Yoga classes and yoga teacher training by Scott Anderson at Alignment Yoga in Blue Mounds WI and Madison Wisconsin.

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Mound Street Yoga Center


Mission Statement

The mission of Mound Street Yoga Center is to educate and empower people through the practices of yoga, Pilates and meditation. Students are encouraged to develop at their own pace through self-acceptance and a maturation of self-awareness. The individual is esteemed in the process through teaching that observes the body, mind and emotions as a subtle intertwining of spirit and matter.

Mound Street strives to maintain a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all types of students. Weekly classes focus on experiential learning and developing a consistent practice. Periodic workshops help students deepen into the practices and explore their creative potential. Special outreach events aim to enrich the lives of diverse populations. Altogether, we connect not simply a chance group of students, but a rich community of practitioners.

Mound Street is dedicated to its diverse faculty and supports the individual approach each teacher brings to their work. Our integrity as a studio is a reflection of the integrity of our teachers. We encourage teachers to continuously explore the potential of these practices and how they are best communicated. Mound Street knows that teaching is a practice developed with patience, so we maintain a grounded commitment to our faculty members and their personal and professional growth.


People

Owners
Scott Anderson and Collette Stewart

Scott and Collette are a dynamic duo husband and wife, who not only teach yoga and Pilates, respectively, but also train teachers in these fields.

Scott studied with Roger Eischens, one of the
most well-known teachers from Mound Street's early days. Thus, when he and Collette took over the studio in 2008, it was with honor and respect for the studio's rich history, and a passion to carry forward Mound Street's legacy as a place for the authentic practice of yoga.



Studio Manager
Alicia Wright

Alicia handles the day-to-day operations at the studio, and coordinates workshops with guest teachers who share our values in yoga. This is in addition to her roles as a teacher at the studio and lead instructor in the Alignment Yoga 200-hour training in Oconomowoc.


History

Mound Street Yoga Center is Madison's oldest yoga center. Founded in 1984, MSYC enjoys a unique position in Madison's vibrant yoga community.

In the late 1970's, bellbottoms were giving way to BMW's, and the seeds of today's yoga boom were being sown. The teachings of BKS Iyengar had reached the Midwest and a number of Madison residents were taking to this rigorous technique. After years practicing in various rented halls, friends' guest rooms and church basements, the need for a dedicated yoga facility had become apparent.

At the same time, a forward thinking group of developers created the Mound Street Housing Cooperative. Capitalizing on a City of Madison redevelopment initiative, three buildings at the corner of Mound and Randall were transformed from high-turnover student housing, into a stable, cooperative community. This community housing cooperative included four residential units and one commercial space.

The commercial space began its life as a neighborhood grocery in the early 20th century. As the era of the community grocery came to a close, the commercial space was reborn as The Common Market, a whole foods cooperative. As the case with many second wave food coops, The Common Market was a short-lived experiment. Much to the chagrin of the Mound Street Housing Cooperative, their commercial space had once again become vacant.

Enter the yogis and yoginis. The ad hoc group of yoga practitioners organized into the Yoga Coop and made a bid to set up shop in the former Common Market space. While this may sound eminently reasonable today, consider the precedent for yoga in the early-80's. Tofu was strange enough - a bunch of twisting and folding yogis was considered stranger than strange. Despite the lack of precedent, all parties took the risk to set the wheels of Mound Street Yoga Center into motion.

The early days of Mound Street Yoga Center were an alive and dynamic time. The spirit of discovery and cooperation ruled the day. Community practice space was made available, public classes proliferated, and internationally recognized teachers made their way to Madison. In addition, many of Madison's best-known teachers built their reputation.

Many people contributed to the success of Mound Street Yoga Center. The late Roger Eischens is often the first name associated with Mound Street Yoga Center. Roger's innovative approach still informs many of the teachers at MSYC. Tom Casey is another of the early teachers who helped shape MSYC. Tom's compassionate presence inspired many yoga students to deepen their practice. Martha Link's big-hearted approach attracted many to yoga. Martha's legacy is continued at the Main Street Yoga Center. Faith Russell put her heart into the Iyengar method and its home at Mound Street Yoga Center. Faith currently teaches at the Madison Yoga Coop. Nicky Plaut also taught at MSYC for many years, and can now be found at her private Hilltop Yoga studio.

There were hundreds more who poured time and energy into Mound Street Yoga Center. In its days as a coop, there were volunteers who tended to its maintenance, improvements and upkeep. Many thanks go to all those whose faith and hope saw Mound Street through its early years and into today's yoga boom.

Many thanks go to Mary Unmuth for keeping the flame alive in the opening years of the 21st century. Under Mary's watch, MSYC entered the digital age with its website and updated approaches.

What is the future of Mound Street Yoga Center? Our goal is to honor its past as Madison's vibrant, dynamic home for yoga. Serving as the Madison home for Scott Anderson's Alignment Yoga, Mound Street Yoga Center strives to offer the finest yoga instruction around.

Mound Street Yoga Center - 1342 Mound Street, Madison, WI - -

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