Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana is where I spent my first nine years. After seven moves, I now live in Waterford, Michigan.
Who or what inspired you to be a yoga instructor: After moving from Tennessee to Farmington, I began classes with YAGD founding member, Kathleen Lund, whom I consider my main teacher and mentor. I also took classes from Sandra Krafsur and Karen Farkas during that time, learning much from both ladies. After Kathleen had major surgery, which left her with a frozen shoulder, she would ask me to demonstrate poses. That was followed by asking me to explain benefits and precautions of the poses. After Kathleen’s shoulder healed, she informed me that she was moving to Paradise, Michigan, and that I was to take over her classes. All that time, I thought I was just helping her in class. Instead, she was training me to be a yoga teacher!! (Duh!!) Kathleen then sponsored me for YAGD membership.
Describe your yoga style: It’s always been Hatha Yoga for me!! Since I generally teach night classes, I avoid too many energizing poses, as I want my students to be able to sleep well after class. So we don’t do sun salutations, but salute to the moon instead. I do include an energizing pose or two during class, but balance them with cobra, sphinx and other back bend poses.
What’s your favorite yoga pose: It depends on the circumstances at the time. Different poses for different needs, but always Pranayama!! I practice the square breath almost every night after I’m settled in bed.
What brings you to the mat: Who needs a mat? I do yoga at the desk, in the car, in bed, standing in line – you get the idea! At this point of my life, because of orthopedic issues, I’m not able to teach on the floor – which I desperately miss! For the past four years, I’ve been teaching from a chair. “Do as I say, not as I do!”
Do you work for a yoga studio or have a private practice: After teaching for more than 30 years with Livonia Public Schools Continuing Education, I became an outside teacher consultant for them. My students and I are so looking forward to be able to return to our classes at a Livonia elementary school when they finally allow night Adult Ed classes to reconvene.
Discuss how being a member of YAGD has helped you in your yoga career: When I first began teaching, I learned how to put together a balanced class to present to my students from more experienced yoga teachers. The YAGD has an amazing number of talented members from many different yogic disciplines, from whom I have learned so much. From learning to do a favorite pose in a slightly different way, to having a network of friends to turn to for help with a problem a student may have that I can’t answer. For example, a new male student told me that he was taking a yoga class on the advice of his doctor, and then asked me what poses he should do for an undescended testicle. I gave him a couple of suggestions for gentle abdominal poses, and then was able to turn to male YAGD members for advice (thanks again, Mike, Dan and Hugh!).
Do you have a favorite yoga story from your teaching experience: One night a student came in late for class while we were releasing stress of the day, and the door made a loud bang. Students stirred, but quickly settled, though one lady rapidly sat up and was reaching into her purse before realizing what had happened. After class, she apologized to me. I told her that it was ok, that the noise had startled everyone. At that, she looked at me and said, “You don’t know what my day job is, do you?” Since I learned long ago not to discuss people’s jobs in class, as that increases tension in the room, I told her that I didn’t. She explained that she was a Detroit cop, and was reaching for the gun in her purse. She then said that she had been trained to protect the most important person in the room, which was me in that instance. I told her that I had a problem with that, because part of my job was to protect my students. She looked me in the eye, and simply said, “I’m the one with the gun”!!
Is there anything else you would like to add? I am very grateful to have been a YAGD member for almost 40 years. During that time, I have learned something from almost every member, have made many life-long friends, and appreciate having a network of loving, supportive and talented people. Thank you, all!