breathe...feel...sweat
Sumits Yoga Teachers
Sumit Banerjee
I cannot start my bio any other way but to thank my greatest yoga teacher Bikram Choudhury. He not only gave me the greatest gift of yoga, but my teaching is inspired by his passion of teaching. No matter where I stand in life, I am forever grateful to Bikram and Rajashree Choudhury for their love towards me. My teaching is also inspired by friends Greg Gumucio and Bryan Kest.
My philosophy about yoga practice is simple, it's all good, no matter what style you practice, it all leads to the same practice of self-healing, awareness, control, discipline and ultimately self-realization.
If does not matter if you cannot do a single pushup from downward dog or if you cannot balance on one leg. As long as you are connected to your breath and can concentrate on keeping your mind calm and present - you are doing the real yoga. The true yoga is the practice from your heart. So, make sure you listen to everything I say in class, but ultimately listen to yourself, learning to back off or take breaks by laying in Savasana or Child's Pose. Always challenge yourself to a new level but never force yourself. Always remember the more you resist the harder it gets, but the sooner you accept and let go...the easier your practice.
I firmly believe the only way you can stay committed and advance in your practice is to make it a spiritual discipline rather than a stretching or a workout. Spiritually does not mean that you have to seek something external from somewhere, on the contrary, just connecting with ones breath can be an amazing spiritual experience.
Finally, I would like to invite all my students to challenge, struggle, work hard, smile, have fun and most importantly, never give up in class.
Kim Ewan
I have to start by expressing my love and thanks to my teacher, Sumit Banerjee. His wisdom, compassion and true desire to teach, not only the asana, but the true yoga, which is the connection with self, will have me forever devoted to him and my practice. His simple sequence is all his students will ever need to live a healthy, happy and peaceful life.
My practice is my salvation. I come to my mat daily and work through issues in my life, not by thinking them through; there is no time for thought during the practice! But by devoting an hour and 15 minutes to me, so when I rise up, my head is clear and I can make decisions that are good for me. I can be the Mom, wife, co-worker, sister, daughter that my family and friends need me to be.
Sumit says many of us seek external things to make us happy, but all that we seek can be found within. When you stand on your mat you are forced to face yourself; to see your weaknesses, insecurities, frailties and change them if you desire.
How do you feel about yourself and your life right now? If the answer isn’t “Great! Joyful! Peaceful!” Then make a change.
Come join us on your mat.
Brandy Pierce
I started practicing ashtanga yoga in 2000 at the gym as a supplement to my running and strength training regimen. Once I practiced hot yoga in January 2006, I was hooked.
Hot yoga allows one to understand the power of the breath and be present to connect the spiritual, physical and mental practices and carry it into everday life.
As a yoga instructor, my goal, is to have you love and accept yourself so you can see your true inner beauty and be open and willing to changes.
Let go, set yourself free and life will flow easily.
Jennie Tyma
I started practicing yoga in Chicago when I lived across the street from a yoga studio. I liked the fact that I was doing something good for my body and walked out of each class feeling balanced and relaxed. As soon as I moved to Arizona I started looking for a yoga studio, found Sumits Yoga, and began a much more devoted practice. I loved the relaxed, open environment, and the element of heat helped me move to a different level in my practice.
Teaching yoga allows you to help people improve in a physical sense, in the way they practice their poses, but also in the way that they see themselves, the way they live their lives, and the way they think about taking care of themselves. It's inspiring to think that maybe some piece of instruction you gave them helped that growth.
Be patient with yourself. It's more important to build a strong foundation in your practice than to move too quickly. Give your body and your mind time and eventually you'll achieve the pose you want, but forcing it goes against the whole philosophy of yoga.
Dayna Henig
Dayna’s passion for teaching yoga mirrors the same passion she demonstrates in her life outside the studio. Her professional journey in life began years ago as a hairstylist where her endless positive energy, upbeat attitude and amazing talent made her an in demand stylist and a friend and confidant to many. After marrying and starting a family, Dayna left her first professional calling to move onto to her next and most enduring profession – nurturing, caring for and shaping the lives of her three young sons to which she is so devoted.
Through the years Dayna stayed active physically in various forms of fitness including weight, aerobic training, martial arts and an occasional yoga practice. It wasn’t until Dayna discovered Sumits Yoga that she took her yoga practice to a deeper level.
For Dayna, yoga has become more than just the physical poses. “It is about everything else it teaches you - focus, acceptance of your own limitations and others and mind/body awareness. Yoga is not about becoming flexible or twisting your body in contorting ways, as hard as that may be to believe.
As a teacher, Dayna’s gentle nature, warm smile and sensitivity create an excellent learning environment for the beginner, while her abilities and knowledge provide substantial challenge to the more experienced yoga student. She is grateful to the teacher who has influenced her practice and teaching most – Sumit – who really inspired her deeper inquiry into yoga.
Recently, Dayna has taken her deep sense of service, endless energy and true joy of teaching to another level. She has partnered with Sumit and fellow teacher and friend Sabrina Carlson to open a Sumits Yoga studio in McCormick Ranch/Scottsdale.
“I would like to thank Craig, David, Joshua and Sammy for all the support they have given me during this process. I love you.”
"Sumit, Thank you, I will always be grateful."
Holly Miller
Holly began practicing yoga as soon as she moved to AZ in ‘94. She loved how it made her feel and believed it helped combat the stress that comes with the intense college workload plus a full time job. She felt that after four years of diligent practice, she was ready to guide others through their own yoga experiences. After teaching her first class in ‘98, she was amazed by the deeper understanding and enrichment she achieved from helping others improve their lives through the practice of yoga.
Since then, Holly has taken her love of health and wellness many different directions. She enjoys teaching indoor cycling, personal training, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, aesthetics, and coaching triathletes and marathoners. She finished her first Ironman triathlon this spring and has run 13 marathons and numerous half-marathons.
Once she began Sumit’s yoga, she saw an immediate change in her body. Her recovery from her high mileage runs was reduced significantly. The series made absolute sense to her and she loves how she feels every time she walks out of class.
Holly is endeavored to Sumit for the gift of sharing this amazing series. She has a tremendous respect for the poses and the sequence he has created. Her hope is that everyone can see the beauty in their own practice and carry that light and love throughout their day… outside of the studio.
Lisa Henrich
I began my yoga practice six years ago, 60 pounds overweight, and a pack-a-day smoker. I had never enjoyed exercise, in fact I would jokingly brag about my laziness. However, after so many years of abusing my body, it was catching up with me and I felt rotten. A friend had brought me to a hot yoga class back in 1998, which I hated and vowed never to return, but I figured I could give it one more try. I barely made it through that first class without passing out, but when I got up after the final Savasana, I was blown away by how amazing I felt.
To this day, each time I practice, I am amazed at the things my body is capable of. Yoga has allowed me to develop patience and determination that carry me through every moment of my life. I owe Sumit a tremendous debt of gratitude; through his teaching I have learned to be kinder and gentle to myself in my practice. He has taught me that a deep and advanced yoga practice lies not in the depth of the postures, but in the depth of the meditation.
Kathryn Lucas
I started my yoga practice 14 years ago as a way to balance out the high impact aerobic classes I was taking. What a great feeling being so energized and then taking Hatha yoga to gracefully unwind from the high. I thought of yoga only as a calming, relaxing and stretching class. I didn’t want to get to serious about it for fear of it being a “weird OM” thing that would put me into a whole different category of people. That was the ‘80s... time and knowledge heals a lot! As yoga became the “in” class to take, I continued my passion to seek out more knowledge of how the human body works. I also found a deeper meaning to my yoga practice.
Moving from Minneapolis to Scottsdale in 2004 I was hoping to find a yoga studio to keep the balance of my workout routine. Sumits Yoga…perfect. There it was the complete combo package of getting my heart rate up and stretching all in one yoga class, all in one place. Sumits words and wisdom along with his passionate desire to teach yoga to anyone who is ready to learn kept me curiously wanting more than just a workout. After a couple years of taking classes I was interested in teaching yoga.
One of my fears in life was public speaking. How could I teach yoga with a fear like that? As I tell my son Ty “face your fears, get past them”. So I did.
Teaching yoga at Sumits for over a year has taught me so many things and challenged me in so many ways. I learn from my students as they find guidance from me. The more we can quiet the mind and allow calmness within we find a sense of peace that allows our true self to come through.
Through years I have done self-study of the human body and read many books about the connection of how the mind/body works to continuously balance itself out. Other things that keep me busy are my family and my creative side: photography and art.
As a teacher I encourage each student to look in the mirror with honor and respect and fully accept oneself as you are and to look beyond the physical body knowing that there are wonderful things happening inside of you. As a student I will continue to do the same. Practice with a calm heart, an open mind and have no expectations.
Shelley Walker
I started to practice yoga 6 years ago and knew immediately I had found something special - a workout which not only transformed me physically, but emotionally as well. A couple of years later I began practicing with Sumit and instantly feel in love with his style of yoga. I found the heated room refreshingly challenging and his series of poses to be energizing and balancing at the same time. To this day I continue to be amazed at how this yoga "Sumits Yoga" makes my daily challenges more manageable. I react more often now with humor, lightness and love in good times as well as more difficult times.
My search for a good workout has evolved into so much more -- a journey of personal growth which eventually motivated my desire to teach and "spread the wealth". I look forward to meeting you and guiding you through Sumit's awesome sequence of asanas (postures).
Namaste
Natalie Pons
I turned to yoga after injuring my knee after too many years pounding the unforgiving pavement. I started practicing Bikram yoga in 2003 and loved the combination of the heat and the restorative effect of the poses. Later, my sister-in-law encouraged me to give Sumit’s a try. After just one class I was hooked.
Sumit has created a very special sequence. He has taken the best of Bikram (incorporating heat and some of the restorative poses) and added in vinyasa (flow), along with poses from other yoga styles and combined it with great music. Sumit’s sequence delivers a powerful physical and mental workout. I love teaching his sequence and I love practicing it. I take something new from it every time I come to the mat. In addition to training with Sumit, in February 2008, I took a 100-hour yoga alliance certified course with Baron Baptiste.
Outside of the studio, I am a mom to four great kids. I have a wonderful husband, amazing friends and a challenging career. Yoga gives me the mental and emotional focus and energy to live a very full, diverse and blessed life.
Lori Humphrey
I was searching for the answers to many questions in my life when I first walked through the doors of Sumit’s Yoga studio. I had always felt a desire to practice yoga, but for reasons unknown, did not satisfy that desire until later in my life. Looking back, I truly wish that I had pursued it much earlier, but am so grateful that I have it now. I guess that life brings us to things when we’re fully ready to embrace them.
Unlike a lot of people, I came in search of the mental and internal healing benefits, opposed to obtaining a workout. I was craving something to help balance my extremely unbalanced life. I found the answers to all of my questions through the practice of Sumit’s sequence of poses. Although leary of the heat, I soon found it to be nothing short of welcoming and embracing.
I was deeply honored when asked to be a teacher. I am now able to pass along this wonderful gift that was given to me. My goal is to help people to accept and love themselves just the way that they are, and to live their lives in peace and harmony with everyone and everything around them.
I now practice as often as I can, knowing that when I leave the studio, I will carry that euphoric feeling with me into the rest of my life. I am able to be a better person for me and everyone around me, especially my wonderful family.
The power of your breath is amazing, if you allow it to guide you through each and every day, you will find that your moments will flow much more freely. Thank you Sumit, I am forever grateful. You have given me the tools in which to change my life.
Contact us by e-mail: info@sumitsyoga.com or phone (see Location page)