Growing up in Los Angeles, Vytas Baskauskas always felt uncomfortable in his own skin. Stereotypical western values, systems, and ways of life didn’t sit well with him – and although he didn’t know it, his search for something more is when his yoga journey truly began. Now one of the most sought-after teachers in the yoga community, Vtyas’s classes are grounded yet spiritual, physical yet calming – they’re what he calls meditation in motion. He believes that precise alignment in a pose is a form of meditation, that the breath and body can work together to create a life-changing practice you carry with you long after you leave the mat.
As one of online yoga studio Udaya‘s incredible team of teachers (which includes the likes of Rudy Mettia and Ali Owns), Vytas shares his extensive knowledge and accessible attitude with yogis around the globe. He is known for his core exercises, so we were ecstatic to see this 20-minute routine in our TCM line-up. For those of you feeling crunched for time, this flow is the perfect lunch-hour workout: just long enough to get your abs burning, just short enough to make it back to work with time to spare. And don’t be fooled by its “Level 1” label – it’s an entire class dedicated to core work, after all! Accept the challenge and go with the flow, then take advantage of all Udaya.com has to offer, from classes to retreats, with our exclusive deal…
YOGA MATTERS WITH Vytas Baskauskas
Name:
Vytas.
Studios:
Power Yoga East and YogaWorks, plus Udaya.com
What originally drew me to yoga:
The physicality of the practice. How good it made me feel in my body.
Biggest inspiration:
My students.
When I'm not on the mat, I’m...
Bodysurfing or hiking with my dog in the local mountains.
Favorite pose:
My favorite pose changes every day. Lately I’ve been feeling side plank (vasisthasana).
I wish that more people realized that yoga…
…doesn’t have to be fancy to work well.
Project or cause I am most passionate about:
Our planet.
Biggest lesson yoga has taught me:
To be present!
Biggest lesson I hope to teach through yoga:
That being fit is great, but it doesn’t mean a thing if you’re crazy.
Most rewarding yoga-related experience:
Teaching at a donation-based studio where anyone can come practice no matter how much they can afford to pay.
5 things on my Bucket List, personal or professional:
Bodysurf Pipeline. Drive from Capetown to Cairo. Take a yoga class with my son. Become a chess master. Grow old with someone I love.
Advice I would give my 16 year-old self:
Enjoy the ride. It’ll fly by!
Personal mantra:
This life is short, let’s make it as sweet as we can.
Want to try Udaya (and Vytas’s other classes) for yourself? We’ve teamed up with this om-azing brand to give you a sneak peek of everything they have to offer. Use our exclusive promo code at checkout to receive a one-month subscription to Udaya – completely free! Read on to find out how…
UDAYA.COM PROMO FOR CHALKBOARD READERS
What is it?
One free month-long subscription to Udaya, a revolutionary new site that is taking our home practice to a whole new level.
What You'll Get:
All-access to Udaya’s world renowned fitness programs and wellness challenges: five new yoga classes a week, plus unlimited access to the entire online library. Additional member benefits include free shipping on all products within the continental U.S.A., exclusive access to Udaya Entertainment’s acclaimed health and wellness programs, and invitation-only access to health, wellness, and yoga retreats at some truly special locations worldwide.
How To Get It:
Enter promo code CHALKBOARD at checkout to receive your free month of classes, community, and exclusive content and offers to boot!
