Simon Park is an intense & exuberating teacher of Vinyasa flow yoga who will be traveling to several of our CorePower Yoga studios this year. We recently asked him to share some juicy tidbits about himself, yoga and Halloween.

How long have you been practicing/teaching yoga?

I began practicing in 1995 to recover from injuries due to a motorcycle accident. I was attending UCLA at the time and living in Venice Beach. My neighbor suggested I try yoga for rehab and other amazing benefits that yoga has to offer. I signed up for a yoga class at UCLA in The World Arts and Cultures department, walked into class and met Shiva Rea. Within a few months I was practicing every day and had started to take classes at Yoga Works. I took their teacher's training in winter of 1998 and began teaching around L.A. I moved back to Philadelphia in the fall of '98 and continued teaching. I moved to NYC in 2002 and started to travel to teach that year.

What brings you to your mat every day?

I went through an amazing transformation personally within the first year of my practice. I know how much yoga can affect a person positive way. Practice or lack of practice can change how I feel that day in a very tangible way.

What is your favorite posture and why?

Uttanasana, standing forward bend. I gravitate toward simple postures in my practice. As a person, I like simplicity and effectiveness. I feel like the repetition of the basics prepares you for more elaborate poses and sequences.

What do you love most about teaching?

I like helping people discover one of my favorite things I've discovered in this lifetime.

Who/what inspires you?

Artists from many fields; obviously, Shiva Rea is still an inspiration as a teacher and friend. But also, someone like Bruce Springsteen who can get 50,000 people to believe in themselves and feel purposeful about life. I find that amazing. Plus, I've never seen anybody with that much energy!

What is your favorite thing to do when traveling to a new city?

I love cruising around, checking out restaurants, shops, yoga studios and natural scenery. I like cities that are close to nature. Vancouver, Barcelona, Portland, Paris, Aspen and Boulder are some of my favorites.

What do you enjoy most about teaching workshops all over the country?

The awesome people that I meet! I also befriend many cute dogs and children.

In the spirit of Halloween what are you dressing up as this year?

I am Bulow Von Zipper, international fashionista, yogi superstar, and Latin Lover extraordinaire! I figure you gotta have some fun with your alter-ego. I'll send some pictures.

Pumpkin carving, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup, pumpkin everything! It is that time of year to reap the benefits of pumpkin.

One of the best ways to get nutritional benefits from pumpkin is from its seeds. When you're carving pumpkins this week, be sure to save the seeds; they make a yummy, healthy snack. Pumpkin seeds are full of vitamins and minerals including most of the B vitamins, along with C, D, E and K, calcium, potassium, niacin and phosphorous.

Enjoy this sweet and spicy twist on toasted pumpkin seeds!

Sweet & Spicy Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 45 Minutes

1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
3 tablespoons white sugar, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon chili powder (or to taste)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees F. Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally until dry and toasted. Larger seeds may take longer.

2. In a large bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of white sugar, salt, pumpkin pie spice and chili powder. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and sprinkle the remaining sugar over them. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar melts, about 45 seconds. Pour seeds into the bowl with the spiced sugar and stir until coated. Allow to cool before serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Enjoy with some spiced apple cider for the perfect fall treat!

First, let’s get the obvious question out of the way. Partner Yoga is NOT sexual.
Contrary to what you might be thinking it is not the same as Tantra Yoga. Actually, not all Tantra yoga is sexual, but that is besides the point.

Traditionally, yoga is seen as an individual practice, but Partner Yoga brings people together through movement, play, breath, touch and yes, intimacy. It can be practiced by any two people and is a great way to strengthen a relationship by fostering trust and communication.

But, we’re not the experts…

Elysabeth Williamson is the founder of Wisdom Arts and author of The Pleasures and Principles of Partner Yoga. She teaches Partner Yoga workshops frequently at CPY, and has been a teacher and innovator in the world of yoga for over twenty years. She has spent the last 12 years developing Principle-based Partner Yoga.

We asked Elysabeth to explain the main benefits of Principle-based Partner Yoga. She said:

• There is no giver or receiver in a posture, thus all partners are fully engaged in their own experience.
• As partners work together, supporting one another, Partner Yoga provides a forum for examining larger principles of relationship.
• In this way, Partner Yoga becomes a playground for intimacy, in ways that are safe and sacred.

Partners rely on each other’s support to keep correct body alignment, balance and focus in a posture. When you feel physically supported, not only do you experience a yoga posture differently, but you also begin to allow yourself to trust someone else.

“My understanding of the purpose of Yoga is - to expand my being and open me to experiencing union between my separate self and the larger Whole. In the practice of Partner Yoga, the larger whole is accessed through connecting with others.” – Elysabeth Williamson

Partner Yoga is an exhilarating and challenging practice. But don’t just take our word for it-try it for yourself!

Elysabeth leads workshops and teacher trainings around the country. Not to worry; she’ll be back at CorePower Yoga just in time for Valentine’s Day.