Jake Duckworth is a dedicated yoga practitioner and experienced teacher with over 28 years of experience in strength and conditioning. His teaching blends the intelligence of structured physical training with the depth of yogic awareness, offering a grounded yet transformative approach to practice.

Jake began studying Ashtanga yoga in 2003 with Granville Cousins, initially to improve flexibility and mobility for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His background in resistance and athletic training gave him a unique appreciation for how yoga can complement strength work—balancing power with precision and recovery. In 2018, he began studying with his current teacher, Joey Miles, who introduced him to Iyengar yoga and its integration with Ashtanga. This influence deepened Jake’s commitment to alignment, biomechanics, and intelligent progression, principles that now form the foundation of his teaching.

Through Joey’s mentorship, Jake encountered Christian Pisano, one of the world’s foremost Iyengar teachers, with whom he has been fortunate to study multiple times in recent years. He has also trained with Stefano Bendandi and his close friend and peer Marque Garaux, both of whom share an interest in bridging classical yoga with functional and strength-based approaches to movement.

Jake’s lifelong dedication to strength training—ranging from Olympic lifting and calisthenics to primal and mountain-inspired conditioning—deeply informs his yoga practice. His approach encourages students to cultivate not only mobility and awareness but also resilience, stability, and structural integrity.

Beyond yoga, Jake is a dedicated Zen Buddhist, regularly attending Sesshin and retreats. He is also passionate about hiking and mountaineering, which strengthen his connection to nature and endurance of body and mind. In the kitchen, he expresses creativity and mindfulness through cooking. His holistic approach integrates physical strength, mental clarity, and a spirit of adventure, creating a practice that is both disciplined and deeply human.