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Scott has been practicing and teaching with Yoga Vermont since 2001. Scott was born and raised an only child in the steel town of Gary, Indiana. His father (a steelworker at one of the large mills) and mother (a homemaker) supported him greatly in all of his childhood endeavors including drum lessons and many long Saturdays in various gymnasiums for wrestling tournaments. Scott wrestled until his Junior year of college. He attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana (one of the only all-male liberal arts schools remaining in the U.S.) from 1990 until 1994 where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, serving in different capacities. During his college years, Scott worked in a lead factory through the summers to help pay for his education. This was also the period where he began to attend Grateful Dead, Phish and various other concerts. In 1994 Scott began following Phish around the United States on their tours logging many miles and many shows. He helped with their Green Crew recycling program during this time while on tour and landscaped during many of the off-tour seasons. He settled down in Burlington in 1996 still touring consistently through 1998 when he tore his hamstring dancing at a show. He continued to attend many shows until 2004 but with less consistency than the earlier years. The hamstring injury set Scott back for a period but also served as a vehicle for his move towards yoga. He had dabbled in yogic practices, picking up bits of information here and there, but had no defined practice per se. Seeking a restored state of health, he learned some basic postures and breathing techniques from a friend who was learning Kripalu style yoga. A year or two later he discovered Yoga Vermont and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and has been a constant presence at the studio since that time.
"The two things from my past that most prepared me for my plunge into yoga were my many years of wrestling as I was growing up and the years I spent dancing my tail off at Phish shows."
Scott practices and teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as well as six-week series for beginning yoga students. He has learned from a variety of teachers who have taught at Yoga Vermont over the past few years, both in-studio teachers and the wonderful workshop instructors who visit in the summers.
"I have had some great teachers who have helped me develop my practice and help me view it from different perspectives. The help I have received from others in figuring out my body alignment and other technical aspects of the practice has been invaluable. By far my greatest understandings of the practice have come from the practice itself. Just getting into that zone of movement and breath and focusing solely on the moment is what my practice is to me. I was more concerned about being able to do this or that posture when I was starting than I am now. Now it is more about engaging my core and taking the time to really focus on my breath...the movement flows from there."
Scott spends the greater part of his time with his loving family. He lives with his partner Kathy McNames and their son Sabian in a home they purchased in 2004. Kathy and Scott have been together since 2001 and Sabian was born into this world in June of 2002. They all hope to be able to teach and practice together in the coming years.
"My life is my family. Having a strong foundation at home gives me the strength and energy to interact with the world in a way that I can best serve the community as a whole."
Scott initiated his studies in Thai Yoga Bodywork in 2001 and earned his advanced certification with Jonas Westring of Thai Yoga Healing Arts in October, 2006.
Scott also enjoys playing guitar in his free time.
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