Jeanne’s Teaching Style:

Jeanne's training is in both Iyengar and Anusara yoga. Her teaching reflects both these styles. The following is a brief description of each style:

Iyengar yoga is a style of hatha yoga developed by the yoga master of Pune, India. The hallmark of Mr. Iyengar’s method, which clearly sets it apart from other yoga systems, is its strong emphasis on balanced postural alignment. Mr. Iyengar has taken over 200 ancient asanas and developed detailed and precise postural alignment instructions for each of them. These classical poses, performed with precise alignment and balanced muscular action, provide flexibility, strength, and most importantly, integration of mind and body.

Anusara yoga is a style of hatha yoga founded by John Friend in 1997. The word Anusara means “Flowing with Grace.” It is based on 3 principles of the practice of postures—one’s attitude, alignment, and action. Anusara is not limited to mere technique or technical teaching of the postures—more important is that your yoga becomes transformational in your life. The central theme is based on the view that everything is Supreme Consciousness—nothing exists that is not. The Anusara intention is to align with this flow and discover one’s higher self.

According to Yoga Journal, “Anusara is one of the fastest growing methods of yoga around.”

Please feel free to ask if you want to know more about either of these practices.

About Jeanne

Jeanne Dowell, formerly special instructor under the U. S. Olympic Committee, has been teaching for over 20 years with studies throughout the world including Greece, India and Morocco.

Her background has been in the Iyengar method where she studied at the Iyengar School in Pune, India. She also has studied Anusasa Yoga and likes to integrate both in her practice and classes.

Anusara is the fastest growing yoga method in the country. The powerful popularity of Anusara is due in large part to its uplifting philosophy that looks for the good in all people and all things. Students of all levels of ability and yoga experience are honored for their unique differences, limitations and talents.

John Friend, founder of Anusara, tells us “The experience of yoga can be defined as any time that we abide in our heart, any time we experience relative states of happiness, love, inner freedom, feeling connected to something bigger, even if these states are fleeting, we are experiencing a level of yoga in our hearts.”

Jeanne’s teaching reflects this with her students as she interacts with compassion and caring. Her heart-focused practice works with the principles of Alignment, Attitude, and Action to develop ways that we can unveil the innate goodness and worth of each other and every being.

Jeanne was a pioneer of the yoga movement in Orinda. She shares, “When I first began yoga I was one of the very few--now yoga has caught on like wild fire.”

She teaches yoga in the recreational centers of Orinda and Moraga, and is also on the teaching staff for Mills College in Oakland. She teaches specialized classes for skiers and athletes. Jeanne also provides workshops in yoga and meditation, as well as private classes for individuals.

Please read on for information on class schedules.