“The more you know, the more you see there is to be known.” Tucked away in the Istinye branch of Cihangir Yoga studios on Wednesday evenings is when I usually hear tidbits such as this. If morsels of knowledge like this interest you, then get thyself down to Cihangir Yoga for a dose of Chris Chavez (oh, and his yoga classes of course).
So why should you check out a Chris Chavez yoga class? Well, because basically, he rocks, and he makes you rock, which pretty much makes the world rock. In fact his classes are so rockin’ that it isn’t uncommon for people to be turned away at the door due to all of the keen Istanbul yogis clambering to twist and contort their bodies under the masterful guise of Chavez. People of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds attend Chris’ Wednesday classes and that isn’t a coincidence. Because he designs his classes to challenge you, not too much, but just enough that you leave with a sweaty shirt, slightly wobbly legs or arms and a clear and happy head, people keep coming back for more. Recently he did an epic class comprised of 108 sun salutations; not an easy feat. But because of his upbeat and no frills style, one of his yogis even blogged about how much she loved the class even though her body was screaming at her to stop. This is the magic of a Chavez class; he inspires you to push yourself but is charismatic and funny enough that you are laughing at his jokes when your legs and arms are on fire.
Chris started yoga years ago when he was traveling through Europe in his former life as a rock star. Totally hooked on the 5 poses that he learned at first, he started telling people about yoga. As he progressed and learned more, he started teaching yoga from his home in LA. From there classes grew and he is now a world-renowned Yoga teacher who teaches not only classes, but also conducts yoga teacher trainings and workshops. Lucky for us here in Istanbul, he met his wife years ago whilst on a gig here and he has since made Istanbul his home, where he is now a co-owner of Cihangir Yoga.
So what kind of yoga does he do? Well, it is a dynamic feel good flow that involves a good dose of down-to-earth spirituality and laughter. His aim is to connect the teaching — like reflection, determination or perseverance — to the body movements his students execute in each specialized, unique class. Each class has a different teaching, or theme, so if the teaching one day is sitting through the fire then you can bet Chavez will get you to hold a handstand for a full 30 seconds or stretch out and hold your body into a wicked lizard pose. But even when your mind is telling you this was all a very bad idea and you should just get up and walk out, somehow the guy makes you laugh. Even though sweat is dripping off of your body and your arms are shaking like a leaf, you always feel so dang happy in his classes and always leave satisfied. Part of this is because the guy knows how to run a yoga class; no frills and keep it traditional. But what adds the unique flavor to a Chavez class is that when he shows up, he shows up and is connected. Following the advice he gives his students, he is in the room and engaged with his students as his authentic Chris Chavez self.
Even though his weekly public classes and monthly master classes are a hit with Istanbul yogis, Chris puts most of his energy into teacher trainings. He runs the lion’s share of 200 and 300 hour trainings right here in Istanbul. These courses are not just for people who want to teach yoga, but for those who want to go deeper into their yoga practice by going deeper into themselves. Regardless of whether you walk away with the certificate, you will almost certainly leave with the sense that life is a journey with a twisty path to be discovered and celebrated.
Chris isn’t the only star at Cihangir Yoga. To see the line-up of yoga classes check out the Cihangir Yoga website to visit the Findikli or Istinye studio. In addition to the regular teachers, Cihangir Yoga has hosted visiting teachers like Seane Corn, Tara Judelle, and Douglas Brooks. This fall and spring other big names like Carlos Pomeda and Elena Brower will visit and conduct a few sessions. Both studios are atmospheric and OM inspiring, but the Istinye branch hosts the Yo café, a vegetarian café serving up delectable, healthy food. It is a great place to hang out before or after a yoga class and they serve up a mean macchiato and zingy detox juice blend, amongst other delicious menu items. Essentially, there is something for everyone at Cihangir Yoga!
So get thee down to Cihangir Yoga and check out a Chavez class or choose one of the many other fabulous classes to work the stress out of your bodies and enjoy a cuppa afterwards.
Annie Özsaraç is a contributor to Yabangee
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Reading this just makes me long for the T-Training to never end….