Michael Joel Hall
Michael Joel Hall
“Serve, Love Give, Pray, Meditate, Realize”
A lifetime student, Michael believes in the powerful transformative effects of practicing yoga.
With a background in public relations [George Mason University, Barksdale Ballard] and comedy club hospitality [DC Improv] Michael brings levity and real world applications to his pedagogy, striving for a yoga that is applicable on and off the mat.
Michael’s teaching is directly informed by his experiences with personal practice and daily life. His personal practice is shaped by his relationships with and utmost respect for his teachers.
Traditions and Teachers:
- The 5 Principles of Yoga and the Yoga of Synthesis in the tradition of Swami Sivananda. The value of daily practice from Kristina Maze. This style was further pursued more deeply with his teacher’s blessing at the Sivananda ashram in the Bahamas. Michael received a Yoga Alliance recognized teaching certification from the Vedanta Forest Academy.
- With a passion for precise alignment and a vigor for the Iyengar method, Michael studied long-time with Kristen Krash, a student of Iyengar teacher John Schumacher. It is with her that he apprenticed. The jewel of alignment, practicalities of Patanjali, and the practice of kramas were explored.
- Michael’s daily asana practice is currently the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga method, as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. He currently studies directly with Sharath Jois in Mysore, India and Antonella Accinelli (KPJAYI authorized) in Washington, DC. Michael learned the primary series of Ashtanga from David Ingalls and Keith Moore (KPJAYI Authorized).
In 2009, knowing that the powerful and transformative effects of yoga aren’t dictated by any four walls, Michael founded Mid City Yoga. MCY specializes in bringing yoga to unconventional spaces– creating corporate wellness programs, office yoga classes, outstanding outdoor events, and free practices in surprising spots.
Michael uses the versatility and integrity of rich tradition to teach movement on the outside that leads to awareness on the inside.
How’d Michael Find Yoga?
One fortuitous day while collecting donations for a nuclear nonproliferation nonprofit, Michael canvassed a yoga teacher from Spiral Flight in Georgetown.
She kindly invited him to one of her classes (and helped him make his quota).
Who would have known that one class would ignite a fiery and abiding love that continues to this day?
Outside the Shala
Yoga takes up a huge spot in Michael’s heart, but he has many loves. Volunteering for community supported agriculture (not-for-profit farms that bring organic practices to under-served communities), running marathons around the country, CrossFit, and climbing the occasional tree or statue all take up big chunks of his time. He wishes more time was spent on the water: rowing, surfing, and skiing.
But, if you had to go looking for him, odds are good you’ll find him out in the world learning and laughing: after all, life is too important to be taken seriously.
