Bradd introduced me to an older tradition of yoga from outside the Krishnamacharya lineage with compassion and charm. The blend of centered movement and energetic practices as well as novel poses and breath work are incredibly centering, uplifting and a practice suitable for many levels of ability. I highly recommend him as a teacher.

Michael – Musician/Conductor

And as very busy professionals my husband and I find that having yoga in our home ensures we show up for class even when we may not feel like it. Always on time, Bradd is an experienced, kind and thoughtful professional. At the end of a session, we always feel better in mind, body and spirit, no matter how frazzled or fried we felt at the start. And the Ayurvedic herbs and lifestyle adjustments he recommends to support the yoga have also been very helpful.

Emily – Real Estate Agency Owner

Over the past 6 months of yoga sessions with Bradd, I have increased my flexibility, strength and concentration; I have also lost weight and generally feel healthier. Bradd varies the activities, so no two sessions are alike and every session is interesting. Not only does he vary the practice for long range goals, he also takes into account the events of a particular day and varies the routine to address stress or physical ailments. I wholeheartedly recommend Bradd Graves and 3Gems Yoga.

Mike – Attorney-At-Law

Bradd has been my yoga teacher for 5 months and I have grown enormously with his guidance. We meet twice a week in my home for 90 minute sessions. As a teacher, he is skillful, patient and provides me the right amount of encouragement. I have become more balanced, calmer, and ready to work using skills I have learned that help me control my body, emotions, and energy level. Thank you, Bradd, for helping me toward gaining masterful control of my life.

Adam – Professional Gamer / Student

Though a former studio yoga instructor, I’d not yet managed to sustain a home practice. Working with Bradd over 4 months gave me the techniques, mindset, and the self-confidence to look inward, trust my instincts, and then explore and adapt yoga to my own needs. He was generous with his depth of knowledge and time, paid close attention to detail, and gently guided me to find form, strength and balance. Yoga sessions with Bradd were always a joy, and I’m now confident I can maintain and grow my practice on my own at home. Still, I’ll likely to return for more, he’s that good.

Jann – Holistic Health Coach

Bradd is my favorite yoga teacher ever!! His gentle guidance, attention to detail, and beautiful voice spoke to my body, mind and spirit. I learned to focus, release and relax. My body was more agile, flexible, stable and strong after sessions with Bradd. I was so sorry he moved from Tucson to Denver. He rocks!!

Holly – Nia Instructor

TURN ON TO HERETIC YOGAS

3Gems yoga moves off the beaten track to include more circular and twisting movements, alternative sequencing, and anatomically sound techniques that work the body and breath in a more comprehensive, functional, and safe way. Smart sequential development from the simple to the complex in terms of respiratory capacity, physical strength, flexibility, and mental agility and concentration yields the desired progres. Studio yoga, on the other hand, skips sequential development entirely and starts with a limited set of stereotyped, mostly muscular poses based on sun salutations repeated over and over with unthinking devotion and a dose of spiritual fluff. Emphasizing strength as much as flexibility, 3Gems yoga includes influences from eastern martial arts and western medical science, while keeping an open, conciliatory mind toward the energetic and philosophical positions of classical yoga. In general these are training forms that prepare the western body for yoga.

Vyayam (body breathing)

Vyayam is a form of bio-energetic exercise that consists of flowing movements enveloped in the breath. It is a form of dynamic pranayama that develops balance and coordination in the body and calmness and alacrity in the mind. Vyayam is particularly useful for those new to yoga to develop breath and body awareness. Vyayam may also serve as a complete practice for the elderly or infirm.

Yogasynergy (bandhas)

Yogasynergy advocates the co-activation of muscle groups (bandhas) that greatly facilitate the safety and effectiveness of Krishnamacharya-based asana. There are 13 such co-activations around the joints that, combined with knowledge of stretch reflexes and the major nerves and nerve plexes, allow one to approach any yoga pose intelligently and progressively develop strength, stability and ease in the pose.

Shadow Yoga (Preludes)

A set of three short but challenging sequences based on Indian marma theory, martial arts, and dance, which also happen to fit in well with modern kinesiology and myofascial meridian theories. The "prelude" forms consist of unique spiraling and twisting movements that focus on building strength in the legs and core as well as increasing flexibility in the hips, spine, shoulders, wrists and ankles.

TUNE IN TO SUBTLE ENERGIES

These yogas incorporate the more subtle or esoteric aspects of yoga into how asanas are sequenced and performed. The goal of these yogas are specific physical, mental, and emotional effects. Often specific breathing patterns, special bandhas, and frequent periods of rest are incorporated. Increased flexibility or physical fitness concerns are secondary to the energetic effects created. These yogas are typically useful in preparation for further meditative or contemplative explorations in consciousness.

Depth Yoga

A slower vinyasa style for practitioners who have achieved a certain ease and stability in their physical practice and are ready to work with specific breath patterns, bandhas, and longer holds. The result is not so much increased flexibility, but rather developing spaciousness, energy, and calm strength.

Ayurvedic Yoga

Asanas are not only biomechanical structures but also conditions of energy. So in addition to adjusting the physical pose to accommodate a lack of physical strength or flexibility, adjusting breathing patterns, pacing, and focus address imbalances in the more subtle energies of emotion and mind.

Sivananda Yoga

A simple but demanding system of Hatha Yoga focused on the spine / chakra theory. Twelve floor poses starting with headstand / shoulderstand and including fish, seated forward bend, backbends, peackcock, and crow poses. Fantastic series for overall health and seated meditation.

Calm, Sustained Focus

For westerners, tratak and nidra are the most accessible methods for focusing and clearing the mind. Tratak (gazing) trains you how to calmy observe, to hold the mind in sustained visualization, beyond words and labels. Yoga nidra, a process of dissolving deeply seated stress and ignorance, also depends on visualization, so the two practices complement each other well.

Calm, Sustained Energy

Sanskrit mantras are sound / energy formulas that are said to realign the bodymind with specific subtle energies. Simply performing them appropriately and consistently helps energize the mind's higher potentials. Combined with simple pranayama techniques, visualization, and mudras, mantra can rapidly change your consciousness in any way you choose.

Calm your mind right now >>

Calm, Sustained Action

For Yogis, introspection (vichara) involves first becoming aware of and then questioning the validity and source of one's own thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and beliefs with the intention of removing ignorance from the mind. Over time, vichara cuts through the mental bullshit most of us constantly manufacture, and allows a clearer picture of reality to emerge.

Ayurvedic Yoga
w/ Dr. David Frawley
American Institute of Vedic Studies (vedanet.com)

400 hrs Ayurvedic Yoga Certification
The Yoga, Ayurveda, Mantra, and Meditation Course confers the title "Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Consultant." The course interprets and explains all eight limbs of Yoga and Yoga philosophical perspectives according to Ayurvedic principles. It advocates an Ayurvedic Yoga approach for the full healing of consciousness. 300 hours of study (plus many more of personal practice) with 100 contact hours with Mr. Frawley. Awarded Oct. 2014.

Vyayam Yoga
w/ Chaitanya Rudrani
(Vedic Foundation of the Himalayas)

120 hrs of Vyayam Training
Instructor certifications earned in Rishikesh, India, and Granada, Spain 2011-2012, from Chaitanya Rudrani and other disciples of Swami Saraswati Tilakanada. Vyayam Yoga is an Indian strength, balance, and energy development system from South India. It combines simple flowing movements with dynamic forms of pranayama. As such, it is suitable preparation for a standard asana practice, or a complete practice in itself for older folks or those with injuries.

Shadow Yoga
w/ Mark Horner
(horneryoga.com)

300 hours Shadow & Hatha Yoga training
Based on the methods, practices, and theory of Shadow Yoga, classical Hatha Yoga, and Ayurveda, Mark's comprehensive Hatha Yoga Practitioner Training program is focused on helping dedicated students and aspiring teachers deepen their practice both physically and energetically in order to become solid, self-directed, and skillful practitioners — the foundation for a rich and effective personal practice, and the sine qua non of skillful instruction. Walnut Creek, CA. 09.2009 – 04.2010

Sivananda Yoga
w/ Sivananda Yoga Farm Ashram
(sivananda yoga farm)

200 hr Sivananda Yoga Teacher certification
Sivananda Yoga is a traditional advaita vedanta 8-limbed approach to Yoga which integrates the four main paths of yoga (Karma, Bhakti, Raja, Jnana). The ashram develops a well-balanced Sadhana (spiritual discipline) including asana, pranayama, vegetarianism, and meditation as the basis for balanced living. Their asana sequence is chakra-based, begins with headstand, and is not for the faint of heart. Grass Valley, CA. 06.2007

Heretic Yogas