Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been practicing yoga?
I'm 58, so over 47 years. As a gradeschooler in the late 70s, I had the kind of strength, flexibility, and balance that enabled me to secure my legs behind my head and walk on my hands. Our gym teacher taught us Shoulderstand, which I still do today before every class. In 2011, I went on a pilgrimage to visit 12 temples in India that allowed me to deeply connect with my Hindu god Ganesha. I made a commitment to Bikram Yoga in 2014 because of its brutally honest, regimented way of developing the mind, body, and soul. I've trained with many of the greats in the yoga world, including Zefea Samson, Tony Sanchez, Ida Ripley, Scott and Ida Jo Lamps, and Esak Garcia. I was part of a very special Jedi Fight Club training where all 20 participants completed the training in its entirety. I'm also a brown belt in aikido and a USA Archery Level 2 Instructor. As a youth, I studied at the world-renowned Chinese Kung-Fu Wu-Su Temple founded by Grandmaster Alan Lee.

Do you train others?
Yes! I am a certified USA Yoga coach and athlete. I can provide expert instruction and private classes for yoga students of all levels in 26+2, Core 40, I.R.I.S., yin yoga, therapeutic yoga, archery, and martial arts. I own a dedicated space in downtown Philadelphia with free parking for 1-1 or small group classes and have equipment for flexibility testing, abdominal conditoning, and back massage. If you are interested in 1-1 training over Zoom, we can do so for a very reasonable rate.

What is the best way to learn yoga?
Most of us don't have the means to afford private instruction, so the next best thing is to take studio yoga classes. The problems with classes are some can be pretty large and some teachers are more skilled or experienced than others, so your ability to learn and understand the yoga's details will vary from class to class. I recommend attending as many small classes (under ten students) as possible so your teachers really get to know you and follow your progress. You will never learn yoga effectively if you are a fly on the wall in a large class.

Which yoga teachers are your greatest influences?
The following chart shows the teachers who've been my greatest influences. Some of these people have spent extra time with me in or outside of class. Some are great motivators while others have taught me to be more calm. These great teachers taught me what I know so that I can better serve my students. The bubbles closest to me are the teachers who've had the greatest influence on me.

I encourage everyone to create their own guru bubbles chart. Together we can show the world who helped shape us into the person we are today.

Can you lose weight with yoga?
Yes, but yoga is only one piece of the puzzle. If you want to lose weight - let's say ten pounds - you need to condition yourself to eat like someone who weighs ten pounds less than you. If you stray from that habit and eat as much as you currently do or more, you will not lose any weight and will likely gain weight instead. If you don't want to change your eating habits, you have to do more fitness activities. I push myself incredibly hard, to the point of total exhaustion and physical depletion. The people I see with the greatest physical changes are the ones who've done the same.

Do you practice ayurveda?
No, my knowledge of herbal medicine was passed down to me by my Chinese mother during my childhood. Unlike others who began studying Ayurveda later in life, my understanding of Chinese herbal medicine is deeply rooted in my culture and upbringing.

What do you say to people who think that Bikram Yoga isn't real yoga?
Bikram Yoga is real yoga. With regard to the naysayers, I wouldn't rely on the opinions of anyone who hasn't taken over 1,000 classes of anything.

How do you feel about someone who has completed a 30-Day or even a 365-Day Challenge?
It is a blessing to hear of someone who is serious enough about something to make that level of commitment.

Are you super-flexible?
No, and I feel that that should not be the end goal of your yoga practice. I'm strong first, flexible second. Pound for pound, I'm probably one of the strongest yoginis out there and that enables me to do the interesting flourishes I do in Eagle, Triangle, Tree, Toe, Root, and Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee.

What is your book, Yoga Building Blocks, about?
Yoga Building Blocks allows readers to experience a progressive yoga routine based on their skill level. Students will learn elements of Bikram Method Yoga, Tony Sanchez's Core 40, and aikido and how these movement arts can be joined together to create a synthesized whole. You can order the book online from Barnes & Noble.

What is your book, Breathe Believe Do, about?
Breathe Believe Do shares how my fitness journey led me through introspection, personal transformation, and ultimately competition in one of the world’s most challenging and controversial sports. Through this journey, I provide practical principles and techniques that you can apply to any sport, activity, or challenge to strengthen your mind and body and achieve your very best. You can order this book from Amazon.

What is your book, The Power of Change, about?
The Power of Change is a practical guide to creating meaningful, lasting transformation through The 8 Steps, helping readers strengthen both mind and body while unlocking their inner potential. A companion to Breathe Believe Do, this book provides a philosophy, roadmap, and toolkit for overcoming obstacles and creating positive change in everyday life. You can order the book ifrom Amazon.

How do you compete in yoga?
Everyone is entitled to their opinions on yoga competition. As a former Bronze medalist in the USA who is ranked number six in the world, I've competed in yoga. It's similar to gymnastics competition. Gymnastics is a legitimate Olympic sport now, but can you imagine the early days when it was trying to get into the Olympics? Back then, few people probably thought it would ever be an Olympic sport, let alone a sport, but here we are in this day and age where people codified the rules and scoring and now you can get ranked according to how good you are in your gymnastics routine. In a yoga routine, you present six or more postures in a routine, all to be completed in three minutes. You are judged on the beauty of your postures, your stillness, your muscle control, your breathing, and your flow. It's a lot harder than it looks and sounds, and the scoring is quite dismal compared to gymnastics and other sports. Many gymnastics competitors and ballet people end up competing in yoga for the challenge of it. A former Olympic Bronze medalist in gymnastics has competed in the yoga championships. Former figureskating champions, weightlifters, and bodybuilders as well.

If you think that yoga competition is not yoga, you are absolutely correct. Yoga competition is the sport version of yoga, not the things you do in a yoga class. Just like gymnastics competition, which is not actually gymnastics, yoga competition promotes the activity in order to garner interest in the activity. We also see the same issues in martial arts. Martial arts is not about competition, but here we are in this day and age where we see kids and adults competing in martial arts tournaments for trophies. Quilting is not a competitive activity and yet here we are in this day and age where there are quilting contests with major prizes. You get the idea.

Here I am at the World Yoga Championship in Malaysia. Six poses: Rabbit, Shoulderstand Lotus, Marichyasana D, Eight Angle, Root, and Half Moon Backbend. I had just three hours of sleep due to 24 hours of delays from two flights and yet I made it onstage in time for my routine. 🙂

What have you accomplished in yoga?
• 250-hour teacher training, Evolation Yoga and RYT 200 Yoga Alliance designation, 2015
• Yin Yoga teacher training, Corina Benner of Wakeup Yoga, 2015
• Core 40 and 45 teacher training, Tony Sanchez of Yogic Physical Culture Academy, 2017
• I.R.I.S. Intermediate Series teacher training, Ida Ripley, 2017
• Ghosh Yoga training, Ida Jo and Scott Lamps, 2018
• Author of "Yoga Building Blocks," 2019
• 300-hour teacher training, Pranakriya Yoga and RYT 500 Yoga Alliance designation, 2020
• Jedi Fight Club with Esak Garcia, 2020
• USA Yoga certified coach, 2021
• Author of "Breathe Believe Do," 2024
• Author of "The Power of Change," 2026
• Lead Instructor and Grandmaster, Katana Hot Yoga Teacher Training, 2026

Competitions:
• 6th place, IYSF World Yoga Championship 2020
• 7th place, IYSF World Yoga Championship 2021
• Silver Medal, USA Yoga Regional Championship 2022
• Bronze Medal, AYSF World Yoga Championship 2022
• Gold Medal, IYF World Yoga Championship 2022
• Silver Medal, USA Yoga Regional Championship 2023
• Bronze Medal, USA Yoga National Championship 2023
• Gold Medal, IYF World Yoga Championship 2023
• Silver Medal, USA Yoga Regional Championship 2024
• 6th place, IYSF World Yoga Championship 2025
• Gold Medal, USA Yoga Regional Championship 2025
• Silver Medal, IYF World Yoga Championship 2025

• Coached Tico Betancourt to two Silver Medals, USA Yoga Regional Championship 2023, 2025
• Coached Tico Betancourt, Guia Betancourt, and Kristen Houston for the USA Yoga National Championship 2025

Dana Trixie Flynn teaches a Lotus Flow class at Namas Day 2015

Yoganand Michael Carroll with students from Meditation: Theory & Teaching, January 2016

Half-Tortoise with Tony Sanchez on my back! March 2017

Eight Angle, January 2019

Jedi Fight Club training, September 2020

Eight Angle at the USA Yoga National Championship, August 2022

Coaching Silver Medalist Tico Betancourt for the USA Yoga Northeast Regional Championship, March 2023