The first yoga class I took was at a community college in Chicago, when my then partner urged me to de-stress from my busy life as a small business owner. We went on a retreat and had the opportunity to take a class from a teacher on the path to becoming Iyengar-certified. After that initial experience, we took classes with this Iyengar-trained teacher. During class, held at a local health club (!), the teacher brought in Yoga the Iyengar Way book and referred us to classes at the Yoga Circle. We began taking classes exclusively at the Yoga Circle, where teachers weave philosophy into their teachings. This was truly inspiring! The integrity and quality of the asana, pranayama, and philosophical teachings and the compassion and professionalism of the teachers inspired me to study regularly, develop a personal practice, and ultimately teach others.