Yoga Questions, Yoga Answers

November 2011
By Mehtab, Founder of Yoga Yoga

I was interviewed about Yoga Yoga by a magazine for health and fitness. Since you may not get to see this, I wanted to share some of my answers with you:

Why did you decide to open a yoga studio in Austin?
Austin is our home and there is no better place in the world to be!

Can you describe your typical yoga student?
No—every time I try, somebody surprises me.

What is the mission of your studio?
There is a yoga for every body and yoga is for everybody.

How have you innovated yoga?
We were one of the first yoga studios in the country to offer a wide variety of different types of yoga under one roof. There is no one yoga better than another, and all the types of yoga have something unique for different people.

The Sanskrit word “yoga” has many meanings, what does it mean to you and your studio?
We named our studio Yoga Yoga because you really cannot describe yoga or attach a meaning to it. Yoga is the most personal experience you can have and its meaning to you is completely unique.

What advice would you give to someone who has tried yoga before and didn’t like it?
Try another teacher or another type of yoga. Release your expectations.

Any advice for the person who can’t touch their toes and is afraid that they will be unable to do the poses?
Yoga is not about touching your toes. It’s about opening your heart. The truth is, no one really cares if you can do a pose or not, and you shouldn’t either.

What is your favorite yoga pose? Why?
My favorite yoga pose is the one I am currently doing.

How were you introduced to yoga?
An old yoga book I found as a college student had over 300 yoga poses and I wanted to do them all. I found out later I didn’t need to.

How does yoga enhance your everyday life?
It makes me remember who I am.

What are three important lessons yoga has taught you?
Show up, keep up, and you will be kept up.