Introduction: Yoga instructors have an IMMENSE responsibility with beginners. In my first class, I was blessed to have an attentive teacher who did hands-on physical adjustments while I was attempting trikonasana (triangle pose). The energy from my toes to my fingertips to the top of my head was magnificent! The difference in what I "thought" was the pose and the simple changes that led to the correct posture astonished me. The instructor's slight adjustments and simple directives played a huge role in leaving the class and being captivated by the practice.
I have completed 400 hours of teacher training and take continuing education very seriously. I study under the guidance of two yoga teachers and am perpetually immersed in the philosophy and psychology of yoga. I received a scholarship to participate in a Contemplative Psychotherapy Certificate program that connects Western medicine and psychotherapy with Eastern traditions and contemplative thought. The method of combining these two practices is critical for the world we live in. My life goal is to help others as a Yoga and Contemplative Meditation Instructor through the application of mindfulness, meditation, yoga philosophy, breath work, and body work. An integrative and comprehensive approach should be the basis of all therapeutic practices and I look forward to being part of this movement that is taking place in contemporary medicine. I am proud to be a part of the Nalanda Institute in New York where I work with doctors, psychiatrists, and social workers - all of whom are learning to apply this approach to their own careers. The next program I plan to do is at The Trauma Center in Boston where they teach yoga instructors how to instruct yoga sessions for people dealing with severe trauma. The bottom line is yoga doesn't just have the capacity to change lives, it can save them as well.
