Todd Howell

Some of the best things in life happen by chance.

I was first introduced to yoga as a way to enhance my study of martial arts. I explored many styles and none resonated with me until I found Iyengar Yoga in the mid nineties. Within a few years, I moved from my hometown of Cincinnati to Chicago to continue studying martial arts.

In Chicago, I found the Yoga Circle, which at the time was the only Iyengar studio in the area. There I was able to study with Senior Iyengar Yoga teachers and create life-long friendships with people who have shaped who I am today and became my chosen family. Iyengar Yoga quickly became the foundation for how I lived my life as it grounded me mentally and eased the pain I suffered from a chronic medical condition.

Iyengar Yoga quite literally saved my life and I quickly pivoted away from martial arts to a full-time study of yoga and The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali.

As a teacher, I strive to share my experiences and understanding of this tradition while also “paying it forward” in gratitude to the teachers who have supported me on my path to yoga. In particular, I want to thank Manouso Manos and Bob Whittinghill whose deep sense of compassion, dedication, and generosity remain an inspiration to me.