Like many who have found solace through Yoga, with issues ranging from anxiety and tension, to physical illness and injury, I learned that Yoga is an effective holistic practice. Although I was simultaneously deepening my practice of Zen Buddhism, my interest in Yoga never waned, and after years of practicing with different instructors, and discovering different styles of Yoga, I eventually found my way to Larry Payne, Ph.D, the teacher that would certify me to teach. A direct disciple of India’s celebrated Yogi, Krishnamacharya and his son Desikachar, he is a seminal figure in Yoga Therapy, having co-founded the International Association of Yoga Therapists, (IAYT), the Yoga Therapy program at Loyola university, and having co-authored important books on the subject, such as Yoga RX, and Yoga for Dummies. Through him, I continued to learn ways to modify poses for various restrictions, and I now enjoy helping others work through their own injuries and limitations.

 

My own Hatha Yoga classes reflect my own journey in these different areas. When I offer modifications in poses for certain restrictions, it is with the understanding that comes from having tread that path before, and when I start each class with words on the value of presence, it is from having seen the benefits of it through my own struggles and through my personal practice in Zen and Yoga.

 

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