Steve Rooney

Steve Rooney's Saturday morning class is suitable for beginning and intermediate students, who would like a non-athletic breath-centered yoga experience that is adapted to them and that, as an optional bonus, can provide some helpful tools for a routine home practice.

Steve began yoga and tai chi practice in 1970 while a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He helped lead the development of several whole food cooperatives that are thriving to this day. In 1974, Steve moved back to NYC, his birthplace, to study with his tai chi teacher and to join the staff of the just-founded International Center of Photography (ICP). Within a year, he let go of his tai chi practice in favor of working overtime for ICP. As ICP's CFO since 1982 and its Deputy Director for Administration since 1992, Steve helped lead the institution through its founding and growth, and managed its five-year space expansion and relocation project that was completed in August 2001. That same month, Steve was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his second cancer "wake-up call."

After nearly thirty years of no disciplined physical activity, when Steve "woke-up" he decided to start a routine of fitness training and daily yoga as soon as he could, and to ease off his ICP work to provide time for himself and his new practice. Since then, he has enjoyed a practice of daily yoga and two or more gym workouts each week, and he continues to help lead ICP.

Steve's traditional cancer treatment was successful, and his decision to take care of himself led to receiving wonderful complementary care, including frequent acupuncture, massage, nutrition guidance, personal physical training, and private yoga instruction during 2001 and 2002. Very quickly he began to enjoy the benefits of yoga, including a deeply renewed sensuality. Steve credits his practice for a dramatically improved energy, muscle tone, mental focus, personal comfort, and outlook on life. He celebrates the reality that we are here now, in life, and we have all we need right here.

Steve practices a yoga that is responsive to our current condition, in the tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar. He began weekly private lessons with Charles Matkin in 2001. Steve began studying with Zack Kurland in 2002, and in 2004 also began studying with Leslie Kaminoff and Katherine Bridges. He completed his 200 hour teacher training instruction at The Breathing Project with Zack and Leslie in spring 2005. In 2007, he completed his 500 hour teacher training with Gary and Mirka Kraftsow and the American Viniyoga Institute. He has also benefited enormously from small-group workshops with T.K.V. Desikachar, Kausthub Desikachar, Mark Whitwell, Uma McNeill, and Gary and Mirka Kraftsow. Steve looks forward to many more experiences with all of these great teachers, and he looks forward to working with you in your practice of this wonderful activity we call yoga.