"What you think, you become".
- Buddha
Meet The Team
Ayla Bedford
Owner +
Primary Instructor
Davi Michl
Yoga
Instructor
Rylee Bedford
Head of Child Care +
House Keeping
Alex Gosa
Social Media
Manager
General Yoga Knowledge
Yoga History
The word "yoga" was first mentioned in the oldest sacred text known to man, the Rig Veda. The Vedas were a collection of sacred texts used by Brahmans, the Vedic Priests of Northern India some 5,000 years ago. The ancient yogic practices, were developed slowly over a long period of time by the Vedic Priests and Rishis (mystic seers) who documented their findings in another collection of more than 200 scriptures known as the Upanishads. The most historic of these yogic texts being the Bhagavad Gita, composed approx. 500BCE. These ancient texts teach us to internalize the ancient practices of sacrifice, to sacrifice the ego through self-knowledge, action (karma yoga) and wisdom (jnana yoga).
8 Limbs
of Yoga
1. YAMAS
(Ethics)
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Ahimsa: Non-harm
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Satay: Truthfulness
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Asteya: Non-stealing
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Brahmacharya: Moderation
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Aparigraha: Non-hoarding
2. NIYAMAS
(Observances)
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Saucha: Cleanliness
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Santosha: Contentment
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Tapas: Self discipline
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Svadhyaya: Self study
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Isvara-pranidhana: Surrender
3. Asana
(Postures)
Mindful positioning of the body, connecting mind and spirit to create strength, flexibility, balance, and focus.
4. Pranayama
(Breath control)
Breathing practices help us understand the mind, breath, emotion connection. The breath is our greatest tool and the many pranayama practices help us harness it's power.
5. Pratyahara
(Sensory withdrawal)
Quieting the senses. Turning our attention away from the external world of what we see, hear, think, and feel, and drawing the attention inward toward the universe within.
6. Dharana
(Focus)
Intense concentration and attention on a single point. We may use an object, candle light, an energetic center in the body, or a repetitive sound such as a mantra or chant. Focus naturally leads to meditation.
7. Dhyana
(Meditation)
Observation and reflection. Dropping all the efforts and letting go. De-concentration. Simply being without effort, distraction, or interruption.
8. Samadhi
(Enlightenment)
Becoming One. Unity. Tranquility. Fulfillment. Spiritual illumination.
Peace.
Yoga Vocab
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Vinyasa - "to place in a sacred way" or a method of yoga where movements form a flowing sequence in coordination with breath.
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Namaste - A greeting of mutual respect
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Savasana - "corpse pose" or final resting pose
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Om - The vibration of the universe
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Shanti - "peace"
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Asana - Sanskrit word for "seat" or pose
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Yoga - "yoke" like that which binds the oxen in a field. Yoga is the union of breath and body and mind and spirit
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Mantra - The repetition of a sound, word, or short saying.
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Mudra - symbolic hand gesture
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Sanskrit - The language used in yoga, originating from the sacred texts of the mysterious sage Patanjali.
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Ashtanga Vinyasa - A variation of yoga practiced for exercise started by K. Pattabhi Jois in the 20th century. There are six series in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga:
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The Primary Series
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The Intermediate Series
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The Advanced Series
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Advanced A, B, C, & D
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Bikram Yoga - A specific sequence of 26 postures practiced in a room heated to 104 degrees Fahrenheit as taught by Bikram Choudhury.
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Power Yoga - Various spinoffs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga used for exercise.
Mantra
The repetition of a sound, word, or short saying used as a form of meditation.
Examples:
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"I love you, I love you, I love you"
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"Thank you, thank you, thank you"
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"Om shanti shanti shanti, Om shanti, shanti, shanit"
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"Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu"
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Translation: May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.
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"I am" Affirmations. I am: love, peace, serenity, strong, intelligent, able, compassionate, patient, kind, honest, authentic, brave, powerful, etc.
Ayla's Story
When I was in high school there was this thing called "the senior dream". They told us told to DREAM BIG, as we carefully considered our plans for the future. Then we were to write down our dreams on cloud shaped pieces of paper, which were to be hung around the school.
At that point I was barely going to graduate. My grades were decent, but my life was a mess. I didn't know where I was going to live, much less have any kind of grand dream. I didn't know much at the time but I was sure of a few things: I knew that life was uncertain, I wanted to work for myself, and that suffering was cyclical; hurt people, hurt people.
I sat staring at the paper for quite some time. I could open a wellness center for local women and children who needed help. I had no idea what that looked like, or what it would take, but I did know that there was a need. People need a safe place to heal, learn about themselves, and how to end their own cycles of suffering. I knew that if I put my mind to it, I could create that.
A few months later I made a last-minute decision, took a scholarship opportunity in St. Louis, and totally forgot about that dream.
I thought surely a change of scenery would heal all my woes but once again, there go I. The first yoga class I ever took was a free class offered in the campus rec hall. My best friend practically dragged me along with her. I was reluctant, but the magic of this practice immediately swept me off my feet. I remember walking out of that first class feeling something for the first time possibly ever: peace.
Then I got in my car, checked my phone, and it all dissipated.
A few more years spent spiritually bankrupt and suffering, I came crying back to the yoga mat seeking relief....and found it!
Reading, researching, and seeking out model teachers, I soaked up as much as I possibly could, and in the spring of 2018 I completed my first Yoga Alliance Certified 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. Our teachers warned us of the hardships of opening and running a brick and mortar yoga studio, and I listened, but I knew from the very beginning, that's what I wanted. I wanted to create a safe space for people to work on themselves and find relief and healing.
Today I own a yoga studio in Davenport, IA where I maintain a daily practice, as well as offer affordable public yoga classes 5 days/week to practitioners of every level. What I love most about this practice is that, if you breathe and have a body, you can do yoga. Yoga is truly for everyone.
I believe Living Yoga Quad Cities was born from an old dream that has manifested into reality, into this yoga studio, this community, this safe space to come and heal.
So, welcome!
I'm happy you're here. The world could use a lot of healing right now, and that begins with you :)
