Hatha Yoga for the Deaf in Austin, Texas

I recall taking yoga classes at my local high school as a teenager. Many girls looked forward to this course. But I always found it frustrating due to my deafness. Imagine having two people that is necessary to look at. The yoga instructor who does the positions and talks at the same time. Then there's my interpreter, who is not doing the positions and simply standing there interpreting. I always found it hard to keep my eyes on both without missing out valuable information on breathing, stretching, and certain positions. I wondered if there was anything like yoga for Deaf people whose instructor could sign. Back then I did not have the internet so I had no way to search, and as far as I knew, there was none in my town. I got most of my instructions from reading books, and would practice yoga almost daily for a year or two and then eventually forgot all about it. Until now.

I was surfing the internet this week, reading on Deaf news and somehow stumbled onto an interview clip about an instructor for Hatha Yoga for the Deaf. The instructor's name is Lila Lolling, a hearing woman who signs in American Sign Language (ASL), and also speaks while instructing the Deaf, hard of hearing, and anybody who is interested in learning ASL, during yoga lessons. Her classes are located in Austin, Texas. There are classes held on Sundays at 9am, and 4:30 pm, Thursdays at 7:30pm, and Fridays at 4:30pm. Please contact Lila for more information at her website: http://www.deafyoga.com/

Another thing I always found difficult was when the yoga course I took back in high school, would request us all to mediate with our eyes closed. I was never able to relax because I kept wondering if the instructor was asking for us to open our eyes and start a new position. I kept peeking through my eyes to make sure I was not being left alone. This is another thing that is special about Hatha Yoga for the Deaf, while the students mediate, Lila dims the lights and once it's time to come out of the mediation, she turns back on the lights! Perfect!

Also, for everybody who does not live near Austin, there is a beginners DVD available, which is 85 minutes long. It is taught in American Sign Language (ASL) with subtitles and music for the hearing and hard of hearing. This DVD includes quick interactive access menus, instructions, and other special features. Lila Lolling also gives an introduction to various yoga topics, such as proper breathing, Chakras, and more. Please go to Lila's website to order the DVD for only $24.95.

I may be relocating to Austin and it's safe to say that I will be checking this out as soon as possible!