ABOUT JASON (Yoga)

Mon, 31 May 2010 19:58:01 -0400

I have been been a student of the contemplative and movement arts for over 30 years, and a student of yoga since my first exposure to it in 1996. In 2007, I created Zenyasa Yoga as a way to synthesize my interests in Zen Buddhism, vinyasa yoga and exercise science. I taught Zenyasa at Yoga Works, Reebok Sports Club and Pure Yoga for a few years, and just recently opened the Zenyasa Yoga & Wellness Studio on West 72nd Street. Below is a chronology that details my experience in yoga rom 1996 to the present.

Yoga Education
While I have experimented with a variety of yoga styles over the years, my primary education in the yoga tradition has been with:
‣ The Integral Yoga Institute (1996-2001): Integral Yoga is a traditional hatha style founded by Swami Satchidananda. Compared to many contemporary styles of yoga, it is quite mellow and focuses more on stress-reduction practices, gentle postures, and learning how to listen to the body. The classes are slow-paced and mindful, and include chanting, pranayama, meditation, and a super-long deep relaxation following the posture practice. I hold Hatha I (beginner) and Hatha II (intermediate) level certifications from Integral, taught classes there from 1998-2001, and continue to offer occasional workshops and continuing education courses for their teachers.
‣ OM Yoga Center (1998-2005): OM Yoga is a contemporary style of vinyasa yoga that emphasizes mindfulness, precise alignment, and breath-centered flowing movements; it is more slow-paced than many other vinyasa styles, but can be quite challenging and athletic; I completed the “Road to OM” certification there in 2000, taught classes there from 2000-2005, and was on the teacher training faculty there from 2003-2005.
‣ Erich Schiffman: Erich’s book, “Yoga: The Spirit & Practice of Moving into Stillness,” was the first book on yoga that I ever read, and I must say that this book has more strongly influenced my approach to yoga asana practice and teaching than any actual teacher, school or tradition to this day. I studied intensively with Erich in 2000 during a 10-day teacher training in Santa Barbara, have attended a few workshops since then, and have had the privilege of practicing with him privately in the little studio behind his house in LA. Thank you Erich, for all that you have given me.
‣ Rodney Yee: Rodney was another big inspiration in my practice and teaching. I first met him at a Yoga Journal conference in 2001, attended several 5-day retreat intensives with him from 2001-2004, and assisted him in a couple of workshops that he led at Integral Yoga in New York. Rodney helped me into my first handstand scorpion, and flattered me when he called me an “old soul” at a retreat in upstate New York

Yoga Teaching Experience
Prior to opening the Zenyasa Yoga & Wellness Studio I taught group yoga classes at many of New York's leading yoga studios and health clubs, including:
Yoga Studios (most recent first)
‣ Pure Yoga (2008-2010)
‣ Yoga Works (2006-2009)
‣ Levitate Yoga (2006-2008)
‣ East-West Yoga (2006)
‣ OM Yoga Center (2000-2005)
‣ Practice Yoga (1999-2000)
‣ Integral Yoga Institute (1998-2001)

Health Clubs (most recent first)
‣ Reebok Sports Club (2000-2009)
‣ Equinox Fitness Club (1999-2007)
‣ LA Sports Club (2001-2005)
‣ New York Health & Racquet Club (1999-2000)
‣ New York Sports Club (1998-2001)

Other Experiences as a Yoga Teacher:
‣ I was on the teacher training faculty at OM Yoga Center from 2003-2005
‣ I have assisted Rodney Yee and Cyndi Lee in several workshops and retreats
‣ I spent a week as a guest teacher at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY (in 2003)
‣ I have led workshops, retreats and teacher trainings in New York, Boston, San Francisco and Southern France
‣ I led an 8-week “yoga for epilepsy” class at Mt. Sinai Hospital
‣ I have been working with students privately for over 11 years. My private clients have included business professionals, CEOs, celebrities, and people dealing with special conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, advanced age, obesity and a variety of soft-tissue injuries
‣ I have taught the anatomy component of the yoga teacher training programs for Yoga Works, Pure Yoga, Sacred Strength Yoga (Stephanie Culen), and am the founder of Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers -- a 108-hour, in-depth anatomy course geared toward both aspiring and experienced yoga teachers

ABOUT JASON (Massage Therapy)

Sat, 29 May 2010 20:00:19 -0400

Beginnings
When I began attending the Swedish Institute in 2002, I didn’t really have any desire at all to become a Licensed Massage Therapist. I had dabbled in Thai Yoga Massage a little bit, taking a few courses and doing some massage on friends, but never really had an aspiration to make a living doing it.
A Desire to Study Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy
What initially drew me to the Swedish Institute was the intensive anatomy studies curriculum... A&P 1 & 2, Neurology, Pathology, Soft-Tissue Assessment, etc. I had been a yoga teacher for about 4 years at this point, but felt that my anatomy education was quite lacking. All too often students would tell me about issues that they were having in their bodies, and I would feel ill-equipped to help them out or offer any meaningful advice because I didn’t really have a handle on musculo-skeletal anatomy.
But of course, you can’t JUST take anatomy courses in massage school! At the Swedish Institute, we took courses in Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, therapeutic massage, sports massage and 5-Element Shiatsu. I was nervous at first, but gradually came to enjoy the massage classes as much or more than the academic anatomy classes. And in fact, today I LOVE giving massage!
Licensed Massage Therapist since March 2006
I graduated from the Swedish Institute in December 2005, and became Licensed in March 2006. I have maintained a private practice ever since, first within a small physical therapy office in Columbus Circle (from 2006-2008), and then in my current located on West 72nd (from 2008-present).
My Clients
My clients tend to mostly be students from my yoga classes, yoga teachers, and the people that they refer to me. Many of them come with specific goals... knots that they want worked out of their shoulders, golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, low back pain, middle back pain, pain in their neck, etc. I also get clients who like to combine regular massage therapy with their yoga asana practice... I help them gain insight into why they might have difficulty with certain postures, and incorporate myofascial strokes and stretches into their sessions.
I probably average seeing about 5-8 clients a week for massage... which is ideal given my busy yoga teaching schedule.
Continuing Education
I’ve taken a few continuing education courses at the Swedish Institute since graduating, mostly in myofascial release work and in Trigger Point therapy. I also teach musculo-skeletal anatomy courses, and learn a little bit more about the body each time I do.
The Kind of Massage I Do
My work tends to blend together several modalities, including:
‣ Swedish Relaxation strokes to warm up the tissues, get the blood flowing and relax the nervous system
‣ Deep Tissue strokes to break down adhesions and alleviate trigger points
‣ Shiatsu palming, thumbing and joint-mobilization techniques to encourage Qi flow and tie the work together

ABOUT JASON (Anatomy)

Fri, 28 May 2010 20:01:48 -0400

A Desire to Study Musculo-Skeletal Anatomy
‣ I had been a yoga teacher for about 4 years before I really had a strong desire to study anatomy. My anatomy education in yoga teacher training was relatively paltry, as it is in most ALL yoga teacher trainings... largely because Yoga Alliance only requires that yoga teacher training programs provide 20 hours of anatomy education (only 10 of which needs to be contact hours)
‣ But all too often students would tell me about issues that they were having in their bodies, and I would feel ill-equipped to help them out or offer any meaningful advice because I didn’t really have a handle on musculo-skeletal anatomy

My Anatomy Education Begins
‣ The desire to deepen my understanding of musculo-skeletal anatomy and injury prevention/management eventually led me to the Swedish Institute (in 2002), where I went on to complete over 1,250 hours of study in anatomy & physiology, myology, kinesiology, neurology, pathology, soft tissue assessment, deep tissue and sports massage, Shiatsu, and exercise science.
‣ I became a licensed massage therapist in March 2006, and felt so much more confident in my knowledge of musculo-skeletal anatomy

Teach What You Want to Learn
‣ I didn’t want to lose what I’d gained in massage school, and felt that what I had learned about musculo-skeletal anatomy could be super helpful to other teachers; and I’ve always believed strongly that if you really want to learn something you should get out there and teach it
‣ So in 2008 I put together a comprehensive and academic course in musculo-skeletal anatomy for yoga teachers, and called it Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers (ASFYT)
‣ This initial course was 72 contact hours; the books I ended up using for the course (by Joseph Muscolino) were amazing, and went far beyond what I’d learned in massage school:
• Kinesiology: The Skeletal System & Muscle Function
• The Muscular System Manual
‣ Teaching from those books meant that I had to step my game up even more, and I spent hours and hours studying and preparing for the lectures I gave during that initial 72-hour course -- I learned so much!!!
‣ As of this writing, I have led the ASFYT course four times, and have graduated about 40 yoga teachers; each time I’ve taught the course I have learned a little more

Experience Teaching Anatomy
‣ Since graduating from massage school in 2005, I have taught anatomy courses as part of the yoga teacher training programs for OM Yoga Center, Yoga Works, Pure Yoga and Sacred Strength/Earthrise Yoga
‣ In 2008/2009 I played a key role in helping to revise the anatomy studies curriculum for Yoga Works, and today there are several Yoga Works teacher trainers who are graduates of my ASFYT course (including Chrissy Carter and Paula Lynch)
‣ The Anatomy Studies for Yoga Teachers program that I offer is now 108 contact hours, and is offered 2-3x per year