My story:
From the moment I walked into the classroom at The Discovery Center in Chicago and took my first Kundalini Yoga class, I was hooked. My teacher then exuded the most amazing glow! Dressed in white and wearing a turban, her inviting smile and gentle teaching style won me over.
That was over 20 years ago, when yoga studios and teacher training programs were few-and-far between. I’ve always been drawn to things that are not necessarily mainstream, and yoga certainly was anything but that in the mid-eighties. My first introduction to yoga was taking Iyengar-style classes in the gym at Niles West High School. While I enjoyed the classes, I was yearning for more than the physicality those classes offered. My husband suggested searching for a yoga discipline that incorporated more meditation and voila, I found The Discovery Center’s description of Kundalini Yoga. Focusing on physical postures, powerful breathing and meditation techniques, I found a more complete experience than in my Iyengar classes.
It got even better when I was invited to join an Intermediate group of students, which practiced at my teacher’s Ashram in Roger’s Park. There, the vibrations of the gong carried me away for the first time – what an experience! Gong meditations, or “baths” as we now like to call them, are an integral part of Kundalini yoga, and I keep my 38” symphonic gong in the studio in Glen Ellyn. I transport it to the Elmhurst Shala for special workshops, as I don’t feel a Kundalini workshop experience would be complete without it.
The rest is history, as they say. I was invited to participate in teacher training for Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan. I taught in several locations in Chicago until the birth of my daughter in 1993. Because my “day job” required a fair amount of travel, I curtailed my regular teaching in order to maximize the time with my daughter. As she grew older and attended elementary school, I introduced yoga to many students there on “high interest day”. It’s so exciting to see more and more schools and parents embracing yoga for their children!
Nearly 5 years ago, I left my 10-year career as publisher of Vegetarian Times magazine. Moving to a home-based office allowed me more flexibility for my new business and opened up my schedule to allow for teaching Kundalini Yoga again on a regular basis. I am grateful to so many who have opened their studios and hearts to me and the Kundalini experience.
When not teaching and practicing yoga, I work full-time as an independent publisher’s representative. Maintaining a 90% vegetarian diet helps keep me fit and I love to power walk (especially when the weather is nicer!) with our Siberian Husky (who likes this weather!). In addition to my vegetarian diet, I’m a self-proclaimed vitamin junkie and I love, love, LOVE to cook! Reading the latest book club-type books and doing crossword puzzles are great downtime activities for me.
Thank you again to my teachers, students and especially my family…Without you, my life would be less rich.
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