Meet Ty Watson

He believes that with the right tools we all have the capacity for great insight, the ability to use our time to unearth our personal narratives and alter our trajectories, and the responsibility to remain hopeful. From the esotericism of mountain climbing to what it means to use your yoga practice as a tool for self-cultivation, Ty’s ability to play with and integrate theoretical information underpins his teaching. He is passionate about the way we use language to communicate, reconcile a dilemma and tell a story. His teaching philosophy is centered around the use of a good metaphor that connects us to a universal idea, and that a teacher’s role is not to fix but to re-orient. He considers teaching part of living an artful life.

When you’re not practicing or teaching, what do you enjoy doing?

Curiosity is part of my nature, and so you’ll often find me tracking down more information, reading, and taking longs walks around the city which is my way of spending time with New York and hearing what it has to say. The rest of the time I am tucked away at home with my husband and our dog.

What drew you to Katonah Yoga?

The use of metaphor. I loved that it turned my practice into a real narrative, a dialogue, where my frame of reference is constantly being shifted. It made my practice feel like a true spiritual experience, because all of a sudden I started to understand how it was also about my self and my life.

Is there a piece of theory that has resonated with you?
That yoga is origami for the body, the way origami is yoga for paper. There is so much to explore in that idea: the function of the fitting, the endeavor of creating a middle by folding, and the hopefulness of unfolding it all, ironing it all out, and starting again if it doesn’t quite work the first time. True of poses and of life.

How have you brought the theory of Katonah Yoga into your daily life? Any specific scenarios you want to share?

This material has become embedded in me, and so integrated in my life, that it lenses everything I do. I use to consider my options, to make decisions, reconcile emotional issues (and physical ones), layout my apartment and explore what I'm reading, and chart my course as I step into new things.

Join the next Katonah Master Series w/ Ty Watson

Saturday, July 20th | 10:00-11:15am PST