Middle Path Yoga

Drawing on her eclectic training, practice and study of 25 years (see About Our Teachers), Carolyn Oberst has developed her own method of teaching yoga which she refers to as Middle Path Yoga. This means the classes are not so slow that it’s boring and too wrapped up in anatomical discussions, not so fast that a beginner or intermediate student is rushed past concern for form and structure. She finds the middle path between the two extremes.

The Middle Path Yoga technique seeks to teach the basic poses (or asanas) that a student has to know, and do well, in order to advance their practice. It combines repetition with enough variety to keep the class interesting and informative. Students are encouraged to advance their practice as they are ready, and are offered more challenging variations as their skill increases. The poses taught relate directly to those that are used most widely in all the forms of Hatha yoga that are popular today. In these classes props are used only as necessary for the individual student. Everyone is doing the same pose but not necessarily with the same props, or with props at all. Within the group each student is treated as a unique individual. The poses are adapted to fit the person, the person is not forced to fit a variation of the pose that is not right for them at that moment.

Unlike some techniques, Middle Path Yoga stresses the importance of breathing. Students learn to breath as they move, doing postures, and also learn sitting breathing techniques that can be used for stimulation and others that are used for meditation. Students learn how to adapt their breathing according to what they’re trying to do. In addition, the teachers at Yoga in Tribeca try to always be available to discuss students’ personal issues privately when requested. We offer reading lists, chakra information and reprints of relevant articles. Over time, students become educated in many aspects of what it means to practice yoga.

Challenging classes in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere, with teachers who know their students well. This is what Yoga in Tribeca has to offer.