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July 30, 2024
25 years of teaching yoga: The evolution of a profession
Join Harmony Slater as she sits down with Stephen Thomas to discuss the profound changes in the yoga world over the past 25 years. From the early days of in-person classes to the rise of online platforms, discover how the practice and teaching of yoga have evolved. (Note: This thoughtful conversation continues next week, as Stephen and Harmony delve into a rich conversation about breathwork and pranayama.)
In this episode, we discuss:
Changes in the Yoga Industry: Reflecting on the significant shifts in yoga teaching from the early 2000s to today.
Impact of Online Yoga: How the pandemic and online platforms have transformed yoga practice and instruction.
Teacher Training Boom: Exploring the rise and influence of yoga teacher training programs.
The Role of Yoga Studios: The evolving importance of physical yoga studios as community hubs.
Dedication and Consistency: The necessity of long-term dedication to truly understand and master yoga.
Stephen's Journey: Insights into Stephen Thomas's personal yoga journey, including his experiences teaching in North America, Asia, and Europe.
About Stephen Thomas:
Stephen [eng] is an experienced Yoga teacher and practitioner. He leads classes, Teacher Trainings, Workshops and Immersions. His teaching is rooted in the traditional Yoga practices. His philosophical background is influenced by studies in Yoga as well as Buddhism.
Stephen is long term student of O.P. Tiwari of Kaivalyadham, India – a master in the science of Pranayama and Ayurveda. He combines that foundation with over 20 years of study and exploration in the fields of Alignment based Asana. He has spent these decades refining an evolution of practice that has spanned many years in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Anusara and his love of Iyengar’s approach. He teaches in a way that understands the value of transformation through effort and dedication without imposing Dogma.
Stephen teaches at his own studio, SVARUPA in Bern and as a senior teacher at AIRYOGA in Zurich. He is a father and dedicates his time to family life, writing, documenting and researching Yoga. He also works one-on-one with many students and helps to mentor teachers in the community.
Quotes:
- “To know something is to have a relationship to it over a long period of time.”
- “The practice itself will become the teacher.”
- “There’s so much gathered through shared karma and shared experience.”
Connect with Stephen
Svarupa Website: https://svarupa.com/about-svarupa/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen.svarupa/
Connect with Us (We love to hear from you!)
- Harmony Slater's Website: http://harmonyslater.com
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Finding Harmony Podcast
00:49 - Changes in the Yoga World
02:29 - Reflections on Early Yoga Experiences
06:46 - Evolution of Yoga Teacher Training
12:47 - Marker
15:43 - Impact of COVID on Yoga Practices
21:18 - The Importance of Dedication and Consistency
32:56 - The Role of Teachers and Inner Guidance
40:14 - Understanding the Essence of Yoga
50:05 - The Depth of Musical Mastery
51:05 - The Importance of a Dedicated Teacher
Stephen Thomas
Teacher
Stephen is an experienced yoga teacher and practitioner. He leads classes, Teacher Trainings, Workshops and Immersions. His teaching is rooted in the traditional Hatha Yoga practices. His philosophical background is influenced by studies in Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda and Buddhism.
Stephen is long term student of O.P. Tiwari of Kaivalyadham, India – a master in the science of Pranayama and Ayurveda. He combines that foundation with the inspiration and insight from the likes of Richard Freeman, Roberto Svoboda and David Frawley. His exploration in the field of alignment-based asana through the lens of Iyengar's work has spanned the last two decades. He teaches in a way that understands the value of transformation through effort and dedication without imposing dogma.
Stephen teaches at his own studio, SVARUPA in Bern and as a senior teacher at AIRYOGA in Zurich. He is a father and dedicates his time to family life, writing, documenting and researching Yoga. He also works one-on-one with many students and helps to mentor teachers in the community.
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