Ted Schmidt

Throughout his endeavors as an athlete, actor, writer, and artist, Ted Schmidt searched unceasingly for the key to peak performance. A series of synchronistic events ultimately transformed this search into a spiritual quest that brought him to the feet of his Guru, Swami Chidvilasananda, the current head of the Siddha Yoga lineage, in 1989. Continued meditation practice and scriptural study have deepened Ted's insight into and experience of the universal goal of all religions and spiritual traditions: the union of the individual and God.

Ted's yoga practice evolved gradually over the years from a discipline of daily meditation to a more comprehensive approach to all aspects of life, including work, relationships, eating, etc. Even his approach to physical fitness changed dramatically. Though still interested in maintaining excellent physical health, the idea of a workout geared predominantly toward enhancing his physical prowess began to hold less and less appeal. Seeking a more holistic approach, he eventually adopted hatha yoga - a practice that he felt more comprehensively integrated and promoted wellness on all levels of being - body, mind, and soul - as his primary means of exercise.

After several years of exploring the styles of Iyengar, Bikram, and Ashtanga yoga, Ted finally found what he considers the perfect amalgamation of the three: Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. He attended the Baptiste Level One Teacher Training bootcamp in Tulum, Mexico in 2004 and completed Baptiste Level Two Teacher Training at Feathered Pipe Ranch, near Helena, Montana, in 2006.

Ted teaches a challenging class based on the principles of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga. In his classes, he promotes an environment devoted to helping students cultivate an approach characterized by relaxed effort and alert repose. Students are encouraged to "play their edge" in order to develop concentration, calmness in the midst of challenge and/or discomfort, and the courage to let go of limiting self-concepts. At the same time, students are steeped in an atmosphere devoted to cultivating a mindful practice through which they can bypass the inner critic and access a deeper source of power within themselves. While they can be demanding, Ted's classes are tempered by a compassionate presentation that makes yoga practice accessible to students of all levels.

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