My Dear Jesse-

I write to you this afternoon with the upmost regard and admiration with the intent of thanking you for introducing me to power yoga.

I have a debilitating renal disease (focal glomerulosclerosis), which has made much aerobic exercise difficult for me.  I am currently 21 years old, and for about five years, I did little to no physical activity, causing hypertension and a BMI of 22.5.  I justified these unhealthy statistics with my renal problems and had essentially given up on having a powerful, healthy body.

I had heavy hesitations in beginning yoga because my perception of the practice has been one of pretension and elitism.  I have studied Buddhism superficially and I agree with most of its principles, although I prefer not to be restricted to any one ideology or philosophy.   

My life-partner left me for two weeks and is in sparse contact (he is returning very soon, now), but I needed something to distract me from the pain of his absence and I stumbled upon a teaser video for My Yoga Online on You Tube, and after a eight minute Hatha flow, I quickly realized that my (still very limited) muscle strength and genetic flexibility lent themselves perfectly to practicing yoga.  And unlike running or other cardiovascular intensive activity, it does not tire me out or make me aware of my weakened physical condition (now I realize it is my own pathetic acceptance of defeat more than the genetic problems with my kidneys).

I immediately joined My Yoga Online (and intend to remain a member as long as it is operational), and I quickly discovered your Power Yoga Therapy practice.  Without completing this cycle daily, my body feels angry and brittle.  You have an amazing talent as an instructor- your words guide my body perfectly into the positions it craves and desires.  I am able to feel everything you say during the video through my body, and I have become conscious of my muscles strengthening and my conscious relaxing into it.      

Over the last two weeks, I have crafted a daily routine centered around the 48 minutes practice.  Each morning I wake up and I steam two towels and I complete a 15 minute breathing cycle and meditation in a hot shower with one towel draped over my head, neck, and shoulders and the other cushioning my ankles and then elevating my sit-bones and tail.

Afterwards, I take an herbal supplement for increased relaxation and enjoyment and I brew a pot of Kava Green Tea and after enjoying a cup or two, I will begin the Power Yoga Therapy practice.  I am quickly mastering this practice, however, and so I will be searching for more difficult practices (hopefully guided by you, as your voice and your words have been incredibly useful to me).

I created a hierarchy of activities which I enjoy, and yoga practice falls a close second to sexual union, and as I'm sure you are aware, yoga practice enhances sexual practices infinitely.  I thank you again for introducing me to something I could not now live without.  My friends and family treat exercise as a chore or a punishment, but I would rather do yoga than anything else.  I am by nature a sensual creature and I cannot fully express how wonderful it is to find something that perfects my body while making me feel *good.*

I had to quit my job as a model when my BMI increased as I quit my previous source of physical exertion (basketball...).  With luck, I will be able to re-negotiate my contract as my body is streamlined and becomes stronger.

Best,

Jessica Roper
Martel '09

Jesse!!  

I wanted to say THANK YOU!!   

Your tip to look at the bottom of the wall when I'm kicking up to handstand changed me!! Wow. I can totally kick up now - something I'd been scared shitless and trying for the past few months. So - thank you! You rock!  

I don't expect you remember who I am - I practice at the Octopus Garden and have taken a couple classes with you now, when you come down to sub - a couple of weeks ago when you were here - we did hand stands in class and your tip changed my life!  

I'm kicking up on anything now - trees, random walls, everything haha!  

I am moving back out west in a couple of weeks - stopping in Calgary for a month and half to stay with my parents, before I head out to Salt Spring and Cortes. If I stop through Vancouver, I'll try to take another class with you :)  

Pia Lo

Hello Jesse,

My name is Carla Cupido and I discovered you via My Yoga Online.  I am a chiropractor in Kitsilano and am also contributing to My Yoga Online.  Recently I have been writing articles on neuromusculoskeletal issues and their relevance to yoga.  In two weeks I will be filming close to 10 segments with them on neuromusculoskeletal issues in the workplace.  I love your approach to your teaching and if you have the time or interest, I would love to meet with you to discuss your approach further.  I am an advocate of yoga, but only when it is practiced safely.  I encourage my patients to experienece yoga as I see it as a wonderful therapeutic medium.  However, I fear sending my patients to just any studio or teacher without feeling safe with their teaching approach and knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics.  I believe your approach would be one that I would feel comfortable with.  I practice yoga myself and would one day like to take a teacher training to fully integrate yoga and chiropractic.  My practice is very focused on addressing the weak links of the body.  I see yoga as a method to target these areas.  

I just moved here from Toronto and therefore have practiced a few times in your old studio, Downward Dog.  They are wonderful there.  It seems as though you are a very busy man, so I will understand if you do not have the time to chat.  However, if you are interested and have the time, please feel free to email me back.  I am currently building a practice; my schedule is therefore quite open still.  I am not in the clinic on Tuesday or Friday mornings or Wednesday afternoons.  

My website is www.drcarlacupido.com if you are interested in reading a bit about my approach.  Thank you for taking the time to read this Jesse.  I thoroughly enjoyed your educational videos and will encourage my yoga practicing patients to check them out.  I wish you a wonderful day and an even better long weekend.

Take care Jesse,

Carla
Dr. Carla Cupido
Hon.B.Kin., D.C.
A.R.T., Graston

Good Morning Jessie,

Just sending you a line to get on the e mail list for your next workshop. Thanks again for your class yesterday. You are a very empowering teacher and your classes are very challenging and fun.  I really do appreciate them.

Have an awesome day.

Peace,
Michael Jovanovski

Hi jesse

thanks for the tip to do sarvangasana/halasana last night, just those two poses totally released the tenderness in my low back and i slept awesome.  (doing forward bends today)

i have been teaching for the past year (just beginners at UBC, nothing serious) and i have to say, all of the alignment i have learned in yoga, i learned from you! before i took yoga with you i didn't know anything at all about alignment and was just blasting through poses so i am so glad i found you and took classes with you!

can you put my email address on your mailing list? i am trying to stay connected with my teachers, and you have been one of my primary teachers and influences!

thanks again for all of the wonderful yoga

namaste
vandana soon

Dear Jesse,

I', an Australian living in Croatia in a small town on the dalmation coast and have joined myyogaonline, which is great, I have been doing yoga for over 10 years and now teach alittle to the local housewives.  The question I would like to ask you is that I have a serious siatic pain down my left leg, during summer when i'm swimming and it's warm, it's alot better but during winter it can really interfer with my yoga practice.

Will I ever be abel to get rid of the pain, that is heal, what can I do to work in the way of resoving it??  And I am aware of it being a blockage with my 1st and 2nd chakras, although I understand what the causes could be, how do I go about healing myself???

thank you som much for taking the time toread my question and if possible commenting on it.  I just don't have anykind of teacher like yourself here....

Again tahnk you so much,

Namaste
Frances Jaram

Dear Jesse,

Thank you, so much, for your reply to my email, I have been doing the asanas you recommended and the pain has gone.  I have done more research myself to help me understand more about sciatica.  Also I wanted to say how great your classes are on myyogaonline.com and have been telling all my students and friends to join up!!!  If your ever in Europe, be sure to pop-in to our town on the coast of Croatia.

Namaste,
Frances

Hi Jesse!

I've been watching a few of your videos on MYO (I teach the new prenatal series on there....Kreg and I took our teacher training together 7 years ago...) and I'm wondering why I haven't met you yet. So I'm saying HELLO! Love love love your teaching style.

How come we haven't met before? Where are you hiding?

I've got a crazy schedule these days with teaching full time, a young family and home renovations but one of these days I'll track you down and come take a class. I've been looking for a teacher that can take me to my next level, had the grace of being able to attend one night of the David Life/Sharon Gannon workshop back in january I felt humbled as a teacher, they were so fantastic, but alas I'd have to fly to NY every month to take a class with them!

So hello and hi, just wanted to give you a shout out!

blessings-ariel

Ariel Pavic, RYT
Teaching all levels hatha, power and pre-natal yoga
Specializing in affordable yoga classes that come to YOU
Private Childbirth Education Sessions

Hi Jesse

I attended your last2 Sunday classes at Semperviva and really enjoyed then. I found your class to be very informative as far as technique goes and could really feel a difference afterwards. I first started going to City Yoga a number of years ago and remembered you from there.

I was wondering if you teach anywhere else on a regular basis? Or if not, can recommend another instructor that uses the same teaching format as you?

Thanks, Jesse - You are the best teacher!

Kim Wilson-McCreath, CGA
Director of Finance
Jean Larrivee Guitars Ltd.

Can you have more classes with Jesse Enright and Eric Weiss?  I am a physician and have been doing yoga for about 6 mos.  I use to do classical ballet for 30 yrs so I find yoga very good for mind and body.  I have recommended your site to all my patients.  It is truly excellent.  Please add more meditation classes as the number one complaint I get from people is they cannot sleep.  Keep up the good work.

Sheree Lauth MD