Get to know Adam Wade

We are excited and blessed to have Adam Wade join us as a guest teacher in India.
Adam was introduced to yoga in 2007 in New York City. He intensively studied Vinyasa Yoga for 4 years before traveling to India to become an RYT 200 certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher. He specializes in private yoga sessions in New York and teaches seasonally in India. He maintains a regular daily practice of Ashtanga Yoga with Eddie Stern in New York City and embraces the challenges that come along with the Intermediate Series.
His teaching method combines intensive strength and endurance-building asanas with focus on connecting movement and breath. He is a certified Reiki Master and continues his yoga studies under the direction of Sri.R.Sharath Jois, at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India. Adam is excited to be there currently for another 3 months of intensive Mysore practice before joining us in Thailand. Adam, tell us more about yourself!

What brought you to Yoga?

I was working out at the gym a lot and just wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try something different. I knew very early on in my practice that this was the right direction for me to be going in but I had no idea that those late night yoga classes I was taking would turn into something so life-changing.

Was it love at first practice?

In retrospect yes. But you know, at the time it was hard to identify those feelings so absolutely. Yoga is a strong healing process and sometimes going through those steps of healing involves going through stuff in your head with a magnifying glass, which can bring up a lot. For me sometimes these things manifested as physical or emotional pain and I had moments where I really questioned everything I was doing. But ultimately the joy and contentment that has come to me by way of my practice has far outweighed any of those other challenges — that’s what’s kept me coming back to my mat every day.

Tell us about your first Yoga class or experience (especially if it’s a funny story):

My first yoga experience was a vinyasa class at David Barton Gym on a Sunday night in New York City. The room was dark except for the candles in the studio and the glow of the Chelsea Hotel sign across the street. It was a magical night and I walked away from it feeling exhausted but also strangely energized.
The funny stuff didn’t happen until later when I started to try inversions and fell onto every limb and in every direction possible. But falling and getting back up is how we learn – which is such an analogy for life.

What were you doing before teaching Yoga?

I worked in the fashion industry before teaching yoga. While I did enjoy elements of that part of my life, that industry always felt a bit disingenuous to me and as a result I didn’t feel genuinely myself on that path. I’ve since learned how important it is to find work that I’m passionate about because that makes every day so much richer.

Were you always into travel before we met you in India in 2011?

Yes! Traveling was always a big part my mother’s family in particular, and that carried over to my childhood as well. My parents lived in Japan for a few years after they got married, which I’ve always thought was so cool. Growing up, I was lucky to see the entire United States and Europe and Canada over many wonderful vacations with my family. In high school I made my first big trip on my own to Germany as an exchange student, which really gave me the travel “bug” — I haven’t stopped since.

You have a fairly advanced practice and are very physically fit. Did yoga postures just come easy for you or are there postures you find very challenging?

Thanks, I’ve worked very hard to get where I am today. I usually practice 6 days a week and am always working with friends and fellow yoga teachers to improve my practice and my teaching. It’s all a process that builds over time.
We all have poses that come more easily to us than others. I’ve always loved handstands and other inversions. Forward bending, on the other hand, does not come so naturally to me. But little by little it improves. The key for me is to not get hung up on something I “can’t do”.

Outside of the physical asana what aspects of yoga are you passionate about?

Well for starters I love the yoga community that I’ve come to be a part of in New York and in Mysore. You know you’re on the right path in life when you find yourself surrounded by wonderful people.

When I first started studying Ashtanga, I took great comfort in Pattabi Jois’ quote, practice and all is coming. At the time “yoga” to me was only an asana practice so I understood that to mean keep up that asana practice and those difficult poses will come. While that certainly is true, I’ve since had that same quote explained in a broader sense by my teacher Sharath to mean practice all limbs of yoga – yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and ultimately samadhi – and all is coming.
The use of present participle tense here vs. the future tense is so interesting – it’s not looking down the road and saying practice and all ‘will’ come, it says practice and all ‘is coming’, meaning that just by trying to practice yoga the wheels are already set in motion.

What is something fun people may not know about you?

I grew up in a very conservative Amish community in rural Ohio. And no, I’m not Amish — but I did have some Amish friends growing up. They would come to my house to watch TV since they didn’t have access to one (or electricity for that matter).

What draws you to be a part of Drishti Yoga International?

Sarah and Carri are such incredible teachers, I’m so honored to get to spend time with them. They both have a really genuine understanding of what yoga is about and are so good at showing their students the door but allowing everyone to walk through it at his or her own pace.

I also really love the adventure aspect of Drishti Yoga. It’s so easy in the western world to fall into these routines and ruts, and while there’s nothing wrong with some continuity in life, breaking out of our comfort zone is what makes us grow and learn. It also keeps us young. I’m looking forward to my next Drishti Yoga adventure in Thailand!