Jerry Hoff
- RYT 200
- Website: dallasadaptiveyoga.com
- Member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists
- Studied Yoga for Scoliosis with Elise Browning Miller
- Studied Teaching Adaptive Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis Karen O’Donnell Clarke
- Specialize in adaptive yoga for those with chronic illnesses, disabilities or who find other yoga classes painful.
Tell us, when did your mind-body first bend or move you to its will? I first started studying and practicing yoga in 1993. I was very sick at the time with Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn's disease. My Physicians were unable to help me with either diet of medication. When I took my first class with Lisa (Jaya) Waters I felt an immediate benefit and knew that this was my path. I believe that yoga resonates the most with the people who need it the most.
Besides your obvious coolness, what makes you so qualified to teach? I have been studying and practicing yoga (mostly Iyengar yoga) for over 17 years. My primary teachers are Ramanand Patel, Mary Dunn, Dean Lerner and Gabriella Giubilaro. I understand the importance of practicing a more restorative, therapeutic and adaptive style of asana. I understand the importance of adapting asanas to the needs of the individual
What other things are you qualified to do?
- I’m an electrical engineer
- I build and manage websites
- I am the at-home parent for three wonderful kids (Ester 13, Josh 11 and Alex 10)
What can we expect to see, hear and do in your classes? I think that every class should include:
- Mindfulness training
- Asanas
- Pranayama
- Discussion of the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Sam?dhi)
What pose/move do you dig the most and why? Virasana
- lengthens the instep
- releases and softens the inner groins
- allows for the practice of mula bandha
- good meditation posture
If you could push a button and remove a pose/move from history, which one and why? I wouldn’t remove any pose from history but the asanas need to be practiced correctly for your body type regardless of any idealized image that you may have of the pose. (ed. um ... okay ... let me pick: Eagle. There, see, not so hard)
Like, what's your sign man? Pisces ... Dog ... Blue Monkey (ed. I had to look this up. Interesting. I must be a Yellow Warrior.)
What are 3 things that make you smile real big and cheesy?
- My kids, my wife and my family
- Helping others
- Chocolate (ed. attaboy)
What are your favorite quotes when you're in need of a little inspiration?
Street Sweeper by Martin Luther King, Jr.
If a man is called to be a street sweeper,
he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted,
or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.
He should sweep streets so well that all the
hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say,
here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.
Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson (Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech in 1994)
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange sun’s rays and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.
If you could do anything to change the world, what would it be? Help my kids to be kind, generous, respectful and independent people.
Any other interesting information you would like to share with the nice people reading this here Bio? I love teaching yoga. I love helping others.
