Acknowledging My Teachers and Gratitude for Yoga
Most importantly I want to express my gratitude for Yoga and to all of my teachers.
Growing up outside a tiny rural old coal town, I heard an Aunt talking about a cousin who had moved to California, whispering ‘she’s a vegetarian and does yoga’. I had only heard grown-ups whispering words like cancer and divorce before. But somehow I knew this was different and wanted to learn more.
It was the 70’s and PBS was 1 of our 3 tv channels, here I found Lilias Folan, who I started doing yoga with on my living room floor. Many of the poses and movements, like sphynx, plow and rocking, were how I watched t.v. already. In many physical ways yoga felt like something I had always been doing.
In college, yoga including deep relaxation was part of my movement training in theater. It kept me sane during an extraordinarily unhealthy time.
After having my babies I decided to make a career switch in 2000 from being a full time therapist to yoga teacher.
My studies varied from Power/Vinyasa Yoga with teachers like Baron Baptiste, Beryl Bender Birch and Shiva Rea to more traditional Hatha Yoga like Kripalu Yoga.
I had the good fortune of weekend retreats and trainings with incredible teachers in Mindfulness like Thich Nhat Hanh.
I chose YogaLife Institute for my 500 hour certification. The director, Bob Butera had studied at the Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India with its teaching lineage from Shri Yogendra in Classical Hatha Yoga for the householder. I loved that the U.S. version of the ashram focused primarily on spiritual connection and the philosophy of yoga. I learned that the physical practice was just one small part of yoga and my focus on mindfulness and connection with higher self deepened.
I quickly learned that a FULL yoga practice was positively impacting my relationships, especially with my children, and making parenting easier.
In 2019, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting India, having the honor of studying with Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra along with other Indian teachers and students at The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India, and at other ashrams in Goa, Mysore and Rishikesh. I hope to honor my yoga lineage and always show my appreciation, being mindful of appropriation and the harms caused. I’m continuously a student and know there is always more to learn.
During Covid, I’ve been studying online, with loads of teachers including Sharon Salzburg and Cindy Lee. I’m currently grateful for a Yoga Leadership teacher training I’m auditing with Create Karma.