ABOUT
My first introduction to meditation was inspired by the Beatles in the 60’s. I took courses in Transcendental Meditation with the Maharishi in Humbolt County, California. And for a “wild child”, it was the beginning of slowing down enough to “feel”, “see”, and “be” in life moment to moment.
In 1973 I moved to Santa Barbara to complete my Masters in Education. It was there that I took my first yoga class. After the first OM, i was home, and i haven’t gotten off the mat since! My teachers were a couple- Pheldea Fleming and James Brodsky. Their classes were an amazing balance of dynamism, breath awareness and inner quietude. They were students of T.K.V. Desikachar and Krishnamurti. I still can’t believe my good fortune when i was invited to go and hear Krishnamurti’s talks every Sunday in the Olive Groves of Ojai. His wisdom was life changing, and his presence quieting.
By l977, my yoga teachers deceided to leave town, and invited me to take over teaching their classes. I was honored, but at the same time didn’t feel knowledgable enough. So i covered their classes for another year, and then moved to San Francisco to attend the Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training Institute.. I was over joyed to be in the company of such masterful teachers and absorbed everything like a sponge. The greatest honor of all was getting to take intensives in Pune, India with Shri B.K.S. Iyengar himself. His brillant eye and deep wisdom continued to ignite my passion, enthusiasm, and devotion to this practice.
After graduation, I was invited by an international yoga and meditation foundation world-side to teach yoga classes, workshops and teacher trainings all over the world. It’s hard to imagine that back then that there weren’t a lot of people practicing yoga. So we offered these great practices all through India, Japan, China, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia and the United States. And who knew that by 2020 “Om” would be a household word, a yoga mat would be in everyones’ carry-on, and most doctors would be recommending yoga for good health… what a blessing.
In 1989 I returned to the Northwestern corner of Connecticut where I founded “Yoga Sangha”, a community with heart. A few years later, i got introduced to Anusara Yoga. This new paradigm consisted of applying Principles of Alignment, and Balanced Actions for the inner and outer body that where in harmony with the pulsation of the Universe. Just when i thought yoga couldn’t get any better, it did! So i continued offering Anusara classes, workshops and Immersions for the next decade..
In 1990 i took my first Zen Training at the Zen Mountain monastery in Mount Tremper, New York with Daido Loori, a Zen Buddhist Roshi. I still continue these practices today in a small heart-felt sangha in Cornwall, Connecticut.
In 2012 one of my students introduced me to Mind/Body/Life Mentoring, I got so much value from Byron Katie’s Work that i got certified myself and weave some of this wisdom and inspiration in both my yoga classes and mentoring.
In 2019 I taught my first Yoga Sangha Teacher Training that was not associated with any past methodology, while still opening to the true teacher within myself in the form of Grace.
In 2020, during the pandemic, my first book of poetry wrote me! The book is called “Pure & Simple Poems” and it is available on Amazon. It was so unexpected that i was tickled!I My second book is calling and also is memoirs of my challenging and wonderful life.
My body turned 80 this year but i still haven’t caught up with it yet! I still practice yoga and meditation daily; teach public and private yoga classes, and offer spiritual mentoring. I am pausing more, not because i am older, but because I don’t want to miss the sacredness of each moment. I spend summers in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where i get further inspiration from my great love… the Sea.
Namaste
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