“It has been said that the highest learning comes in four parts. One part is learned from teachers; another part from fellow students; a third part from self-study and practice; and the final part comes mysteriously, silently, in the due course of time.”
–Ganga White
I grew up with a love for dance — bending, moving, stretching, feeling music in my bones — then found yoga during college. Suddenly my whole world opened up — I had a way to decompress from physical and mental stress, and fell in love with the ease and sense of self I started to develop.
As an author and certified life coach, I am fascinated by human potential, and am acutely aware of how our monkey-mind and hectic schedules can hijack our best laid plans for rest and rejuvination. I know this first-hand. With an active mind prone to stress, worry and over-analysis, yoga has provided an unshakeable anchor of solace and sanity in my life. Yoga is my constant when all else seems to turn to chaos.
ABOUT MY PERSONAL PRACTICE
I’ve had an active personal practice for over eight years — starting humbly in my living room with Rodney Yee yoga DVDs, then moving into tutelage from Kim Acker (Iyengar) and Susan Fox (Vinyasa Flow). I feel incredibly fortunate to now be practicing yoga and developing my teaching practice in New York City, a place that is as rich with brilliant yoga teachers as it is with food and culture.
I completed my teacher training and certification in 2010 at the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, one of the first yoga teacher training certification schools in the nation. At White Lotus I had the great fortune of studying under Ganga White, the “Architect of American Yoga,” and his lovely wife, Tracey Rich — pioneers of The Flow Series. I also completed Thai Massage training in May 2012 at the Sunshine School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
ABOUT MY YOGA TEACHING STYLE
I am passionate about making yoga accessible to all. In New York City I am gravitating toward sharing the benefits of yoga with office workers, entrepreneurs and anyone else who finds themselves engaging in long periods of sitting and staring at a computer screen.
I teach Vinyasa Flow classes that focus on an active, well-rounded practice; classes are challenging and introspective with lots of options to modify for all levels of students. My high-energy flows emphasize strong movement, breath, alignment, and inner awareness. I am encouraging, nurturing and positive, helping all students advance in their practice.
I don’t take myself too seriously, taking after Ganga’s approach of “enabling students to approach the poses as unfolding paths to personal evolution rather than as cul-de-sacs of arrested perfection.” My classes are sweaty, flowing and fun. Above all else, you’ll leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, and with a greater integration of mind, body and spirit.
Gratitude from Students
To me, geek yoga is the perfect hybrid of physical experimentation and personal introspection. It always feels like play, yet every week I walk away with a fresher perspective on life than when I came in.
Jenny is awesome at dissecting every pose in a way that actually makes sense! I never worry that I’m doing something wrong. Most importantly, her method of addressing the modification in advance, allows students of all levels to work on their own individual goals.
—Inna A.
I know that I handle stress much better when I do yoga regularly, but Jenny’s classes are truly the only classes that keep me coming back for more. I know that I can show up full of energy one week and pull off poses that seemed impossible, or if I’m feeling completely run down, I’ve been known to show up and lay on the floor doing child’s pose and savasana the whole time. In either case, I always feel better, and I never feel pressured to do more than I can.
Jenny was born to be a yoga teacher. Her style is so patient. Jenny provides rich detail and explanations to help everyone through – both novice and advanced students – so that no one feels lost or out of place. Plus, her genuine enthusiasm and optimism is infectious. Every class, you can see how Jenny radiates her lightness and joy to every student, which they carry with them when they walk out the door.
The best part about Jenny’s classes is that they cater to mostly non-yogis – you know, the regular working people who can’t afford the time or money to go to yoga everyday, who can show up and do what they can do without the intimidation of many classes in NYC. When I go to Jenny’s classes, I feel like I’m going to play. It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s an absolute recharger.
—Julie C.
Until a few weeks ago, I had never understood the popularity of yoga and even questioned attending – I’m not flexible, if I’m going to a class I would prefer dance where I understand its purpose and what’s with the crazy terms and chants?
Tonight was especially enlightening. As the class came to a close, and we bowed our heads in gratitude, Jenny posed the question, “What are you thankful for?”
It felt like I was bursting with countless reasons for which to be thankful and the one that felt strongest was being in that studio. I was joined by a group of people I’ve only just met, but the energy among them is so great. It’s the kind of group where you may not yet know each member well (and the members constantly rotate), but you look forward to being a part of the experience that brings them all together.
—Stephanie Florence
Thank you so much for a wonderful Yogaing last night. It was such a great experience to be in a room full of wonderful, positive people. I have an impossible time quieting my mind. And even though my mind was no quieter last night, I felt less worried and stressed about that. Afterward it was this awesome feeling of love and group accomplishment, like, “We did it.” I just wanted to hug everybody. And the playlist was phenom! Thanks so much for continuing to do what you do.
—Richard B.
As a Yoga newbie, Jenny Blake has been a lifesaver. When I attended my first “beginner” yoga classes I always felt like the teachers taught to the more experienced students instead of to the beginners who were really just starting out.
After attending several of these classes I always left confused and frustrated because I never fully understood how to do each pose. In essence felt like I was doing yoga my way instead of the right way.Doing yoga with Jenny is breath of fresh air because she isn’t afraid to give you solid feedback to help you improve your posture and form. After doing several sessions with Jenny I always look forward to her classes because I leave feeling challenged and refreshed knowing that my practice is improving.
—Nick R.
