Lance

Lance has been studying yoga since 2001. In 2003 he began to focus on the Vinyasa Krama style of yoga and on the energy cultivating practice of Qi Gong. In the studio these traditions blend with Lance's adaptive, Viniyoga sensibility, opening his classes up for to students of all levels. Lance started teaching yoga as a sophomore at Oberlin College, giving classes to students, professors and locals. The diverse group of students inspired Lance to learn to adapt yoga to students who came to their mat with different bodies and life experiences.

His personal experience with chronic injury has influenced Lance's teaching dramatically. Piano-related tendinitis and nerve injuries affected the function of his entire body, sending him on a search for healing. He has worked with many different regimens, from physical therapists and doctors, to alternative therapies like osteopathy, visceral manipulation, cranio-sacral therapy, nerve mobilization and accupunture. His search for relief inspired an interest in anatomy and physiology. "I wanted to understand why my body wasn't working properly, and how I could fix it, and more importantly, how I could help others to overcome that kind of adversity."

A native of Houston, Lance moved to Austin in 2008 after graduating from Oberlin with a degree in classical piano performance and Latin American Studies. He was drawn to Austin by the opportunity to teach yoga and continue studying piano.

Lance is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level. For the last few years he has been studying primarily with Srivatsa Ramaswami and two of his senior teachers, Pam Johnson and Debbie Mills. His acupuncturist, Dr. Brian McKenna, has also influenced his teaching and his personal practice.

Students in Lance's classes can expect an element of flow, to move through postures with the breath. "As I was taught by my teachers, breath is everything, and should never be compromised for postures." Depending on the type of class and needs of the students, Lance adapts his teaching style from gentle and therapeutic, to more powerful, challenging and intense. Props and modifications are a part of every class, and Lance insists that students always honor their bodies restrictions. "I've spent years modifying my poses for my various restrictions and limitations, and hence know first-hand about how important posture adaption is when practicing yoga. That being said, I have a very broad bag of tricks to use when dealing with therapeutic applications of yoga, whether one-on-one, or in a group class setting."

Class always concludes with a pranayama (breath control practice). Breath work has been an integral part of Lance's yogic education, and he emphasizes it with students of any level.

It was 2003, two years into his yoga practice, that Lance had a great shift in his understanding of what yoga could mean in his life. He started taking private yoga lessons, and his teacher's feedback was startling. "Up until that point, I was living a very fast-paced, stressful, and consequently reckless life, always hurrying everywhere. During our first lesson, my teacher noticed and pointed out these tendencies, which was a major wake-up call. I thought to myself, how could someone know me so well in just one meeting. Were my negative tendencies so obvious... Over time, through working with myself and with students, I've come to see that we show a lot more of ourselves to each other than we think we do."

After that lesson, Lance saw just how right his teacher had been. "I was hurrying through life, and missing all of the life experiences along the way." When he slowed down and shed some of his stress, Lance found himself becoming more devoted to his personal yoga practice. Teaching yoga is an extension of his devotion. "I want to share the joy I get from my own practice."

In addition to yoga and music, Lance loves cooking and spending time outdoors. He has travelled extensively since he was a child, and would love to teach yoga abroad one day.

"If there's one thing I've learned from life, it's that if you resist it, it will resist back. Let go, and just hang on for the ride!"

Click here to see when Lance teaches.

Recommended by Lance:
Yoga for the Three Stages of Life, by Srivatsa Ramaswami
Yoga Beneath the Surface, by Srivatsa Ramaswami
The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, by Srivatsa Ramaswami
A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle
Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, by Stephen Cope,
Yoga for Wellness, by Gary Kraftsow

Favorite quote:
"Breath is the pulse of the universe." Srivatsa Ramaswami