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The Yoga Studio is the 'brain child' of Dr. Lakshyan Schanzer. Officially it was established in Worcester during the summer of 1979. Unofficially the concept began in 1971 while Lakshyan had been living, working full time, and teaching in New York City in the ashram environment established by Swami Satchidananda at The Integral Yoga Institute (IYI). As his teaching work expanded, Lakshyan began teaching in a variety of non-ashram settings around the city. It was also during this time that the link between psychological and spiritual goals became increasingly clear. Lakshyan began his training and study of psychotherapy in 1973 (MS in Counseling 1977). Over the years of intensive and regular practice he saw that yoga would benefit every level of being human: Body, Mind, Relationships, as well as the sense of Spirit.
 At that time Lakshyan was quite alone in thinking that yoga had a place outside of spiritual communities and in the main stream of ordinary life. Perhaps some of this style of having a slightly different stance is evident in the photo below (1971) with his uptown IYI community of friends, where Lakshyan is in the lower right corner beginning a headstand.
One of Lakshyan's dreams was to see yoga offered in every neighborhood in New York city area. Thanks to many other people with a similar vision, he has not been alone. Today, this dream is more of a reality than ever, with numerous yoga studios in cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, and with yoga being taught in almost every city in the USA, and most major cities around the world.
In 1977 the concept of yoga for everyone was expanded while living in Worcester, Massachusetts. Lakshyan was hired to develop programs for the elderly, for special needs populations, and the mentally retarded. Thirsty for more guidance and training Lakshyan planned a study trip in India. He contacted BKS Iyengar who personally invited him to take the teachers training in Pune in December of 1978. (See group photo: 4th row up and 4th from the left.)
 The training with BKS Iyengar satisfied his interest in precision of technique. However,for a deeper understanding of the goals, Lakshyan was also guided to find Nisargadatta Maharaj (left side -below- in white). Nisargadatta Maharaj was a fully enlightened Jnana Yogi and a rare event of the 20th century. Lakshyan attended daily satsangs with Maharaj for only about a month (Lakshyan below in yellow), but (as with many others) the effects have been lasting. Lakshyan realized that the goal of yoga is not to improve, or acquire any particular condition. Rather, the goal is more of 'undoing', which returns us to a prior and given reality, to an innate and healthy sense of being with oneself and in the world.
To quote Maharaj: "No change can be made in you. No instruction whatsoever can be given to you. You were perfect even before you came here. And you will be returning absolutely perfect, without even a dent on you."
 Upon return to the USA there was no longer any question that the world outside of the yoga ashram could benefit from yoga. In 1979 The Yoga Studio was opened in downtown Worcester. (Below left: Lakshyan taking a break with students of the Worcester studio. Right: practicing yoganidra in the Worcester studio.)
 While completing his psychology doctorate (MSPP, Boston) The Yoga Studio moved to Providence area in 1985, which has continued as the base location with many programs taught around the USA and abroad. The current office/studio location is: 1215 Reservoir Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920 (Phone: 401.369.8115).
During the years Lakshyan's yoga curriculum and teaching has continued to unfold with greater integration of mindfulness and the wisdom of the body. Lakshyan's method is reflected not only in his yoga and meditation classes, and in his psychotherapy practice. After giving many trainings and workshops on the integration of the meditative state in psychotherapy, Lakshyan has produced a systematic method of BodyMind Yoga and BodyMind Psychotherapy. His approach is reflected especially in courses such as 'Hatha Yoga Psychology' and 'Principles of Self Therapy', (which are open to students of all levels), and in his professional training programs for yoga teachers and therapists.
In the 1980's the 'logo name': 'BodyMind' was added to the business title as an umbrella term reflecting the larger vision of bodymind healing that describes his work. Years later, to further distinguish and authenticate his evolving method; Lakshyan simply put his name into the business title. Thus, psychotherapy (counseling), yoga and meditation classes, as well programs for interested professionals continue just as always, with Lakshyan's BodyMind approach.
Lakshyan began the integration of Brazilian Portuguese in his work as of 1999, when he was invited to give programs in Florianopolis, Brasil. While still maintaining a teaching and psychotherapy practice in Rhode Island, Lakshyan lived in Brazil and visited regularly over the past 10 years.
 These years were very productive in three ways. Firstly, Lakshyan could see that his method was evolving well enough to serve people from other cultures. Secondly, he learned Portuguese well enough to teach, do psychotherapy, and give retreats in Portuguese. This 'spark' of insight and exploration continues with invitations to present his work in other countries. Lastly, the periodic breaks from a busy American lifestyle have provided space for Lakshyan to further study and reflect on essential elements of self healing and how they appear across many traditions and times.
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