spoken, and I felt berated when I - a newcomer - had failed to anticipate the next posture and not kept up to the exact breath. I felt tense and wished to leave the class early, something that I have not experienced in an Ashtanga studio before or since. I would have appreciated a kinder, gentler approach. That said, I'm sure boot camp yoga has its fans, I am simply not one of them.
Mar 27, 2010 Rating
Anjali Indeed! by: Mark (and Lynn) - Northern California
I started yoga with Anjali a few years ago while living in Kelowna. Since moving away we've not quite found a teacher like Debbie or a studio like Anjali. Her class routines are grounded in fundamentals with an eye towards appropriate level of challenge...and her assists/guidance were invaluable to teaching my body what the asanas needed to feel like (and to avoid injury). (The focused weekend workshops were also very helpful for developing good form.) And its all delivered in a comfortable and down to earth environment with a nice community.
While I'm a long way from getting my foot behind my head, Anjali got me started down a wonderful path....and although we live 1500 miles away still feel a connection with Debbie, the Anjali community (and Canada)...and send an Om northward at the end of each session. Namaste!
Mar 27, 2010 Rating
I Love Anjali by: Kristin
I have practised a variety of yoga styles for the past 8 years and have been attending Anjali since soon after it opened. Simply walking into Anjali's studio puts a huge smile on my face. I no longer live in Kelowna but whenever I have the chance to return for a vistit my family knows that I will be spending a few hours at the studio.
The studio space looks good and smells good. But more importantly, the teachers are fantastic. They are very knowlegable, care deeply about their students, and very clearly love what they do. Of all the studios I have practiced ashtanga/vinyasa style yoga in Anjali is one of the very few where I am completely confident the safeness of the instruction and corrections provided.
I would recommend that anyone already practising or wanting to try this vigorous form of yoga visit Anjali, it is a wonderful studio.
Mar 27, 2010 Rating
Passionate, Friendly Teachers! :) by: Emily
I have been attending Anjali Yoga since January 2008. Since embarking on my practice of Ashtanga Yoga with Debbie and John, I have gained so much.
I have a new respect for my once misunderstood teenage body, a deepened understanding of how my muscles and breath work and contribute to my overall health, and I am slowly learning meditation, all via the guidance of my passionate teachers.
At Anjali, I not only feel that I am being instructed at a very high quality of teaching, but I also feel that I can approach Debbie or John about almost anything that they may be able to help with, whether it be a physical, mental, or emotional health problem. They can always provide yogic advice and wise words to help me through whatever it is that I am experiencing.
As soon as I walk into the studio I feel relaxed and at ease, and as I am leaving there are always smiles and friendly, (sometimes humorous) exchanges between the students and the teachers.
My only complaint would be that it is a little bit pricey. I have many friends (students) who would love to attend Anjali Yoga, but don't feel they can afford it. Though, I do understand that high quality teaching comes at a price.
I recommend Anjali Yoga to anyone who doesn't mind a little sweat and a few laughs. Hehe.
Mar 27, 2010 Rating
best yoga studio in north america by: Blaine
I have been practising ashtanga at anjali yoga for 2.5 years or more. i go almost every weekend. i have found the instruction at this studio to be the best i have ever experienced anywhere. the adjustments made are timely, appropriate, gentle but firm and extremely helpful at all times. i have had mistakes in my poses corrected in almost every single class and have not experienced any harshness. without these corrections and adjustments i would have injured myself long ago. every care is taken to ensure that the student is taught enough to not injure himself at home and to not injure himself in the studio. i feel totally secure and taken care of when i am in this studio. we are encouraged at all times to work and to make effort, without which there would not be any progress. i recommend this studio above all others.
Mar 25, 2010 Rating
response to "Technically good but..." by: Anjali Yoga
I appreciate the comment from Anonymous on March 25, 2010.
It is important for teachers to hear how students respond to our teaching so that we can be aware of how we are affecting students, and make changes where necessary.
For prasarita padottanasana A, B + D when a student is crunching the back of his/her neck by lifting the chin too much, I place my hand on the back of the head to gently guide students into lengthening the neck.
In prasarita padottanasana C I guide the head of newer students to curve under to bring the chin to the chest.
In all of these adjustments it is important to be slow and gentle so as not to knock students off balance, or to "over-correct". I would never "whack" a student. In any pose.
Every interaction with students is unique. Without knowing who this student is, or the exact circumstances around his/her experience I regret that I can't provide a clearer, more specific response.
Our philosophy at the studio is be very respectful of students, and particularly to provide a very safe environment for practicing ashtanga yoga. Our adjustments and assists are done with very little effort on our part, to avoid the "steam-roller" effect that is common in this style of yoga.
Our assists are designed to encourage students to find the effort themselves to deepen the poses and to develop the proper strength and mobility.
Mar 25, 2010 Rating
Technically good but... by: Anonymous
I have taken Ashtanga classes from several reputable teachers and studios in Canada and the US. Anjali is a very nice studio and the primary teacher is techincally good however she can be quite harsh with her verbal corrections by berating the students at times. Further she gave me an "assist" in Prasarita Padottanasna by whacking me in the back of the head. I understand that some styles of yoga are very disciplined in terms of correct form and this is why I enjoy Ashtanga. I also understand that some teachers have a very high level of expectation and I respect this sytle of teaching immensely. However treatment at this studio was unacceptable to me and I beleive the primary instructor needs to re-visit her practice of ahimsa.
