Cole Youngner

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The journey is often unfolding before we realize it Cole took his first yoga class at the Kashi urban Ashram in Atlanta in at the behest of his college girlfriend He couldnt tell you anything about the class but there was a thread that continued from around that time It led into mindfulness and compassion meditation classes groups and practices in college and during the stress of graduate school Between college and graduate school he dabbled in yoga for the physical benefits of flexibility and balance as part of his active always going lifestyle Fast forward toward the end of grad school upon hearing about metal yoga at Tough Love Yoga in Atlanta yes yoga to metal music – a huge draw for him as a metal and music fan Cole found a yoga asana practice that felt just right Fast forward again to and when he moved next door to Tough Love Cole more or less began practicing hatha yoga regularly with some changes in between at times a story for another time Cole completed his first yoga teacher training with his teacher Mandy Roberts of FORM Yoga in Decatur Georgia in He went on to complete his Hour RYT in Hatha Yoga in with his teachers Darren Rhodes Alex Roush and Mackie Osborne of Yoga Oasis in Tucson Arizona While he is passionate about asana practice he equally enjoys teaching pranayama and meditation His teachers and training showed him the importance of dialing down the intensity and meeting your practice where its at which is often meeting yourself and your life where they are at For Cole whether in the seat of the student or teacher yoga is about holding space for others so we can all find purpose and peace As someone who spends lots of time in his head Cole is grateful for the practice of yoga to bring us into the present and more in connection with ourselves and each other His teaching style includes lots of detailed clear instructions options and variations for shapes and a balance of safety strength and stretch And maybe a dash of sweat philosophy inspiration and rad music too To quote his teacher Darren when it comes to your practice Cole invites you to “be with what is as it is here and now without judgment but with curiosity and compassion” and to “please practice”.