The divine spark evoked by Rumi’s image is universally understood as the source of light, wisdom and willpower. It can guide us in our everyday life and enable us to have better connections with others. The practice of yoga in all of its components (posture, breath awareness, chanting, self-reflection, and meditation) cultivates presence to this essential aspect of ourself.

The principal mission of Upstate Yoga Institute is to preserve and transmit the principles of yoga practice developed by Yoga Masters Sri Krishnamacharya and his son, T.K.V. Desikachar. We share these principles with anyone interested in learning yoga through the various level classes we have been offering weekly since 1983. In our lineage, the goal of yoga practice is neither the achievement of perfect form nor the performance of difficult postures. We strive to teach each participants how to practice postures so they can feel stronger and more relaxed in their embodied reality, how to use breath to increase stability and clarity in their mind, and how to develop a more intimate connection with their heart center. When teaching a group class or a private class, we keep Socrates in mind: “Let us turn over together the treasures that wise men have left us, glad if, in so doing, we make friends with one another”

Martine Burat – Martine began studying yoga in the Sri T. Krishnamacharya/TKV Desikachar’s lineage in 1984 at Upstate Yoga Institute. She was trained to become a yoga teacher through several years of one-on-one mentorship with Mary-Louise Skelton, who studied with both Krishnamacarya and Desikachar and founded Upstate Yoga Institute in 1983. In the early 90’s Martine was asked to take over the direction of Upstate Yoga Institute. After her mentor’s passing, Martine continued her studies with Sonia Nelson and Claude Marechal, two of Desikachar's longtime Western students.

David Jacobs – David began studying yoga in the Sri T. Krishnamacharya/TKV Desikachar’s lineage at Upstate Yoga Institute in 1998. As his interest deepened, David left his previous occupation and became certified to teach yoga through Gary Kraftsow, a long-time student of Desikachar. In 2002 David received certification from Nischala Joy Devi to teach yoga to cardiac and cancer patients. In 2008, David was trained to teach the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction model developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the Center of Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical Center. In addition to teaching yoga and MBSR at Upstate Yoga Institute, David has taught MBSR at Syracuse University to students, and to faculty and staff. He also teaches the mindfulness model to the community at large.

Since 2020 and the covid pandemic, Martine and David have turned to two of Desikachar’s Indian students, Sheela and Ravi Shankar, in order to deepen their studies through private and small group online classes.