When did you start practicing yoga? 
About 12 years ago in 2003

What has yoga brought to your life?
Practicing yoga was the first time I was ever able to really explore my spirituality in a way that didn’t seem threatening. I was raised in a pretty religious household, which turned me off from most organized religions quite a bit. For years I considered myself a staunch Atheist, but thinking back I had used that as a way to avoid any spirituality at all. When I began practicing yoga, it felt like a very safe and comfortable place to learn about spirituality without the religion, dogma, strict rules. What I enjoyed about the spiritual side of a yogic practice is that it’s very experiential and tangible - you can personally feel and learn, rather than being told what to believe.

Why did you become a yoga instructor?
I became a yoga teacher because yoga had given me so many gifts that I wanted to give back. I also found that once I started teaching, my relationship to yoga became much different - I started viewing it through a wider lens, and I learned a lot from all of my students. 

What impact can a regular yoga practice have on a person's life?
My favorite thing about yoga is that it can really become anything to anyone. Whether someone wants the spirituality, or they just like the physical practice for what it is, they receive lots of benefits without even knowing. The most important benefit being the opportunity to take an hour here and there and just slow down to experience some quiet. Our world is very fast and noisy, so however we can do that is wonderful. 

What advice would you give to someone that is just starting yoga?
I always hear people say that they went to one or two yoga classes and didn’t like it. That’s kind of like saying you went to Baskin Robbins, tried one flavor, and decided you don’t like any ice cream at all. There are so many different styles and flavors of yoga out there, and I really think there’s something for everybody. I encourage everyone to try as many different styles of yoga as they can to see what sparks their interest. I can almost guarantee that they’ll find a good fit if they look. 

What is special about the style of yoga you teach?
It took me a little while to find Ashtanga Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga is a more classical and structured style that originates in Mysore, India). The reason I absolutely love practicing Mysore style Ashtanga is the class format. Mysore classes are held every morning at sunrise only, and typically last about 3-5 hours. You can drop in and leave whenever you want during that time frame (you’re not practicing for 5 hours). Since we all do a set series that everyone knows really well, you just put your mat down and go. There’s no talking from the teacher, no music, no added heat - and I really love that silent environment. Since you’re practicing next to a huge range of ability levels, you see a lot during your practice: some people struggle to touch their toes, while other people are balancing on their hands with their feet behind your head. I think it reminds you where you’ve been and where you might go - it humbles you and encourages you at the same time. The teacher walks around and gives you adjustments and feedback as you practice, and since you only usually practice with one or two teachers over your whole practice, you develop a true student-teacher relationship with them over time. I think it’s a wonderful feeling.

What is your favorite yoga posture to teach, and why?
Years ago I would have said something like handstand scorpion, because I used to absolutely love being upside-down and doing more acrobatic postures. But as I get older, I really enjoy grounding postures more - especially Balasana (Child’s Pose). It goes back to my love of finding some quiet and stillness in my day.

Please share some words of wisdom or advice for your yogadownload.com yoga students. Whether you’re practicing yoga alone at home or in a studio, everyone feels like they don’t know what they’re doing - at least sometimes. If you get confused or discouraged, try to keep going. Even with a teacher in the room we sometimes feel like we can’t do something, or we’re not quite sure what’s going on. That’s completely normal.

What do you like to do "off the mat”?
I’ve always been a huge nature lover. I’m from Colorado but moved to Seattle in 2012. Both places have an abundance of nature - hiking, camping, cycling, snow shoeing, etc. My favorite thing lately has been to ride my bike to the ferry building in Downtown Seattle, take the ferry across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island, and ride around the island once or twice before grabbing a really awesome Bahn Mi sandwich to take on the ferry ride back home. 

Alik began his yoga journey practicing Ashtanga Yoga (as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) and has fallen in love with the practice ever since. Ashtanga Yoga continues to be Alik’s passion, and he is also active in practicing Dharma Mittra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Iyengar Yoga. Alik has been inspired by the teachings of V. Sheshadri, David Swenson, Kino MacGregor, David Williams, Dharma Mittra, and more. 

Click here to check out one of Alik's inspiring YogaDownload videos.