About Graham

When she was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 10 and put into a hard plastic brace that stretched from below her hips to under her arms, Graham Williams had no idea that her scoliosis would lead to her life’s passion and vocation. Today, 30 years later, she is a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor passionate about empowering her students to enjoy the positive physical and emotional benefits yoga has brought to her.

Graham was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in 1994 while living in Crested Butte, Colorado, after graduating from the University of Georgia. Donita and Gary Reitze, intermediate-level certified Iyengar Yoga instructors, told her about Elise Browning Miller when they found out about her scoliosis. Elise specializes in Iyengar Yoga for people with back problems, and Graham took her first scoliosis workshop with Elise in 1995. In 2004 she completed Elise’s scoliosis teacher training in California. As her own practice and teaching has grown, Graham has assisted Elise with scoliosis workshops and conducted her own.


Graham has practiced Iyengar yoga for more than 15 years. She has taught children, teens, and adults in Colorado, Virginia, and North Carolina. She made her first trip to Pune, India, in October 2007 where she studied with the Iyengars to enhance both her personal and teaching practices. Graham currently teaches weekly privates and classes in Raleigh, NC, where she opened her own studio, Graham Williams Yoga, in 2009.

One has to first practice and study Iyengar Yoga for a minimum of three years before becoming eligible for starting the certification process. Testing cannot be done until the candidate has studied with a certified mentoring teacher and taught exclusively in the Iyengar method for two years. During the testing process, candidates are carefully observed and evaluated by Junior or senior-level instructors as they demonstrate asanas and pranayamas and teach a class of students. Each certified Iyengar Yoga instructor has passed at least two rigorous, standardized assessments. Instructors must be committed to maintaining the high standards of Iyengar Yoga and the pure method of B. K. S. Iyengar as well as continuing their own personal practices and training with senior teachers.

Graham passed the teacher-in-training portion of the certification process in October 2006, studied at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India, in the fall of 2007, and passed the second part of the certification in October 2009. She is proud to be a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor. She has participated in hundreds of hours of teacher training with Iyengar instructors. Prior to opening her own studio in Raleigh, she managed and taught in Cindy Dollar’s yoga studio in Asheville, NC, where she completed many of Cindy’s teacher-training programs. In Raleigh, she taught in several locations before finding and renovating a space for her own studio.

Registration Now Open for Winter Class Series

Everyone must pre-register for the class and commit to the classes within the time frame listed. If you miss a class during the 8 class time frame you can make it up in any of the other classes I offer. No drop-ins in any class unless you have spoken to me first.
All classes will be taught in the Iyengar tradition.

NIGHT CLASSES:
Monday: Level I, 6 p.m.-7:30, 8 class series, November 16-December 28, 7 class series $88
Monday: Introductory To Yoga (Great for Parents and your teenage Child), 7:45-8:45 pm, November 16-December 28, 7 class series $83

Tuesday: Beginner Class, 6:45 p.m-8:15, 8 class series, November 10-December 29, 8 class series $100
Wednesday: Level I/II, 6 pm-7:30, 8 class series, October 28-December 30(no class 11/25 or 12/23), 8 class series $100


MORNING CLASSES:

Tuesday: Level I, 9:30-11 am, November 10-December 29, 8 class series $100
Wednesday: Introductory CLASS, 9:30-10:30 AM, November 11-December 16, 6 class series $75
Thursday: All Levels, 6:45-8:00am , October 29-December 31 (no class Thanksgiving 11/26 or Xmas Eve, 12/24), 8 class series $100

To Register: Please email Graham at grazam35@hotmail.com or call 919 609 2456 to find out more information.

 WHAT DO I MEAN BY LEVELS??


Introduction to Iyengar Yoga: The class is for the newcomers. If you have never done yoga before or if it has been a while this is the class for you. It is also appropriate for those of you that have taken it before but you need a refresher. I think it is great to take twice if you are a newcomer. In this class you will begin to learn the foundation of the study of Iyengar yoga.

Beginner: For those that have taken my Introductory to Yoga Class at least 2 times. You will continue to learn more of the standing poses as well as Shoulder Stand, seated twists and forward bends.

Level I: This class is appropriate for those who have completed the Introductory to Iyengar series and have taken the Beginner Class. You must have at least 1 year of yoga experience. You will learn more about the basic standing poses and continue to learn more about inversions. Back bending Poses will be Introduced and explored as well as continuing to learn more about twists, and forward bends.

Level II: is appropriate for those who have completed at least a year of yoga. You must feel comfortable in the standing poses and ready to work on more inversions and their variations, backbends, forward bends and twists.

If you are unsure about what level is appropriate for you please feel free to ask me. I can definitely lead you in the right direction.

Come by and visit my new studio in downtown Raleigh. The address is 613 Morgan Street, 27603. It is in between Moonlight Pizza and Shelton Furniture.

Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do."

(In my room in Pune after I got the cast on my foot. Notice the strap on my shoulders; my students know that it helps keep the shoulders back and down and improves posture and confidence.)

In October, 2007 I traveled to Pune, India, where I studied yoga with Geeta Iyengar (B.K.S. Iyengar's daughter) and Prashant Iyengar (B.K.S. Iyengar's son). There is a two-year waiting list to get into the program; after two years of planning, I was finally able to attend. Unfortunately, after being there for only one week of the five-week program, I missed a step in my hotel, broke my foot, and sprained my ankle. It was a HUGE bummer for this to happen, of course, but what could I do? Go home? Many people actually did think that I should go home, but that never entered my mind. I was determined to make the best out of my situation and not let it get me down.

( This was the 3rd day after I broke my foot. I was on crutches the rest of the time I was in India but did what I could to still have an experience of a lifetime.)


Of course in these situations, when we injure ourselves, or our body isn't feeling well, it is very easy to focus on what we CAN'T do as opposed to focusing on what we CAN do.

Unfortunately I WASN'T able to take classes, but I WAS able to observe, which is a huge learning tool with teaching. It was hard not to be able to do what all my friends were doing, relate to what they were feeling after class, and not feel frustrated that I wasn't able to have the experience they were having — an experience I had anticipated for such a long time. However, I do feel that by observing I was able to watch, listen, and see many things not experienced by those doing the poses. It was a "different" experience for me but was very fulfilling in numerous ways.

(The Iyengar studio in Pune, India)


I read this quote somewhere recently, "Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do." This quote resonated with me because I think that we often focus more on what we can't do and don't appreciate what we can do. I will be honest: I did focus at times on what I couldn't do because of my foot, but I had to get past that or else I wouldn't have made it for the five weeks I was there. I went to India not quite knowing what I wanted to achieve. Was it to become a better teacher? To learn some new poses? To be in the presence of the Iyengars themselves and learn directly from them?

I frequently tell my students to APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE and live in the present moment, because you never know what may happen next (like breaking a foot going down some stairs while you're in India).

It is difficult to describe my experience in India. The words that do come to my mind are again to always appreciate what you DO have and to enjoy every minute of your life. "Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do."

Happy 2008 to everyone!

Namaste.

Here are a few more pictures from India: