Qualifications
1996 – 2002: My Yoga journey begins in and around Philadelphia studying with pioneering senior level Iyengar teachers Marian Garfinkel and Joan White. In addition, I study Vinyasa style Yoga with Ellen Greenberg.
2002 – 2004: I move to San Francisco, and begin intensive weekly study under Jamie Lindsay, a well-respected teacher of both the Iyengar and Ashtanga-Vinyasa systems, to which he brought his knowledge of breath-centered Kundalini practices. I learn a wealth of Iyengar-based alignment principles from him, as well as my foundational understanding of pranayama and the Crossed Mat practice developed by Andrey Lappa, a profound teacher of Tibetan Yoga.
2003 – 2005: Intensive weekly study with Betty Roi, a teacher par excellence. Betty drew on two decades of practice and study with many of the foremost teachers of both the Iyengar and Ashtanga-Vinyasa systems, from which she created highly effective therapeutic applications of Yoga.
2004 – 2012: I am introduced to Anusara Yoga, and fully immerse myself in this practice and study. I studied extensively with founder John Friend, accruing over 500 hours with him in workshops, master immersions, teacher and therapy trainings and advanced intensives, as well as assisting him several times in America and Japan. In addition, I accrued another 500 hours of study with Desiree Rumbaugh, Katchie Ananda and Sianna Sherman, all internationally recognized teachers of Anusara at that time. In 2009 I became a Certified Anusara Teacher. I let go of that certification in 2012.
2007 – present: I meet Paul Muller-Ortega, the founder of Blue Throat Yoga. On October 19, 2007, I am initiated into the sublimely simple but powerfully life-changing practice of Neelakantha Meditation. Paul is internationally recognized as one of the leading teachers of the non-dual Shaiva Tantra path of practice and study, as well as a profoundly astute teacher of world religion and philosophy. I have engaged in an ongoing immersive path of practice and study with Paul since my initiation. On July 31, 2016, I became an Authorized Teacher of Neelakantha Meditation. In 2017, I, and my fellow authorized teacher David Kutruff, with Paul co-taught Paul`s signature course, Entering the Heart of Shiva (EHS), January to June. Then, from July to December, David and I were given the privilege to teach a brand new course called Indra Dhanu. In 2017 I received permission from Paul to teach the EHS course solo in Japan. This course ran from May to December of 2018.
2016 – 2017: I take up a daily investigative practice of Shadow Yoga. It begins with a series of workshops with founder Shandor Remete, and senior teacher Emma Balnaves. For a year and a half after, I continue study under the guidance of senior level teacher Akiko Ueda.
2017 – present: I am introduced to White Tiger Qigong, via Certified Instructor Kamau Abayomi. I shift my daily investigative physical practice to Qigong. In February of 2018, I attend a three-week training with founder Tevia Feng. In May I become a Certified Instructor of White Tiger Qigong (WTQ). Soon after I begin teaching weekly WTQ classes at BiNDU.
2018 – present: I am introduced to Anthony Korahais’ Qi school, called Flowing Zen. I take a few online courses. In December of 2018 I begin a year-long course, which I am presently engaged with. Serendipity strikes twice, as I happen across Cindy Black, founder of Big Tree School of Natural Healing. In January of 2019, I begin her 4-month online Meridian Massage course to be able to better use acupressure as another tool for healing both myself and other people.
Present Teaching Methodology & Investigations
From 2012, I took on an axiom of my first philosophy teacher, Bruce Lee, who said, “My style is no style.” From that decision, I turned my attention to synthesizing all that I have learned in two decades of study and practice of various styles of Hatha Yoga, and tempered this with the fire of my own insights and discoveries from that practice and study. My practice and teaching are further refined from my present immersive practice and study of Qigong and Chinese Medicine. All of this is then gathered around and grounded into a solid pillar of a decade of Neelakantha Meditation and the philosophical wisdom teachings I have digested and assimilated from my studies with Paul, thus far.
Of course, this is not the final word. I remain, at heart, a curious student, open to be reshaped by new avenues of practice and study that will not only enhance my own life, but as well the life of the sincere student who offers me the opportunity to guide. In fact, there is a new trajectory of practice and study I have entered. The reshaping continues…stay tuned!