Overview
Prajna Yoga is a distinctive yoga school and contemplative sanctuary founded in 2004 by Tias and Surya Little in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Housed in a unique, breathing mud-brick temple built with ecological materials, it offers a powerful setting that blends ancient yoga wisdom with contemporary somatic practices and Zen Buddhist meditation. The studio’s approach is a unique synthesis focused on Yoga, Somatics, Women’s Health, Dream Work, and meditation, designed to educate, inspire, and foster deep mind-body connection. Teaching is rooted in extensive lineage, with Tias Little incorporating precision alignment and his SATYA somatic method, while Surya Little specializes in women’s health and therapeutic yoga. The school is explicitly all-inclusive, welcoming people of all backgrounds to its supportive sangha.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
| Day | Status | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Open | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Tuesday | Open | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Wednesday | Open | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Thursday | Open | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Friday | Open | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| Saturday | Open | – |
| Sunday | Open | – |
Studio in Details
A Contemplative Sanctuary in the High Desert
Prajna Yoga is not a typical yoga studio. Founded in 2004 by Tias and Surya Little, it is described by its creators as a school for yoga and the internal arts, with a contemplative yet dynamic feel. The name itself suggests ancient wisdom and ever-present awareness, an embodied presence that forms the core of its philosophy. The physical space, which visitors describe as magical and powerful, is a unique temple built from natural, ecological materials in the foothills of Santa Fe, New Mexico. This mud-brick structure, designed according to vastu principles, is said to literally breathe, creating a powerful and inspiring setting for practice. People who have visited note the incredible energy of the place, the hosts, and the teachings, calling it a gem in the yoga world and a must-visit for those on a path to enlightenment and embodiment.
The approach here is a distinctive synthesis. The school presents itself as a unique blend of Yoga, Somatics, Dream Work, Women’s Health, and Zen Buddhist Meditation. This mindful yoga and somatic training is designed to illumine, educate, and inspire. The founders’ intention was to preserve the ancient roots of yoga while integrating contemporary research on the mind-body connection. Visitors who have taken courses, both online and in-person, report walking away feeling balanced, more deeply connected, and reawakened in their practice—both on and off the mat. One person who attended a retreat called it the most moving and practical they had experienced, providing a much-needed reboot to focus intentions and clear a busy mind.
Teachers, Lineage, and a Focus on Inclusivity
The teaching is deeply personal and rooted in extensive lineage. Tias Little, a gifted orator, draws from years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, somatic practices, and anatomy. His background includes early study of Iyengar Yoga in the 1980s and time in Mysore, India, studying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Pattabhi Jois in 1989. His teaching incorporates precision of alignment, anatomical detail, and meditative awareness. He is also the founder of SATYA (Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga Attunement), a somatic practice that guides students away from ‘doing’ movement and toward sensing and receiving. Visitors speak highly of his impact, with one noting amazing experiences from online courses and hoping to attend an in-person immersion soon.
Surya Little brings a complementary focus, specializing in women’s health, nutrition, and therapeutic yoga. Described as intuitive, inspiring, and compassionate, her classes are noted as dynamic and lighthearted. Her approach is informed by the Five Element theory of Qi Gong and her foundational training in Iyengar and Ashtanga vinyasa. A central tenet of Prajna Yoga, explicitly stated, is being all-inclusive. The school emphasizes that diversity makes its sangha, or community, more dynamic and creative. It states it is receptive to all walks of life—people of all color, caste, and creed—and does not discriminate based on gender, age, economic status, or belief system. This culture of inclusion is framed as enabling everyone to better learn, grow, and thrive, finding strength from the unity of unique individuals.
Programs, Community, and the Path Forward
The offerings extend beyond standard drop-in classes into deeper educational and immersive experiences. The program includes a variety of online and in-person events. Upcoming examples listed include online immersions such as “The Mythology of Yoga,” “Nervous System Nourishment for Women,” and “Bandhas: Gateways to the Yoga Body.” There are also in-person and livestream immersions for SATYA training. The school hosts events and retreats both in Santa Fe and around the globe. Visitors describe these retreats as incorporating yoga, meditation, dharma talks, delicious healthy food, and incredible scenery, surrounded by a sangha of like-minded people. The sense of community is strong, with people sharing love, struggles, and wisdom, which visitors found nourishing and rejuvenating.
While the website highlights online learning, bringing the healing arts into students’ homes, the in-person experience at the Santa Fe temple seems to hold particular resonance. The setting—nestled in the majestic high desert landscape just outside the city—contributes significantly to the atmosphere. The school honors a variety of lineages that influence its work, including Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, and Zen, viewing itself as part of a living, breathing dynamic tradition. For those seeking a yoga experience that is less about fitness and more about a holistic, wisdom-based journey toward flexibility, wisdom, and radical kindness, Prajna Yoga presents a distinctive and deeply rooted option. As one visitor succinctly put it after a retreat, “We are already planning our next visit. GO!!!”