PETER STERIOS lives and teaches in San Luis Obispo and Santa Monica. His classes reflect many years of study and practice in the US and India. A writer and former contributing editor for Yoga Journal, he has been featured in their yoga calendars, Beginners Column, Master Class Column and website. He has taught at numerous Yoga Journal conferences, and continues to teach workshops and teacher trainings throughout the US, Europe, and Mexico. He founded Manduka in 1997 and currently is Lead Ambassador and Product Development Director. His first yoga DVD "Gravity & Grace: Yoga for Finding Your Inner Teacher" was released in 2007 and is available at www.manduka.com and www.gaiam.com . For more information about his classes, visit www.petersterios.com
Interview
YM: How did yoga find you?
PS: Accidentally, during my second year at university. I was looking for some form of exercise after years of competitive sports when I happened to see a flyer at the Rec Center and was intrigued. After the first class I was hooked. It gave me such a challenge, both physically and mentally, because of how stiff my body had become from training and weightlifting. Plus, I was extremely humbled in class, since I was the only guy, and also the only one who appeared to be struggling.
YM: What is yoga really all about?
PS: Good question. Let me know if you ever get anyone to give you a simple answer. Over the years, I have come to see yoga as a daily part of my life. On days when a physical or meditative practice is not possible, due to family or business responsibilities, it manifests simply as being mindful and present with the activities that are required that day, without reaction to the common triggers of a daily routine (i.e. stress, overworking, monkey mind). On the days where a physical practice is possible, it’s reconnecting with our inherent creative spirit through movement, and also finding stillness which opens us to a greater intelligence much bigger than ourselves.
YM: You are an architect as well as a yoga teacher, how do the two work in tandem?
PS: At times, they work extremely well together, and especially lately as more and more of my commissions are yoga related - designing yoga centers and retreat resorts, where the clients respect my “other” career. However, sometimes they don’t work well together, since the demands of a building project can sometimes overrule a regular routine of yoga practice. For the most part though, it continues to amaze me that I can balance the demands of the two professions and keep my sanity.
YM: How do you balance yoga and business?
PS: It’s not really that conscious. I feel lucky that my travel schedule teaching has never really conflicted with the design commissions I have taken on over the years.
YM: What is Manduka and how has it evolved?
PS: Oh, did I say two professions? Oops, I meant three professions… That is also amazing to me how a small, home based business, like Manduka started out to be, has grown into an 8-person company selling yoga products to over 20 countries around the world. I recently found the company loosing a little bit of direction as we grew and I realized I was not able to give it what it needed in terms of guidance, so we brought on more people, more management, and more investors, and I stepped down as CEO. I now hold the position of Lead Ambassador and Product Development Director, which means I talk to students and instructors about what they want in yoga gear, and then go about finding ways to make it happen.
YM: You have an eight month old beautiful girl, Athena, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Has Yoga helped you to parent?
PS: Actually it’s working the other way. She is very easy to parent – she is helping me be a better yogi by example. She laughs alot and always enjoys “being”, even when she is challenged communicating what she needs. I am in awe of this process of watching a baby develop, and the repeated attempts to learn something new without judgment or attitude.
YM: Please tell us about the beautiful concept, teachings and DVD we know as Gravity & Grace.
PS: It started with a phone call one night from Chris (Miglino), introducing himself and asking if I would be interested in creating a yoga DVD for YogaMates, which of course was exciting and a great opportunity. From the beginning, the aim of the DVD was to create something different - to show the pure potential of human form expressed by hatha yoga. To this end, the set design, the lighting, the camera placement, and even the clothing were chosen to minimize distraction and focus attention on the essence and beauty of the practice. We were also set on producing a practice tool which was universal in its application and approachable for students at any level, from any walk of life, who possessed a desire to learn. What was truly amazing about the process though, was how all of the different artists involved with the project came together to contribute to what became a truly inspired team effort. First and foremost was Mikki Willis and his incredible vision for the cinematography. There is truly no other yoga DVD like it. Then Stuart Balcomb and Joanne Warfield, who wrote an all original score, and synchronized the tempo, mood and energy of the music, literally frame by frame, to the choreography of the models. Then there were the models – Chrisandra Fox, Timo Jimenez, and Anna Zorzou, all accomplished yogis, who in their own right, added a unique quality to the DVD with their luminescence. And lastly the team at Conscious Enlightenment, who did the voice recordings, editing, authoring, and graphic design, over countless hours (late into the night on too many occasions to keep track of) to produce the final product. It was an honor to be part of such an endeavor.
YM: Over the past twenty years, what trends in Yoga are you surprised by?
PS: The trend that has been most surprising to me is the penetration yoga has made into mainstream culture, and its staying power over the years. Looking at this from the perspective of my 30+ years in the “business”, this is what gives me hope for the future of Western culture and the world my daughter will inhabit.
YM: What does the future hold for Peter Sterios?
PS: Well, the immediate future looks like a summer in Santa Monica, hanging out with my daughter and wife at the beach, while we prepare for moving back to our home in San Luis Obispo in September. We enjoyed our time here getting to know the LA yoga community over the last two years, and have nothing but gratitude for all of the people who supported my classes and programs at TruYoga. And now we are excited about returning to the Central Coast, and a small community that has a growing and vibrant yoga scene. Are you going to come up for a visit?
YM: How did yoga find you?
PS: Accidentally, during my second year at university. I was looking for some form of exercise after years of competitive sports when I happened to see a flyer at the Rec Center and was intrigued. After the first class I was hooked. It gave me such a challenge, both physically and mentally, because of how stiff my body had become from training and weightlifting. Plus, I was extremely humbled in class, since I was the only guy, and also the only one who appeared to be struggling.
YM: What is yoga really all about?
PS: Good question. Let me know if you ever get anyone to give you a simple answer. Over the years, I have come to see yoga as a daily part of my life. On days when a physical or meditative practice is not possible, due to family or business responsibilities, it manifests simply as being mindful and present with the activities that are required that day, without reaction to the common triggers of a daily routine (i.e. stress, overworking, monkey mind). On the days where a physical practice is possible, it’s reconnecting with our inherent creative spirit through movement, and also finding stillness which opens us to a greater intelligence much bigger than ourselves.
YM: You are an architect as well as a yoga teacher, how do the two work in tandem?
PS: At times, they work extremely well together, and especially lately as more and more of my commissions are yoga related - designing yoga centers and retreat resorts, where the clients respect my “other” career. However, sometimes they don’t work well together, since the demands of a building project can sometimes overrule a regular routine of yoga practice. For the most part though, it continues to amaze me that I can balance the demands of the two professions and keep my sanity.
YM: How do you balance yoga and business?
PS: It’s not really that conscious. I feel lucky that my travel schedule teaching has never really conflicted with the design commissions I have taken on over the years.
YM: What is Manduka and how has it evolved?
PS: Oh, did I say two professions? Oops, I meant three professions… That is also amazing to me how a small, home based business, like Manduka started out to be, has grown into an 8-person company selling yoga products to over 20 countries around the world. I recently found the company loosing a little bit of direction as we grew and I realized I was not able to give it what it needed in terms of guidance, so we brought on more people, more management, and more investors, and I stepped down as CEO. I now hold the position of Lead Ambassador and Product Development Director, which means I talk to students and instructors about what they want in yoga gear, and then go about finding ways to make it happen.
YM: You have an eight month old beautiful girl, Athena, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Has Yoga helped you to parent?
PS: Actually it’s working the other way. She is very easy to parent – she is helping me be a better yogi by example. She laughs alot and always enjoys “being”, even when she is challenged communicating what she needs. I am in awe of this process of watching a baby develop, and the repeated attempts to learn something new without judgment or attitude.
YM: Please tell us about the beautiful concept, teachings and DVD we know as Gravity & Grace.
PS: It started with a phone call one night from Chris (Miglino), introducing himself and asking if I would be interested in creating a yoga DVD for YogaMates, which of course was exciting and a great opportunity. From the beginning, the aim of the DVD was to create something different - to show the pure potential of human form expressed by hatha yoga. To this end, the set design, the lighting, the camera placement, and even the clothing were chosen to minimize distraction and focus attention on the essence and beauty of the practice. We were also set on producing a practice tool which was universal in its application and approachable for students at any level, from any walk of life, who possessed a desire to learn. What was truly amazing about the process though, was how all of the different artists involved with the project came together to contribute to what became a truly inspired team effort. First and foremost was Mikki Willis and his incredible vision for the cinematography. There is truly no other yoga DVD like it. Then Stuart Balcomb and Joanne Warfield, who wrote an all original score, and synchronized the tempo, mood and energy of the music, literally frame by frame, to the choreography of the models. Then there were the models – Chrisandra Fox, Timo Jimenez, and Anna Zorzou, all accomplished yogis, who in their own right, added a unique quality to the DVD with their luminescence. And lastly the team at Conscious Enlightenment, who did the voice recordings, editing, authoring, and graphic design, over countless hours (late into the night on too many occasions to keep track of) to produce the final product. It was an honor to be part of such an endeavor.
YM: Over the past twenty years, what trends in Yoga are you surprised by?
PS: The trend that has been most surprising to me is the penetration yoga has made into mainstream culture, and its staying power over the years. Looking at this from the perspective of my 30+ years in the “business”, this is what gives me hope for the future of Western culture and the world my daughter will inhabit.
YM: What does the future hold for Peter Sterios?
PS: Well, the immediate future looks like a summer in Santa Monica, hanging out with my daughter and wife at the beach, while we prepare for moving back to our home in San Luis Obispo in September. We enjoyed our time here getting to know the LA yoga community over the last two years, and have nothing but gratitude for all of the people who supported my classes and programs at TruYoga. And now we are excited about returning to the Central Coast, and a small community that has a growing and vibrant yoga scene. Are you going to come up for a visit?
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