My Yoga Mission Statement
To empower each student to find their own limits and the style of practice that will fit their individual needs and lifestyle.
My Teaching Style
The depth of one’s yoga practice is not related to the difficulty of the postures involved. Therefore, the most “advanced” practice can consist of very simple and basic postures.My classes emphasize the present-moment experience of each student, rather than the attainment of future goals.This style of teaching allows the student to progress at their own pace based on their experience level and physical abilities.
Rather than “pushing” students to achieve, I allow students to find the edge of their abilities, and then to dwell there for a while (sometimes longer than they might like), noting all the inner experiences that are present. In this way, my classes become a sort of “moving meditation practice.”
Background, Training, and Influences
I was introduced to Hatha yoga in 1974. After practicing off-and-on for several years, I was given an instruction manual that allowed me to teach myself the basic postures. Again, I had a sporadic practice until 1992, when a knee injury brought me back to yoga.When the injury healed completely, I became very enthused about yoga, and knew that I would be teaching it some day. For several years I committed myself to the practice, studying informally with Gary Kraftsow for therapeutic yoga, Cheri Clampett as my teaching mentor, and Tim Miller for Astanga practice.
In 1997, I earned my teaching certification from Integrative Yoga Therapy, and came under the influence of my Senior Teacher, Richard C. Miller, Ph.D. Under Richard’s guidance, I devoted myself to the more esoteric practices of pranayama (working with the life force), mudra (precise ways of holding the hands or parts of the body to create specific energetic effects), and Tantric meditation.
My specialty is the adaptation of yoga, pranayama, and meditation to the treatment of specific physical issues.
I have been teaching formally since 1996.