About Yoga

Any practice that leads to a greater sense of Wholeness is a practice of Yoga. Yoga is the Sanskrit word for such practices, but it is known by many other names throughout the world. The most well known name to imply the same thing is "Religion". Religion comes from the latin "Re" -to bind back, and "Legio" - to make whole. The English word "yoke" comes from the Greek "yolk"; yolk can be traced to Sanskrit's Yog -which is the correct pronunciation of what is commonly written as Yoga. In all three forms the word yok or yog has the same meaning: to bind back and make whole.

Many people cavil over whether yoga is a religion but all agree it can be a spiritual practice if it sticks to the heart of the meaning of its name. However, there should be no dilemma whether yoga is a religion or not if we simply go to the clear definition of each term. In other words, Yoga is not A Religion, yoga IS religion -and- religion IS yoga.

Our Philosophy

At CYS we have always endeavored to stay true to what yoga is truly about. Though we teach a lot about asana we make it clear that yoga goes far beyond the asana fetish that it is becoming predominant practiced as today. We know that there are many ways to wholeness and it matters not from where they come so long as they are true.  Therefore we do not limit our teachings to the misconception that only Indian ideas can bring one closer to the divinity that all religions/all yoga's teach. In other words, we are lovers of the light, not the lamp. Wherever truth and a gateway to greater wholeness can be found, we turn to that light. To argue and fight over which Lamp is the greatest is to miss the point of yoga/religion altogether. Once people divide over what they believe religion/yoga is, then it is no longer yoga/religion.

Our aim is to teach that which makes whole the individual and thus greater unifies humanity. Our aims are true to the highest ideas of Yoga, and the highest aims of true Religion.

Our Program Director

Will (William Brashear / E-RYT 500) is the president of Cincinnati Yoga School. He has studied yoga since 1987 and has traveled regularly throughout India since 2003 to deepen his practice. He was certified in India as an Astanga Yoga teacher by Masterji Vishwanath (nephew and former assistant to “Guruji” Patabhi Jois) and certified in America in the Kripalu Yoga tradition by Martha Abbot and in Thai Yoga Massage by Rishi Dion. In 2004 he assembled a crew of yogic teachers from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and other yogic lineages throughout India to create a model Graduate Degree program for Antioch University McGregor (AUM) in Integral Yoga Psychology. He has served on the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of Cincinnati and other communities for many years and was asked by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i's of India to create materials to help Baha'i communities connect and correlate with Hindu and Buddhist communities through the teachings of yoga. As a long time student of comparative/complementary religion, Will is the author of The Yoga of Religion (Inland Press, 2004) and was the host of YOGA: The Other 98%, on 1530 WCKY –The Revolution of Talk Radio. Will is the Director of Yoga Teacher Trainings for CYS, CYTA (Cincinnati Yoga Teachers Association), Frankfort Yoga Studio, and Virtues First (held in Goa, India). Will considers his greatest accomplishment as starting an elementary school that serves over 100 impoverished children in Chandigarh, India; and funded by the (501c3) non-profit organization known as Virtues First; of which he co-founded and serves as president.

Will can be contacted regarding general info, teacher trainings, Thai Yoga Bodywork (sessions and trainings), corporate classes, and wellness trainings at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Our Administrative Director

Brandia Cash Allen: CYS Director and Reiki Master. Brandia first began practicing yoga in 1993, and began working for CYS in June of 2001. She is the mother of 2 beautiful children. She loves to create things, from jewelry (on sale online and at CYS), to art, to poetry. Brandia's passion for yoga springs forth from its transformative qualities that she has experienced first hand, as well as witnessed in the lives of many others. Brandia can be contacted for general information requests, Reiki (trainings or sessions), donation/contribution requests, as well as student/ customer service.