Midterm Paper

The studio that I chose to visit for my midterm project is Karma Yoga Studio in Harvard Square. I began attending classes there at the start of this school year in September. All of my experiences at the studio have been positive. I have had about four different teachers and been to two different styles of classes. The first one that I went to in September was a hatha yoga class and another that I have come to enjoy is the slow vinyasa class.

            One thing that immediately struck me about the studio are the earth tones that studio is decorated with as well as the dark hardwood floors. I had an immediate feeling of relaxation when I entered the studio and felt welcomed by the girl at the front desk as well as the other students waiting for the class to start. What I really liked about the studio was how there are no mirrors and it truly looks like a yoga studio as opposed to a dance or work out studio. Practicing yoga at a gym is a very different experience simply because of the environment. I felt much more calm in that studio as opposed to the studio in my hometown where I first began practicing yoga.

            There are also not extremely high ceilings and there is a much greater feeling of intimacy and connectedness as opposed to other studios I have been to that are much more spacious. When the class started, the room was full, however even in the smaller room we all found space and had no trouble moving around each other. Although I get into my own world when I practice, it is nice to be able to feel the people and the energy around me when I practice, and that was exactly the experience I had when practicing at Karma.

            Karma also has a location in Allston, and one in the South End. I have not been to either one of the other locations, so I am not sure exactly how the layouts at those locations are. However, the location in Harvard Square has a gym upstairs and an organic tea café when you walk in the door. These are nice touches that make the studio even more appealing. One of the teachers are the Harvard Square location also makes jewelry and donates the proceeds to a nonprofit organization, which I think is excellent.

            On Karma’s website, they describe themselves as, “an independent holistic fitness studio.” I feel as though this description fits them appropriately. In my opinion, most of the people who go to Karma are looking to become more flexible, stronger, or to lose some weight. However, the studio does have a holistic feel to it in terms of the design and decorations. It is also apparent that the teachers and women working at the front desk share in that holistic view based on how they speak.

            The website also says that their “facilities were built to not only make you feel you've entered a beautiful sanctuary, but to also incorporate the latest in eco-design and green practices for the health of all of us and the planet.” This statement goes along with their believe in a holistic lifestyle. I also definitely felt the atmosphere of a beautiful sanctuary when I came in the door, so they do live up to their standards.

            The teachers are also very friendly and helpful. They get to the classes early and stay to talk to the students after the classes, which are helpful if you want to go over a pose from the class. The teachers also ask the names of each student in the class before class begins and will refer to the students by name during the classes. That touch made me feel as though I was an important part of the class and as though the teachers really cared how well we did and that we got a lot out of being in the class. It also made me want to continue going to classes because I felt as though the teacher and I had a sort of bond and that she would want me to come back.

            The teacher who teaches the slow vinyasa class, Kristen, continues to say hello to me when I come in. I didn’t come to her class for about three months, however when I came to her class for the first time after that she gave me a large greeting and told me how nice it was to see me back in class. I was shocked that she remembered me and that she seemed so genuinely excited to see me. It is this sort of kindness and good feelings that keep me coming back to Karma.

            The first teacher that I had, Hannah, teaches the hatha yoga class that I went to. I was immediately struck by her kind and gentle nature. She came to talk to me on my mat before class to ask my name and about my history with yoga. I was very appreciative that she had gone the extra mile to come and talk to me even before class started. This seems to be a general occurrence with most of the teachers I have had at this yoga studio.

            From what I noticed, it seems as though Karma serves mostly women in the Cambridge and Harvard Square area. When I went to a class at noon on a weekday, I noticed a lot of professional women coming in on their lunch breaks. There are many businesses in Harvard Square, so that definitely makes sense. I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to talk to any of the other students in my classes, however I am sure that speaking with them would have given me a better idea about the population served at Karma. Based on the prices of each class, I would say that people mostly with steady, middle-class incomes at least would be the only people who could afford to go on a regular basis. Also, based on the location, it would make sense for students to come to this studio.

            I believe that the practice of yoga at this studio places a strong value on the lifestyle. The teachers seem to lead healthy lifestyles in terms of eating and exercising. I made this assumption based on watching them eat and drink as well as speaking before and after class briefly about treating our bodies right. The café also offers only healthy and organic options. Therefore, I believe that there is a general consensus at the studio that practicing yoga is just one component of the healthy and holistic lifestyle.

            Another part of the culture at Karma is the idea of giving back to the community. Once a week, there is a karma vinyasa class. All of the proceeds from this class benefit a local animal rescue organization. I really like the idea of a community of people getting together and practicing such a great hobby together in order to benefit another community and society. I enjoy this culture because it benefits other people and is helping society. I would love to go to one of the karma classes, however I have not had the chance to go yet. It is great that teachers are willing to dedicate this time to the cause without any pay. I also get the feeling that the teachers are very dedicated to the studio and to their students, so they do not mind putting in the extra effort.

            I also like that Karma offers such a variety of classes. Hatha yoga is their slowest class that requires the least experience and is most accessible to all students. From there, it moves up to the slow vinyasa classes, then the vinyasa classes. The harder classes are the intermediate vinyasa classes as well as power yoga. These are the most popular classes and the classes most frequently on the schedule. All of the different teachers seem to have their own style and way of teaching. Some like to start the class with a silent meditation, while other simply jump right into the practice. Some teachers like to give a long savasana, while others only practice it for a couple of minutes.

However, these are all good things. It would be very boring if all of the teachers gave the same practice. I enjoy not knowing exactly what my practice is going to be like every time that I go. The slow vinyasa class that I go to frequently allows me to challenge myself, while still maintaining a peaceful mind. I tend to shut down if the practice is too difficult or if I am struggling. This practice constantly introduces new concepts to me why keeping me on the border of my comfort zone.

This teacher, Kristen, says she likes to push her students and that we need to be open to new challenges and moving away from our comfort zones. She also talks about the conversations we have with ourselves in our heads when something gets to difficult and we tell ourselves to leave the situation. When she knows a pose is difficult and she sees us squirming, she tells us to let this conversation go. I like that she talks about training the mind because other teachers just tell us to hold it and that the pain will be gone soon. Kristen recognizes that these positions and poses can be difficult, but challenges us to train our minds to simply let those voices and that doubt go. Every time she mentions it I want to try even harder to train my mind and stay in the pose as long as I can. This idea of challenging oneself was extremely important in this class. Kristen also says before class starts that she teaches a very open class and that her students should feel comfortable doing as much or as little during her class as they choose. She even says lying on the mat and taking a nap is acceptable. I love that about her because just hearing her say that made me feel so much more comfortable in her class.

In conclusion, this studio is very focused on the physical practice of yoga. However, the idea of giving back to the community as a form of yoga is also very present in the studio as well. Living the “yoga lifestyle” is also a value of the studio. Giving back to the community, and staying physically and mentally healthy by practicing yoga, exercising, and eating healthy organic foods are all also important. It is these values that make up the studio and that the teachers seem to also care about. I like that it focuses mostly on the physical aspects of yoga and staying physically healthy, however the holistic ideas and healthy lifestyle are also very appealing to me because I share the same values.