Rubber Soul is a donation-based yoga studio located quite near downtown Athens, Georgia.  $5-10 suggested donation.

Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution intends to provide community-based yoga at a price affordable to all.

The core of yoga is the breath--that is, connecting the breath to movement, seeing each pose as a container for the breath. The type of breath we practice in Hatha Yoga is specific: Ujjayi Pranayama (ocean breathing or victorious breath). It sounds rather like ocean waves surging in one's throat... or like the sound Darth Vader makes when breathing under his helmet. I know that isn't a very yogic association, what with Darth Vader zapping entire planets, but it's true! He's got that hissing in the throat. Try it now, if you like: use the same muscle you use to whisper to create a valve in your throat. Then slow down and deepen the breath.

There are a number of sources you can look at to learn about the importance of Pranayama in yoga. Whenever life gets hard or we feel that we need to concentrate on something, we stop breathing. Over a lifetime, this leads to many troubles: cancer, strokes, heart disease... A presentation of these ideas may be found at Holistic-Online.com.

"Hatha" means Sun ("Ha") and Moon ("Ta") which we can interpret as the two directions in which the breath flows: out and in. Therefore yoga is all about the breath.

Secondly (although of equal importance), yoga is about feeling good, right now, in the present. In other words, it is not about straining to fit into the Asana postures... not about feeling inadequate if one can't touch one's toes without bending one's knees... not striving to be perfectly fit with perfect posture and perfect concentration... It is simply the connecting of the mind to the being-present-in-the-body. The goal of our yoga classes is to practice that yoking of mind and body while moving through various poses.

To read a more extended discussion of this second point, I recommend the essays of J. Brown, who teaches some of the best yoga classes in New York City. The essay, "Notes from a Concerned Practitioner/Teacher," is excellent in discussing the importance of the mental state that we cultivate in yoga: a state of contented enjoyment and not that of frustrated self-depreciation.

Finally, it is wonderful to investigate the cultural context that produced yoga. The literature of India is a joy to read. For example:

The central text for yoga is Bhagavad Gita: A New Translation, in which Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, instructs Arjuna on how to take action in life. This is puzzling because Krishna is constantly saying how Arjuna ought to get up and fight in an imminent war, yet the book is regarded as an eloquent argument for non-violence. There are many translations. I like the one by Stephen Mitchell.

Also Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are considered foundational... but I must say I find the book rather obscure and difficult to read HOWEVER the interpetation that Gregor Maehle provides in Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy is quite thorough and smart.  Also you get his presentation of about 100 yoga poses, which is highly useful.

The book that personally inspired me the most (this is Cal speaking here) is Happy Yoga: 7 Reasons Why There's Nothing to Worry About because yoga really is about having fun.  I think that sometimes we make it too complicated and too serious.  That said, there is certainly some technique involved...

Generally all the yoga classes last either 75 minutes or 90 minutes--although they often go over by 10 minutes but not more than 10. It is a good idea to come 10 minutes early to get a space and allow the mind to settle.

If the class is listed as "Yoga," then it is a Hatha Vinyasa-style class that anyone of any experience level may attend. We will perform some pose sequences (that will be mildly aerobic). The classes are appropriate for beginners. All poses may be modified to suit the practitioner. The following descriptions are for classes that depart from Hatha yoga.

Open Studio means that you can come in at any time and practice yoga--or you can meditate--or do other forms. If requested, Cal will offer instruction one-on-one.

On Tuesday nights at 5:30 Ande teaches Kundalini Yoga. This approach to yoga is highly breath-centered. A great amount of air is pushed in and out of the lungs. We love this form of yoga. All levels may attend.

Every Tuesday at 9pm there will be a 1-hour basic swing dancing lesson, covering East Coast swing. East Coast is the easiest and one of the most fun swing dances, and you can learn enough in one lesson to enjoy dancing. At 10pm, there will be social swing dancing to DJed music. All ages and experience levels are welcome to attend.

Wednesdays, Kate and Cal will team-teach "Alignment Workshop," which is devoted to the foundations of each pose.

On Sunday mornings there is meditation with the Athens Zen Group. At 10:00 a.m. there is a Dharma talk. This is a presentation of thoughts concerning Zen Buddhism. Newcomers orientation is 11:00 on Sunday mornings except on a first sunday of a month. Look at their website for more information.

Yoga and meditation classes at Rubber Soul are available for a donation. The suggested donation is $5 to $10. If you'd like to donate less, that is OK too.

The suggested monthly donation is $50 to $100 for unlimited classes.

Feel free to come to class as often as you like. Yoga has a cumulative effect--one that accumulates best when practiced daily. Note that if you want to stay on for a second class (the "DOUBLE-HEADER") that is encouraged--no need to donate twice.

Donation-based yoga fits with the outlook that we wish to cultivate in yoga. Yoga, ultimately, is about connectedness and union. There is no difference between self and other. One is at one's most selfish when giving to another, since that is the best way of helping oneself. "You must give it away to keep it."

Ande Burke, also named Harsimran Singh, learned Kundalini Yoga thirty years ago and has been teaching for the last seven years. He is a KRI certified teacher in Kundalini as taught by Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (Yogi Bhajan). Kundalini Yoga is the Yoga of Awareness utilizing asanas (positions), breathing, and Mantra Yoga to propel the outer layers of the self into harmony and to center the soul with the Universe.

The Athens Zen Group is led by a number of people. See their website for a wide variety of details, including training session schedules.

Cal Clements would like to help make the world a beautiful place for humans and also for animals--which is to say--for the entire natural world.  The Golden Rule ought not to stop with neighbors or humans. He is the adoptive father of Dodo, who is very cute.  In 2004, Cal began to practice yoga in New York where he studied at Williamsburg's Go Yoga with Jason Brown. In his opinion, it is normal to do yoga at least once a day--and twice a day if one wants to begin a revolution. Cal is certified in Ashtanga from Downward Dog in Toronto and has taken workshops with Shiva Rae, Chuck Miller, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Desirée Rumabugh, Doug Swenson, Sarah Faircloth, and Steve Ross.

Kate Morrissey has been practicing yoga regularly for nine years. She began with a home practice in Wisconsin before practicing Vajra yoga at Shambhala Mountain Center, a residential meditation center near Ft. Collins, Colorado. Vajra yoga, founded by Jill Satterfield in New York, combines Buddhist mindfulness, meditation, and visualization practices with Hatha yoga. Kate went on to study with various Hatha yoga teachers in Pennsylvania at Yoga in State College before moving to Georgia and continuing her practice here. She is delighted to join the Rubber Soul Revolution.

Leasa Weimer hails from Boulder, Colorado. When she wasn't tele-skiing, hiking or mountain biking, she was practicing yoga. She recently moved to Athens to pursue a Ph.D. after living in Europe for two years. This past summer, she completed module one of the Yoga Alliance teacher training at a mountain ashram in Rollinsville, Colorado. Teaching from the heart, she incorporates a creative hatha style with pranayama and meditation.

Lorrie Conglose “Shivakami” Lorrie was introduced to yoga in the 70’s. In 1997 after a severe back injury she began a serious yoga practice.  Surgery left her with two discs missing in her lower back, sciatica and extensive nerve damage in her right leg. After 2 visits to a physical therapist, she realized that yoga would be a much more effective therapy for her.  She devoted herself to her practice and recovery using yoga asanas.  She began to study anatomy and physiology to better understand which asanas would benefit her the most and how to make adjustments for her own personal practice.  After 2 years of intense study and practice, she saw significant improvement and after 3 years, a nearly complete recovery. In 2000 Lorrie obtained her massage therapy license to deepen her understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection. In 2001 she was certified by Bharata, a direct disciple of Vishnu Devananda, in Sivananda yoga so that she could help others realize the tremendous value in practicing yoga. She has continued her studies of yoga philosophy, asanas, and meditation at the Sivananda Ashrams in New York, Bahamas, and Rishikesh India, Bali Indonesia, and Kripalu in Massachusetts. In 2007 she co-opened Vastu School of Yoga, to bring her love of and commitment to yoga to others.

Since his first Ashtanga class in 2003, Nicholas Rynearson's practice of yoga has grown with teachers from diverse traditions, including Iyengar, Anusara, and Jivamukti Yoga. His classes feature sanskrit chanting, challenging asana sequences and attention to alignment. He feels strongly that the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) is the foundation of all yoga practice and invites his students to explore their capacity for compassion toward themselves, other living beings, and mother earth. Nicholas is grateful to his teachers in Princeton, Northampton, New York and Athens; he bows to the lotus of feet of Emily, the guru who first opened his heart to the spiritual dimension of yoga, and Jen, whose friendship and devotion are a constant inspiration.

Swung is the performance troupe of the UGA Swing Club, dedicated to choreographing and performing swing dance pieces, serving in an outreach capacity to the Athens swing community, and to having fun. Members of Swung have over 40 combined years of swing dance experience and teach routinely for the UGA Swing Club.

Wear exercise clothing. Form-fitting shirts are best so that during forward bends or inversions your top won't fall around your face. We practice barefoot (in general--you can wear socks if you like).

Also bring a yoga mat. If you forget or don't have one, you can rent one for a dollar. You can bring water into the practice space.

Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution is located in the Leathers Building at 675 Pulaski Street (in Athens, Georgia). Pulaski runs alongside Phoenix Health Foods, the 40 Watt Club, Snow Tire, and Athens Blueprint. Then it crosses Prince Avenue and ducks into a neighborhood. The Leathers Building is about three blocks into this neighborhood, just before the railroad tracks. We are more than halfway down the building, in suite number 1400. Come in through the back door (near the railroad tracks). here's a MAP.

The building looks like this:

Walk around the right side of the building, along the railroad tracks. As a rule, we place a wooden sign on the railing right in front of our door that says, "YOGA."

The interior of Rubber Soul looks like:

We lock the doors once class begins so plan to come early.

All students must sign a waiver. We have these at the desk. If you are under 18, you need to have a guardian sign it. If your guardian isn't coming to the first class, then print the waiver out and bring it along.

I'm new to yoga; what level class should I take?

Try any of the classes listed as "Yoga." You are welcome to join in. The first few classes may feel a bit awkward, but soon you'll have a good sense of how it is done. Why not give it a try and see how you like it? At any time you can modify poses or rest. Also the Gentle Yoga class is an excellent choice.

Do you have any "house rules" I should know about?

We're pretty easy-going, but we do request that you arrive 10 minutes early, take off your shoes when entering the studio, turn off the ringer on your phone, and that you avoid wearing strong perfumes or deodorants.

How does the library work?

Our library is entirely straight-forward. You lend us three of your most favorite books. Then you may borrow one book at a time. If ever you'd like your books back you can have them--so no worries!

Is Yoga a religion?

Not exactly--you can practice it alongside your religion (or atheism) without conflict. You don't need to "believe in" anything. And yet there are certain concepts and practices in yoga that are... spiritual.... with metaphysical implications...

Does Yoga have ethical imperatives?

How is the studio doing financially?

Generally the studio brings in enough to pay for the space, various expenses, and a stipend for Cal for his role as manager.  In Summer, 2009 the suggested donation increased from $3-5 to $5-10.  This higher amount is needed in order to insure the long-term success of the project.

Has the studio been reviewed in the press?

Erin Rossiter wrote an article on our Laughing Club in May 2006...
Janet G wrote a review at Yelp in September 2008...
Lauren Elmore discusses yoga on and off campus in The Grady Journal in December 2008...

Also, it might interest you that a design group has taken on Rubber Soul as a project.  

What is the music that Cal and Ande (and quite possibly any number of other yoga teachers) play toward the end of classes?

Snatam Kaur's music is absolutely soothing. The recording called Prem is really wonderful.

Why does Rubber Soul use the air-conditioner when our world is so troubled by pollution?

I think I'm ready to get a mat... what sort of mat ought I to buy?

Can I store a mat at Rubber Soul?

Are there other Rubber Soul Yoga Revolutions?

In Athens, we appreciate Speak Out for Species, The Daily Groceries Co-op, Orange Twin, and Common Ground.

For other yoga centers see yoga-centers-directory.net

You may contact Rubber Soul by writing to calclements(at)yahoo.com. Our address is Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution, 675 Pulaski St., Suite 1400, Athens, GA 30601.