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MARNI TASK
Marni Task, voted Best Yoga teacher 2005 in Scene Magazine, teaches both Anusara Inspired and Jivamukti classes. This means class has so much heart you will flow happy and free from pose to pose with a physical alignment that directs you to the divine. In the words of her teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life, "You are love itself." Come and be that love!
Personal Yoga Journey
When did you start practicing yoga? My first "official" yoga class was in 1987 at new york university in paris. It was part of my acting training. Then I moved back to NYC, graduated NYU and found yoga a free class at Rapp Arts Center in NYC. It was intense, I cried every time I did seated forward bend! I stopped going because I thought something was wrong with me. No one else was crying. I started going to Crunch Gym to "workout" (which I always hated)!!! I noticed yoga on the schedule and thankfully went to class and met my teacher Sharon Gannon in 1989 or 1990. That was it. I felt like I was home. It felt like ommmmmm!
How long were you a student before you decided to become a teacher? In 1994, after 4 years of steady practice, I dabbled with the idea of becoming a teacher and looked at the Jivamukti application, which looked like a college entrance exam, and I realized I need to learn more before even becoming a teacher. I finally enrolled in the Jivamutki program in 1996.
What made you want to become a teacher and how did you know that you were ready to be a teacher? I was so inspired by my teachers and experienced so many shifts in my body, heart and mind that I wanted to share it. I wanted to inspire people the way my teachers inspired me. I don't know if one is ever ready to be a teacher. I remember my teacher Sharon Gannon asking the teacher trainees what qualifies someone to be a yoga teacher? Everyone shouted out things like a 200 hour teacher training, meditation, daily practice.....the answer, "enlightenment". Seems kind of lofty right? But what if you don't feel enlightened, loving or peaceful 24/7? Can you still be a yoga teacher? Sharon suggested we do our best and remember the long lineage of teachers....remember all the teachers who have inspired yogis for thousands of years. Teach from the source teachings like the Bhagavad Gita and others and share it the unique way that only you can!
What are your personal inspirations/sources behind your teachings? (besides family/life) if I look deep enough I can find grace in everything. I love that perceptual shift that happens through daily yoga practice. You may walk into class feeling disconnected from yourself and others and then you give it a few deep breaths and a down dog or 2 and before you know it the world looks like a beautiful place!
Who are you currently studying? I am steeped in learning the tradition of Jivamukti, Anusara, the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, anatomy, breathing practices, sequencing a yoga class, and all the great things that inspire my yoga teaching and practice.
What are focusing on in your current practice? Patience!!! And........finally jumping/floating into handstand in the middle of the room. I have been practicing for years and after 22 years I am finally a little less afraid to jump up without the wall.....sometimes. I think at the ripe age of 44 I am finally cultivating some core strength so I can hold it and not wipe out! Oh yeah baby! Jut call me "opus 1"....like a fine wine getting better with age!
How do you take your yoga practice off the mat? When I'm off the mat and in my "regular life" I try to practice the same stuff....only now rather than "witnessing" my fear, ambivalence or excitement of pressing up into wheel pose (urdhva danurasana) I watch my reactions to the people and situations in my life. The poses I love the most are like the people and situations in life that are easy for me to be around. The difficult, irksome poses........they're just like those challenging people in my life. I feel it is my life's work to love them all in an equanimous way. It may not always be easy. Getting your leg behind your head isn't always easy! But if I can practice staying calm while doing any difficult pose then I can practice taking that skill off the mat with me and into any situation life presents to me.
What are some of your favorite yoga poses and why? Forearm stand. I love turning upside down and looking at the world from a whole new point of view. Plus I love that I have over come my fear of falling in this pose.....maybe not on the edge of a cliff, but definitely in the middle of a yoga room.
Books & Music
What are you reading now? A book about breastfeeding for the adoptive parent, Yoga Journal, Byron Katie, inspirations here and there, the focus of the month from the Jivamukti website, the yama's and niyama's by Deborah Adele. A life worth breathing by Max Strom. I'm always browsing through and reading a few things. I'm not so much a cover to cover reader as I find an inspirational nugget contemplate it and share it.
What are your top 5 yoga books (classic & modern)? My Bible, the Jivamukti Yoga book by David Life & Sharon Gannon, Yoga sutras of Patanjali (Swami Satchidananda translation).
What songs are on your current playlist? Ahimsa by Baird Hersey & Prana, lots of new and old Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, MC Yogi, Uncle Kracker "smile", new and old Michael Franti, Trevor Hall, Matisyahu, Madonna. It changes all the time.
What are some songs/artists that you consistently play in your classes? I love Michael Franti, Matisyahu & Trevor Hall because their songs lend to an upward intention in yoga. Plus they are all so soulful! I play a lot of Krishna Das, Shantala, Jai Uttal, MC Yogi, mixed in with India Irie who equally rocks the inspirational, motivational, emotional song! Wade Imre Morrisette is sprinkled in there...."burn it in the fire" baby! I play anyone who moves me!
Why (or why not) do you play music in your classes? Especially in my jivamukti class, music is a key ingredient of the experience. Early on in my own yoga practice I was addicted to the music in class and now I equally love the silences. Depending on what the theme of that day is will determine what I play, when I play it etc…the music highlights the theme of the class for me and perhaps even articulates the message/theme of the class better than I could through the lyrics or through the melody, rhythm and feeling in the music. I also read from many inspirational teachers, especially words from my teachers. They have always played amazing spoken word selections from Alan Watts or Ram Dass etc…I do that too. Sharon and David are my teachers/yoga parents…he apple doesn't fall far from the tree and so I too add this element to my class.
What are you yoga must haves? Friends. Silence. Alone time. Inspirational teachers
Advice to Students
What advice would you give a student just beginning yoga? Just keep coming back. Practice. Breathe, laugh, cry, ask questions. Meditate
What advice would you give the more seasoned person practicing yoga? Just keep coming back. Practice. Breathe, laugh, cry, ask questions. Meditate.
Little known facts about me Most people think I am very outgoing and I often feel very shy.......and in the words of the pulitzer prize winning play "doubt".....“I have doubts... I have such doubts!” And thankfully i have a lot of faith too!
Words that describe my class: Anusara-inspirational/informative/creative. Jivamukti-inspirational, playfully serious, musical, transformative.
I knew I loved yoga when: I met my teacher Sharon and crunch gym.
Where yoga helps me the most: I love how yoga enhances the good times and makes them even better!!! Conversely, I love how yoga is like a life raft to carry you safely to shore when you are in deep water! If we remember to use it, it will keep us safe!
Why I love this studio: I love the celebration of the varying styles of yoga taught at evolution. I love the "evolutionary" attitude of the studio. I love the dedicated students! I love the pretty boutique with all the eco friendly things! And I've known Sandy since the days at The Hampton's apartments/2001.
Favorite comment/quote that inspires you: "When I despair. I remember that all through history the way of truth and love always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end they always fall----think of it. Always! Mahatma Gandhi
How has your practice evolved? I started with Jivamukti Yoga and loved moving through a vinyasa practice and loved the music, which I still do, but now I even love slowing down and I loooooooove silence! Never thought that would ever happen for me. Practice and all is coming, said Sri K Pattabhi Jois (my teachers teacher)! He's right! Practice and you will shift and grow and evolve....for the better. It's just true!
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