Like most men, I found my way to yoga through my wife, who is also a yoga teacher. And like most men, I was terribly resistant about going to class, (more than three years of resistance). I like to tell people that it was my ego that brought me to yoga, although I learned early on that one's ego has no place in a yoga practice. I began my practice as a way of cross-training so that I could conquer Mt. Wheeler, the highest mountain in New Mexico at 13,161 ft. Before attending level one teacher training in Mexico with Baron, climbing Wheeler Peak was the toughest physical thing I've ever done. My time in yoga has been relatively short, but the rewards have been remarkable. I've come to understand that yoga is an unlearning process, an unlearning of what we think we can do and an unlearning of who we think we are. I never imagined that I could do some of the things that I can do now and I'm so excited about the new things yet to come, on and off the mat. Through Baptiste I've learned that I am stronger than I ever thought I was and that I can accomplish anything I set my heart and mind to.

My dharma is to help people and for 21 years I helped young people accomplish their goals through teaching music. Now I am helping people through teaching yoga. As a yoga teacher, I get to witness on almost a daily basis my students transformations, their unlearning of who they
thought they were and what they believe about their physical
limitations.

At my first teacher training I found myself
being so resistant to almost everything.
Then, late in the week Baron talked about committing to a yoga practice, any yoga practice, and from that moment on, I've been committed to Baptiste yoga. It's an honor to be the first and only yoga teacher in the Oklahoma City area to share this empowering style of yoga and to make a difference in peoples lives.

Ted Cox is a Certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga Teacher. In addition to teaching and owning his own yoga studio, Spirit House Yoga, Ted is also a musician with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Ted has taught music at seven different Universities, most recently at the University of Oklahoma for ten years. Ted has performed for over twenty years in professional orchestras and is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music.

 Martha 

Martha McQuaid has completed two training programs, most recently a 300 hour professional level training with Todd Norian in Anusara Inspired Yoga. She is certified at the 200 hour level through Yoga Alliance. Martha is also a Certified Massage Therapist, specializing in Thai Bodywork. To find more information about this empowering style of yoga visit www.anusara.com

"I came to yoga in 1999, looking for a way to move more into my body.  As a musician, I realized more and more that I spent most of my time up in my head, and my body was achy and misaligned from years of sitting and practicing.  I had no idea what journey lay before me.  In 2001 I completed my first yoga teacher training, which at the time, I entered into as a way to help my music students with breath and posture.  I had no intention of becoming a yoga techer.  Yoga happened to me!  As with most students who are new to yoga, I studied many different styles, trying to find a practice that spoke to me on a deeper level.  I loved the physical practice, but I felt with my whole being that there was something more out there, and I longed to connect with it, even though I didn't know what it was.  I felt that way with my teaching as well - I could teach the postures, but I wanted to touch my students hearts on a deeper level.  In 2004 I attended a workshop with John Friend.  I was astounded by what I discovered - here was a teacher who was so virtuosic in his teaching, and was able to connect to every person's heart in the room.  I was completely empowered by the practice, and felt deeply aligned on many different levels.  In ten short hours, I knew I had found something special and meaningful, and I wanted to share that with everyone.  I began to study Anusara yoga seriously, and after a year of looking for a teacher, found Todd Norian.  I attended a five day immersion with Todd, and realized halfway through the first day that he was the teacher I had been searching for.  At that moment I committed myself to the process of pursuing an Anusara certification.  I completed my training with Todd in 2006, and at the time of this writing am in the process of completing my required hours with John Friend.  It has been a wonderfully transformative process and I have enjoyed every step.  I went to Todd hoping to become a better teacher, and came out being a better person.  I would like to honor all of my teachers, especially Todd and John for helping me to transform and realize my true nature, and giving me wings to fly."

"Martha represents Anusara well.  She is keen minded and a bright spirit to the students that she interacts with.  Martha is able to teach all the important elements of an excellent Anusara class.  Since she owns a successful studio in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, I see her as a leader, bringing Anusara to that as yet untapped area."   - Jordan Kirk, Certified Anusara Teacher

 

Trinity 

"Life is a transition from finding myself through my 20's, remodeling my home and my yoga."

Honesty.  Healing.  Trinity's style is a blooming mixture of her teachers.  She emphasizes details and proper alignment while guiding students and protecting from injury.  Trinity received her 200 hour Level 1 certification in 2005 from Shambhava Yoga in Colorado.  While living at the Hindu ashram, Trinity studied classical hatha yoga, pranayama, chanting and meditation.  For Trinity, yoga is a way of life that improves a person's spiritual path through a practice of connecting the mind to the body through meditation, prana and asana.  Trinity's yogic path has led her to Anusara yoga which she is currently studying.

Yoga - on and off the mat - Trinity works on alignment when shopping and standing in lines.  She chants and meditates while in the car or on her bike.  A practicing vegan, Trinity makes conscious daily enviromental-friendly decisions.  She believes in the importance of protecting and preserving.  Trinity's colorful yogini spirit radiates and inspires her students both on and off the mat. 

Laura

I discovered yoga while living in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It was on a yoga mat that I found my Self and my own breath.  During high school and college, I had worn the usual faces of student, athlete, friend and daughter.  The yoga mat offered a new reflection, one I was not so familiar with - that of my Self.  My own breath, my own practice, my own warrior.  Since returning to Oklahoma, I have found my home within the OKC yoga community which I feel blessed to be a part of.  My practice includes a blooming mixture of Vinyasa Flow, Baptiste, Anusara, Iyengar and Ashtanga.

I began my 200 hour teacher training with Shiva Rea and Prana Vinyasa Flow in April of 2007.  I left the experience . . . embodied . . . no longer static within an asana's expectation but alive within my own breath, going beyond personal boundaries.  I felt whole, unified.  I was one beating drum . . . a vinyasa . . . flowing . . . with Shiva . . . with my own life force . . . pranashakti.

In addition to the healing effects, Shiva Rea and Vinyasa Flow have helped me learn how to embrace the dance of life . . . to find joy in every moment . . . to not worry so much or sweat the small stuff . . . to find the dancing warrior within my self . . . and learn to dance to my own drum.  My hope is to share whith others - on and off the mat - what Shiva Rea and Vinyasa Flow have inspired me; to guide students to finding their inner warriors, their inner Dance and taste bhava, "feeling mind: - and experience this fire of transformation.

I am so thankful for the support of the Spirit House kula and my teachers, Martha and Ted and all of my teachers, many of whom have never stepped onto a yoga mat.  My 200 hour Prana Vinyasa certification with Shiva Rea continues through the fall of this year.  www.shivarea.com

 

 

Tina

Tina Hilbert (Shiva Dasi - a name given to Tina on her spiritual journey)is a Certified Yoga Instructor and a Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) with Yoga Alliance.
Tina has studied under Dr. John Charping PhD and Ms. Betty Larsen at the Southern Institute for Yoga Instructors.  Tina has had further study with Jaya Devi Sati Bhagavati in Atlanta.  In addition, Tina has certification in Thai Yoga Massage with Saul David Ray through the White Lotus Foundation.  Tina has attended workshops with Bryan Kest, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, David and Doug Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch, Roger Cole PhD, Mukunda Stiles, Doug Kellar, Eddy Marks, Mary Obendorfer and Adele Gale.

Tina has maintained a full-time teaching schedule for 10 years.  Tina practices yoga to relieve stress, improve focus and maintain quality health.  She knew after taking her first yoga class that yoga would benefit her greatly in the process to restore herself to optimal health and that the practice of yoga would be her life long work and passion.  Tina has taught in California, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville and Oklahoma City.

The Journey  It is through the means of teaching yoga that I am able to be in the company of the two things that I love, Spiritualism and fitness.  I continue to practice and go to workshops because I benefit with all of my being from the yogic path.  There is still a great deal for me to learn as a yogi, but I have the rest of my lifetime to discover and rediscover myself, peel away the unwanted layers and evolve.  I have mended and shed many aspects of my being over the last 10 years and I look forward to the years to come.  Yoga has given me such amazing health and well-being that I look forward to the aging process and I no longer dread it.

Through my journey, I have been able to travel and meet many gifted wonderful teachers and caring devoted students; and have developed relationships with people that are real and meaningful.  Who knows who I'll meet or where I'll travel, or the things that will be accomplished or discovered in the future.  I only know that I'm looking forward to the ride.

May we all be in fabulous health and happiness, may we find our peace and live it, may we love like we have never been hurt, may kindness be in the words we speak and the steps we take; and may we share our well-being with others!

Namaste and Love to All, Tina Hilbert