Josie Schmitt
Josie began her Astanga yoga practice in 1996 at Portland's Yoga Space with Timo Jimenez and other friends. Since then her practice has steadily grown in depth and commitment with the community that has now become Yoga Pada.
During her first two and a half years Josie practiced traditional Mysore Astanga Vinyasa, but it was only after an injury and a six month recovery, that she began her true study of Yoga. With the guidance and friendship of Timo Jimenez, Ran Jani, and Tias Little Josie returned to the basics of yoga and rebuilt her practice focusing on core dynamics, bandhas, breathing, alignment, and the conditioning of the nervous system. It is from this experience as well as the continual support and mentoring of her teachers, that Josie bases her teaching.
Josie's teaching emphasizes a blend of the Astanga and Iyengar systems. She utilizes the overall form and sequencing of Astanga, while incorporating the Iyengar emphasis on alighnment, and the use of props. This integral approach to yoga is influenced by the teachings of Tias Little, from whom Josie has taken numerous workshops, and completed an intensive teachers training in the spring of 2002 in Santa Fe, NM.. Another of Josie's influences has been the teaching of Ran Jani, with whom Josie has taken many workshops as well as completing a week long private retreat of yoga and cleansing.
Josie holds a B.A. from Columbia University in Eastern Religions and Philosophy, as well as being a Naturopathic Physician. Her backround of Vedic philosophy, living in India for a year, and her pursuit of Naturopahtic medicine all lead her to the practice of Yoga. Her goal as a teacher is to combine this knowledge, integrating the practice of Yoga with principles of cleansing, diet, and healthy living.
