Yoga Casa
By: Lora Brandt, Owner The Yoga Casa
Photos: Lora Brandt
We were a couple of weekends in to our Yoga Teacher Training. Far enough in that I had mastered breathing cues for Sun A but still novice enough to know that I might bust out laughing if someone (including myself) farted in class. My yoga teacher asked, “Would any of you ever like to open a studio?” I chuckled under my breath. “Ya, right.” I thought. In my FREE time.
To be honest, though, it wasn’t only about the time commitment. To be even more honest, I was struggling with even being a teacher at that point. You see, I may be a yoga instructor but hit pause on the image you’re conjuring. I’m not a human Gumby. A strap isn’t a “want” in Bird of Paradise but a “need.” My Buddha belly will giggle with laughter if you ask me to do child’s pose with my knees closed. Yoga Teacher Training brought up some heavy questions for me. Seriously heavy. Was I too heavy to be a yoga teacher? Would students want to learn from someone who didn’t have a “yoga body”?
Practicing at studios around town didn’t help. I would walk in and my perception was that I unwelcome because of my shape. Even if I was welcome it was not lost on me that I was always the biggest person in the room. I had bad experiences. At some studios I felt less like a guest and more like an intruder. I left feeling worse about myself then when I walked in. That’s when things started to shift for me. I kept searching for my yoga “home” but was not finding it. Sure, I found some good studios but nothing in my area of town, nothing that I could call home.
That’s when I decided that I either had to suffer at other studios or create my own yoga home. It was my spouse who suggested “The Yoga Casa” (TYC). My vision was to hire teachers that would raise students up. They would be body positive and teach in body positive ways. People would feel welcome, accepted, a part of a community and part of a home. We would call students “guests” and treat them as honored visitors. So, May 25th of 2018 we held our first class at The Yoga Casa with me teaching my heart out!
At TYC, I teach that EVERYBODY has a yoga body because yoga is all about being aware of your perfectly imperfect body without judgement.
Now I am actually glad to be up in front of students with my imperfect body. Students have told me that in my classes they feel comfortable and accepted. They don’t feel like they have to perform, push themselves or wear only designer yoga pants. It allows us to have fun, to laugh at ourselves, and to be in the moment. At TYC, yoga is never “easy”, but we also teach in a way that doesn’t push you too hard, but we celebrate individual successes! We are building a true community of guests who are welcomed and honored. We hope you become a part of that community too. Namaste.
Contact Information:
Lora Brandt
The Yoga Casa
3919 Colleyville Blvd Colleyville, TX 76034
(817) 717-5587
