Kitty Fowler

• My yoga journey began when I took a class in college MANY years ago but it really took off after I moved to Austin in 1999. In Austin I found a yoga community that allowed me to participate in many different yoga styles and I quickly became "hooked" on Ashtanga yoga (the original "Flow Yoga") which is the tradition I still practice and is the foundation of my teaching.  

Ashtanga is a physically challenging, but highly modifiable, active style. This style also has a beautiful authenticity because it is taught as it's been taught in India for countless years and I try to impart the beauty and wisdom of this legacy in my classes.

Ashtanga is disciplined yoga style where each asana (posture) flows to the next with transition movements so the yogi is moving throughout the practice. Also, the Ashtanga practice is a set series of postures, done in a particular sequence and a particular way. I teach postures and sequences from the first (or Primary) series which is specifically designed (by many yoga teachers over many years) to strengthen, increase flexibility and endurance and detox the body to prepare it for subsequent practices. So, the Primary series could be considered the foundation work needed for all Vinyasa yoga. Also, I find all yoga students; from novices to experienced practitioners are capable of being successfully guided through this practice and experience the benefits they are seeking from a yoga practice.

But, back to me . After being an enthusiastic Ashtanga practitioner for many years, I decided the mental and physical benefits of yoga in general and Ashtanga specifically were too good to keep to myself and became a yoga teacher. I very much enjoy working with people to try and impart the magic that can happen in people's lives when they practice yoga regularly. Yoga practice has changed my life and I've had the great honor to be able to try to impart this ancient wisdom to others and, as a result, I've seen it change others.

All people I believe can, and do benefit from practicing yoga so I enjoy teaching anyone; in groups or privately. Additionally, I have a particular interest in the use of yoga as a therapeutic tool for underserved and traumatized populations. I have taught in women's' minimum security prisons and am currently working to establish free mindful meditation, trauma-sensitive yoga classes for the veteran community in Austin, Texas. working with the Veterans Yoga Project to develop local programs for Veterans suffering from PTSD and other related issues.