What is Yoga?
"Yoga" is a Sanskrit word meaning "union". Through the practice of yoga we seek to unify body, mind, and spirit into a cohesive whole. Yogic disciplines have been practiced in India for thousands of years and were documented by the sage Patanjali about 2500 years ago. His teachings are known as the yoga sutras.
There are many different kinds of yoga - some are primarily meditative, some involve chanting or reciting mantras (holy words or phrases), others are dedicated to study or devotional practices. The most common type of yoga practiced in the West is hatha yoga, which seeks to develop union through physical practices. Although hatha yoga looks like exercise - sometimes even gymnastics - the combination of specific positions ("asanas") and focused attention gradually enhances all systems of the body, creating improved health and
well-being at every level. Hatha yoga can be practiced in a variety of ways - from vigorous ashtanga yoga, to detailed and precise Iyengar yoga, to "hot" Bikrim yoga and others. It's a good idea to try several styles of yoga - there's sure to be one that's just right for you!
Training
Melanie Harrell has been practicing yoga since 1995 and
teaching since 1997. She completed advanced certification through Yoga
Therapy College in 1998 and is registered with Yoga Alliance, a national
organization dedicated to maintaining high standards among yoga teachers.
Melanie continues to learn by attending workshops and classes offered
by other teachers and has been studying with Billie Gollnick since 2000. As a founding Board Member of the Yoga Teachers Association of Houston, she served as Treasurer from 2005 – 2007 and Vice President from 2006 – 2007.