Dallas Society

September 30, 2004

"Who’s About Town" Stephanie & Jessica Young

By Leah Schafer

The mother and daughter team of Stephanie and Jessica Young, owners of Lakewood’s Yoga Power studio, are ready to conquer the world with yoga. Their studio is one of only eight affiliated with popular author and yoga teacher Baron Baptiste, and they advocate a "whole body" approach to yoga that pays as much attention to mental and spiritual form as physical postures. They have possible plans to expand to the Oak Lawn or Uptown area in the future.

What prompted going into business together? Jessica: It was sort of a no-brainer. Both of us were taking yoga classes together, and I was teaching classes around town. We decided it was a lot of energy driving around town, and we needed a central location. Stephanie: It was also the fact that we knew whose yoga we chose to study, and we knew whose we would teach. We developed a path of study with Baron Baptiste that led us to the studio.

You mention Baron Baptiste, who has become nationally renowned for his style of teaching. What does it mean to be affiliated with him? Jessica: Baron is from a lineage of yoga families. He is amazing because he makes yoga accessible to everyone. His philosophy is to find yourself — to be yourself. We became affiliated with Baron in the spring of this year, and both mother and I trained under him. I work as an assistant for him when he does his teachers’ boot camps.

Describe the "power vinyasa" yoga you teach. Jessica: Vinyasa is like a dance, and the rhythm is your breath. The idea is that every movement goes in sequence with the breath. It can seem fast to some people — it seems athletic. It does get the heart rate going. It generates heat, so the muscles can stretch and open.

Why did you start studying vinyasa? Stephanie: I started years and years ago, but it was only when Jessica began teaching that I really threw myself into it. Jessica: I moved back to Dallas six years ago after living in Santa Fe, Seattle, New Zealand; all of these beautiful places. I was so used to being in the mountains, outside. In my first yoga class the teacher said, "It’s not where you are; it’s who you are." I remember thinking, "Wow, she’s speaking to me." So I started going to yoga every day and found the beauty in life; rather than outside, I found it inside.

You speak of yoga as more than a physical experience. What does that mean? Stephanie: I think people’s mats become their psychiatrists. You might as well give it up — buy yourself a yoga mat and laugh and learn to push yourself in to this new level. One student’s husband came in with her one day and he said, "I’m only coming one time, but I had to see what has made her so happy." You do change, and change is good. Jessica: Change is inevitable. We have a lot of people who come in and say, "This is my therapy, this is my place of worship." People create what they need here.

How does the practice of yoga translate to the rest of your life? Jessica: Yoga is life. What you do on your mat is often what you do in your life. People who are moving one step ahead themselves in postures are often moving one step ahead themselves in life. It’s a balancing act and about being present. If you get on your mat and everything’s falling apart, at least you can see that, and you know what you’re dealing with through the day. Stephanie: You can define on your mat if you’re going to be kind to yourself, if you’ll try too hard. When you leave the studio, it’s the same thing. Do you choose to be kind to yourself, kind to other people? My answer is always yes.

What is your philosophy and goal of teaching to your students? Stephanie: I teach very differently from Jessica. Some people come in with not the strongest belief that they are powerful enough to do this class, and I let them know they are. I teach them blow-by-blow descriptions about how to do postures and how to believe in themselves. Jessica: The idea for me is that this is meant to be empowering for people. It’s an athletic flow, but it’s also for people to come in and honor their strengths and weaknesses, to be in a safe environment. They come in and make the class what they need, and they get to enjoy the community because this is a very neighborhood studio. Stephanie: It is in us to nurture, but it’s in whether or not you allow yourself to do that. There’s not a person who walks through that door that I don’t feel a strong connection with, and that empowers me.

Yoga used to be in the realm of "alternative" experiences. Is it accepted in Dallas? Stephanie: You can find a yoga studio in every neighborhood around Dallas and it seems to be touching a great many people — perhaps who had never given it a thought. Jessica: Yoga is growing in Dallas. For many it’s still just a different workout, but to be honest, the students who come here understand that it’s more than that. They come in and share what’s going on, and learn from each other.

What does it mean to learn to live your yoga off the mat? Stephanie: For me, it’s about leaving here and continuing to be present, a good person, to listen to others. It’s also about taking care of myself, continuing to be healthy, in mind, body and spirit. Jessica: We’re here to connect with others. We are not alone. Everybody has the same hopes, fears, dreams and desires. When you start sharing, you realize we’re all on this path. Stephanie: We’re not AA. We’re only yoga, but it’s a safe spot for people. If we could just make the world this studio, we wouldn’t have all the problems that exist. You think we ought to get on a plane and go to Baghdad immediately? (Laughs) we could get them jumpstarted!

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