I love the fact that there are 101 flavors of yoga, and this past weekend I got to try out a new flavor I’ve never tried before: Baptiste. I was lucky to attend a series of master classes and workshops given by national Baptiste-certified instructor and former Akron, Ohio, native Zeek Vincent, who came back to his hood to teach a series of classes at Yoga Bliss Akron.

So, what is Baptiste yoga? I would describe it as a hot power vinyasa class mashed up with a powerful motivational message. The 53 foundational poses that make up Baptiste yoga all seemed familiar to me, but when they were delivered by a charismatic instructor with a great sense of humor, it became a magical and empowering experience. I don’t think I have ever laughed or sweat as much in a yoga class as I did this past weekend.

When I walked into the 91-degree room on Friday night for my first master class with Zeek, I have to admit, I was feeling a bit drained after a long week and wondering how I was going to make it through the 90-minute class. Before class started I met a fellow student named Shane who was about to have her first experience on the mat. She was really inquisitive and as I helped her get the props she needed, I really hoped that the class that was touted as all levels would accommodate the needs of a first-time yoga student. She told me that she had been friends with Zeek for over 30 years and was so excited to finally attend a yoga class with him.

My worry was for not, because Zeek did an excellent job of making the class accessible to everyone. He made sure Shane had the modifications she needed and knew the students to push further into their asanas. He urged us all to “let go,” and I don’t know about everyone else, but I definitely let it rip, and the 90 minutes just flew by (time flies when you’re having fun!).

At times during class I felt like Zeek’s words and the delivery in his voice were a bit like a sermon. Not a preachy sermon, but just the type of message I needed and wanted to hear on my mat. The primary message was that we all have the power within us to achieve great things. We need to harness that power and put it to work. We shouldn’t expect instant results, because nothing truly grand happens overnight, but, rather, we need to take our time in our practice and allow our bodies to get where they need to go.

A little assist in bow pose!

One of my least favorite yoga poses is bow pose or dhanurasana. You lie on your belly, bend your legs, and grab onto your feet, as you are supposed to lift your head, torso, and thighs off the ground. I can lift my head and torso, but damn if I can lift my thighs. Those suckers just have never been able to lift off my mat, but there was something in the way that Zeek described how to get into the pose and his cue to kick our feet into our hands that supercharged my thighs up off the ground and into the air. What a rush! Another yoga victory for me, feeling full of strength and a major sense of accomplishment that I had finally conquered this pose.

One of my favorite parts of class came during some intense abdominal work, when Zeek said, “Don’t just think about breathing; you must breathe.” He told us that our bodies are full of things that should not be there, like stress and fear. He urged us to use our breath and, with each exhale, to let go of the things that don’t serve us on our mats and in our lives.

With a beautiful sparkle in his eyes, Zeek has a gift for making you laugh at yourself while, at the same time, providing a powerful, motivational message.

“Spend more time believing in yourself, less time doubting yourself.”

Thank you, Zeek, for coming home to share your knowledge and gifts with us at Yoga Bliss. I know Shane was not the only one who left the studio this weekend with a smile on her face.