Mike Blasi is the teacher of the month
at our La Jolla yoga studio.

If you haven’t been to Mike Blasi’s restorative yoga class on Wednesday evenings at 7pm you are really missing out!  He weaves together supported postures that passively open the hips, shoulders and spine while giving perfect adjustments.  He makes sure everyone is properly aligned and comfortable.  He talks just enough to keep everyone present and focused but leaves enough silence for students to find the deep sense of relaxation that restorative yoga brings.

We sat down with Mike to find out what makes him
and his La Jolla yoga class so awesome.

Favorite all time yoga teacher that you’ve ever had?

I think we are all our own best teachers, so I would say ME 🙂 Yoga has been a big part of my life for a long time, and I couldn’t say that any one teacher I’ve had is a favorite. I love them all like family and am truly grateful for the patience they have shown me as I work through my life.

Name a pose that was really difficult for you that you were finally able to master after time and dedication.

Handstand….it’s still hit or miss, but I avoided inversions for the longest time because I failed to see the value in them. I favored flexibility-centric postures and backbends which were easier for me to execute. It wasn’t until I suffered a major muscle tear that I saw the error of my ways. I was fortunate to have been taking private lessons with Carolina Vivas through my recovery, and she really helped me to improve my strength a great deal.

How does yoga compliment your martial arts and vice versa?

Martial arts are very challenging for me mentally because I deal with a lot of fear and anxiety just getting to class. Yoga helps me put that to the side by shutting off my thoughts. On the flip side, all of my flexibility is primarily from practicing Tae Kwon Do when I was a kid. Tae Kwon Do makes use of lots of kicks, so flexibility training was a big part of the practice.

If I wasn’t a yoga teacher, I’d be a…

I actually have a day job as a stock analyst. Investing is another passion of mine that I have put a significant amount of energy into over the course of my life.

Coffee or tea?

Both….I have a bit of a caffeine addiction and have to work really diligently to keep it in check.

Most recent book you read or are reading now?

Well I love to read and have a few books to mention. One is called “Your Owner’s Manual” and is a really simple summary book of “A Course in Miracles” that Carolina turned me on to. I also just finished a book called “Lysergic” which is an autobiography by Krystle Cole. Krystle has a very interesting life story and is now making some really cool art work as well.

If you could teach yoga to anyone in the world, who would it be?

I would like to teach semi-private to Biggie and Tupac’s moms.

And we second that last answer!  Although we would invite Biggie and Tupac if we could too. Learn more about Mike and find his class schedule here!