At the heart of downtown State College lies a cozy and welcoming yoga studio called Yoga in State College. A man by the name of Doug, or better known as the White Building’s “Yoga With Doug,” runs the studio. He has been around State College for about 15 years. Both his personality and passion for yoga keeps drawing more and more students -- as well as local yogis -- to the studio.
Doug’s yoga adventure began at the late age of 45. Now at 63, Doug teaches both at his own studio as well as at the White Building, while simultaneously doing real estate in his hometown, Redding, Pa. He has 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and paints his right big toe nail red – just because. Doug’s character is inevitably lovable and undeniably wise. While teaching yoga, Doug has a unique way of keeping the class engaged with both concentration and laughter. He loves to crack jokes and remind his students to not take life so seriously; yet he always states the importance of focusing on one’s own breathe, taking deep inhales and exhales regularly to flush out the old and inhale the new. His greatest yoga advice is to remember to live in the present –not the past, not the future.
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When he’s not in the studio or selling real estate, Doug likes to visit his family in Portland, Oregon, watch movies, teach yoga outdoors, and read yoga books –especially at State College’s well known Webster’s Bookstore and Café. He’s even starting his own business called, The Prana Bar, and has fliers posted in Webster’s. The Prana Bar will be set up like a standard bar, but he will charge his customers $4 for yoga postures or movements to relieve stress, anxiety, indigestion, migraines, or whatever his customers are suffering from.
Doug is undoubtedly an intriguing character. Although he is 63, he practices yoga every day and has a long life ahead of him. His strength and flexibility is better than most 20-year-olds and his practice has improved significantly since he has begun his yoga journey. If only everyone had the opportunity to meet Doug, the world would be a lot less anxious and a lot more blissful.
Video: Why the red toe?
Doug talks a little about the significance of his red toe and his experience at the nail salon.