Tracy Scott Cooper
Yoga with Tracy is available every Tuesday 9-10am (with optional Shavasana hour in the Energy Enhancement System)
Tracy moved to Calgary in 1997 for her first love, aviation and was so excited to finally do this thing called yoga. She has never looked back. Tracy started taking classes at the Calgary Yoga Center and then the Yoga Studio South and practicing at home with VHS and DVD. Yoga changed her life; and it continues to, and, on many occasions, she can say it has even saved her! Tracy has studied with many teachers and began her first teacher training program in 2002 and completed her Level 1 Iyengar yoga teaching certification in 2015 and will assess for her level 2 in 2025. She deeply respects the depth of knowledge, structure and consistency of the teachings and the teachers of Iyengar yoga while trusting the wisdom and self awareness this practice promises. A mother of twin boys, Tracy’s practice is often in the kitchen, with her kiddos trying to reach their foot to the counter as she does or in the early morning before the house wakes. In practice, Tracy feels free, grounded, calm, and joyful. She is grateful for each pose practiced, taught and seen.
Following the teachings of B.K.S Iyengar, this style of yoga emphasizes strength, flexibility and stability and utilizes props to support where each body is at in each pose. You will cultivate a calmer mind through focused practice, improved breathing, better posture and therapeutic effects. Tracy has a keen eye for detail and can make adjustments to your body and pose. While she takes the practice serious she shares humor and lightness in every class. Tracy deeply respects the wisdom, structure and consistency of Iyengar yoga and is grateful for the deeper self-awareness this practice promises.
Iyengar Yoga is a style of yoga that emphasizes precision, alignment, and therapeutic benefits.
Here’s why it’s beneficial:
Alignment and Precision: Iyengar Yoga pays close attention to anatomical details and the alignment of each posture. This focus helps cultivate strength, flexibility, stability, and awareness.
Therapeutic Effects: It can be therapeutic for specific conditions due to its emphasis on proper alignment and the use of props to modify poses. This makes it suitable for beginners and those concerned about injury risk1.
Strength and Endurance: Holding poses for longer periods builds both physical and mental strength.
Calmer Mind: The precise alignment encourages mental focus, leading to a calmer mind.
Improved Breathing: Iyengar Yoga emphasizes breath awareness, which can enhance overall well-being.
Pain Relief: Studies suggest that yoga, including Iyengar, may decrease physical pain and prevent disease2.
Increased Flexibility: Regular practice improves flexibility.
Better Posture: Attention to alignment helps improve posture.
Yogacarya BKS Iyengar was a world-renowned yoga master who touched the lives of millions through his brilliant and innovative work, developed over more than 75 years of practice and teaching and steeped in the ancient tradition of Yoga. He studied yoga since the age of 15 and in the 1960s he brought his teachings to the West. BKS Iyengar has become a primary influence on the way yoga is practiced today. Hundreds of teachers all over the world have been certified under his system. He authored many books including "Light on Yoga" which is considered an essential text of contemporary yoga. BKS Iyengar founded the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune in 1973, where his son Prashant and granddaughter Abhijata continue to teach. His eldest daughter, Geeta, followed in his footsteps. She was devoted to her father’s legacy and was a gifted teacher in her own right. Geeta passed away in December 2018