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Amanda Hansell |
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In January of 2003, Betsey
announced in the newspaper the Grand Opening
of Garden of the Heart Yoga Center. I was
working for a public relations firm and
one of my responsibilities was to review
the paper. I saw the notice, realized that
it was close to where I worked and cut it
out for myself. The announcement went in
my day planner and I forgot it. In August
of that year it fell out of the planner,
I picked it up and thought I should call.
On the first ring, Betsey answered the phone.
That week was free samples at the studio
and I was welcome to come the next evening
and try it out. Vesna made the first experience
one I wanted to repeat for the rest of my
life. In February of 2004, at the age of
34, after only six months of doing yoga,
I got pregnant - something I had believed
was impossible. My mom still says it was
because I became aligned properly (and she
isn’t a yogi!). I learned to do handstand
before my son Phoenix was born in October!
My mom and entire family will tell you
that I was dancing before I could even walk.
I love to move and was always considered
to be ‘flexible’, but that wasn’t
actually the case. I am considered double
jointed and everything that wasn’t
supposed to move was actually doing the ‘stretching’.
I moved to Orlando and worked for Disney
World for twelve years. The position that
I held the longest and loved the most was
in the character department doing stage
shows. Those days proved to take a physical
toll on my body with three herniated discs,
painful knees, and severe neck and shoulder
pain. Those things never mattered because
I got to use all of my crazy energy and
make people smile. To this day I work to
recreate that inner smile through my yoga.
Not that its work, but true bliss every
time I can see someone getting what I am
trying to teach.
Yoga has proved
to be a rebirth for my body. Not just because
I had Phoenix, but because I learned to
use my body properly through the principles
of alignment. In 2007 I graduated from Betsey’s
Yoga Teacher Training. I began, and continue
to teach in Venice at a few different places,
I am still working on becoming certified
in Anusara, but feel truly blessed to have
a home with a loving Kula, here at Garden
of the Heart.
I always smile when
I meet someone who doesn’t do yoga
and they say that they could never be a
pretzel. I tell them, “I hope not,
because I don’t think you would taste
very good.” All you have to be able
to do in yoga is say yes to the possibility
of change, yes to the possibility of personal
growth and yes to all that life has to offer.
I also like to remind them that unless they
try something they never know what they
are missing. If it hadn’t been for
my saying yes, I may never have gotten my
son, Phoenix. I might still be sitting in
a public relations firm just surviving,
instead of teaching yoga and thriving. Even
if I don’t manage to do a drop back
into my backbend without help, at least
I took the time to explore the possibility. |
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Cheryl Chaffee |
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I took my first Anusara
yoga class in 2004, and from that very first
day I knew that I would teach yoga. It was
as if my whole life had been leading up
to that moment, and a big explosion went
off in my mind and in my heart, and I knew
that I had found my happy place. As a child,
I learned ballet, took piano and guitar
lessons, sang in choirs, and acted in the
musical theater performances at school.
As an adult, I never quite felt like I fit
into the "typical" mold, being
a strict vegetarian, homeschooling my children,
and even taking my family out in the woods
to live in a cabin for two years! For me,
one of the beautiful things about yoga is
that it does not ask you to fit any mold,
it allows you to express and celebrate your
unique-ness. It helps you to put aside the
things you think you ought to be, and helps
you accept what is happening in the present
moment.
Many people say to me, "Oh,
I could never do yoga, I'm not flexible
enough." This always brings a smile
to my face, since when I first started taking
yoga classes, I could not touch my toes!
Over the years, I have increased my flexibility
as well as my strength, in both my body
and my mind. Yoga has opened me to so many
possibilities, it has taught me to take
on challenges and it has opened my eyes
to a more spiritual way of thinking. Recently,
I have discovered kirtan, and am so happy
to be combining my lifelong love of music
with this new spirituality. It is another
way in which I can help others to connect
with the goodness in their hearts, to raise
their vibration and consciousness, and to
create more peace and joy in the world. |
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Cindy Turner |
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Little changes can lead
to big changes, and that is how my story
starts. I started taking yoga classes in
1998 because I had tight muscles from doing
weights. I loved the deep stretches of the
yoga poses, but also enjoyed the relaxing
benefits of a regular yoga practice. Out
of the blue, I was offered to teach a yoga
class at a local gym; I did not realize
that this would set forth a chain of events
that would transform my life.
I took
a weekend workshop with YogaFit, which gave
me the skills to teach. I then began to
experiment with other yoga systems, such
as Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Tri-yoga &
Kundalini. I noticed one of my students
had beautiful form and expression to her
poses and she told me that her teacher was
Betsey Downing. I attended my first workshop
with Betsey in May 2002. Because of Betsey's
style and intelligence, I gained a new perspective
and insight into my yoga practice. I decided
to study exclusively with Betsey, as she
was about to begin her first Immersion course
and Teacher Training in Sarasota, FL.
I attended my first John Friend Workshop
in Dec. of 2003. I was so impressed by his
amazing ability to move and transform energy
in a room and connect personally with a
very large audience. He can genuinely inspire
and help other people because of his strong
spiritual connection. Personally, I had
arrived at this weekend workshop very stressed
and left with a whole new perspective of
hope. I realized that there are choices
in how to live your life.
Despite
the obstacles of a single parent, I managed
to complete Betsey's Teacher Training in
July' 2005 and have had the privilege to
study with a plethora of Anusara Certified
Teachers at Garden of the Heart Yoga Center.
I have traveled to study with John Friend
and have met so many wonderful people. They
all have inspired me with their wisdom,
creativity and love. For the first time
in my life, I know the direction I want
my life to take.
Hopefully, with
hard work and determination, I will become
Anusara Certified over the course of the
next year. As I enter the certification
process, I will look on it as a “Life
Affirming” time of transformation.
This will be a true expression of my desire
to grow as a person, a yogini. My wish and
intent for the next five years are to offer
my skills in service to others as a Yoga
Therapist. I will remember John Friend's
words at each juncture, “The only way
you fail is if you give up.”
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Jaye Martin |
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I've always been physically
active. I ran track in HS, swam in college,
and have always enjoyed skating, gardening,
hiking, and canoeing since I was a kid.
Of course, my career as a professional dancer
was the most physically demanding thing
I've ever done. Being a classical ballet
dancer can be very stressful for the mind
as well as the body...sometimes performing
twice a day, rehearsing, and taking class
in order to stay in shape and keep up technical
standards. When not performing, sometimes
I felt like I was at a constant audition
with pressure to always look good and act
vibrant and energetic even if I was tired
or injured.... This was very important in
order to be cast in good roles. In the ballet
world it wasn't much about how you felt
or whether or not you listened to your inner
voice, it was about what you looked like
on stage, performing and acting. I did some
damage to my body. I was in subconscious
denial of this for years. Thankfully, through
yoga, the damage is revealed to me, sometimes
it's repaired itself! When I look back,
I see profound changes in my body since
beginning yoga in 1998. These days I almost
always feel good! If I don't, I'm very likely
to listen to my inner voice and respond
in an appropriate way. My body can move
and express in ways it never did, I'm a
better listener, more compassionate and
WAY more balanced than ever in regard to
my physicality.
Of course, Yoga is
something much bigger to me than the physical.
The reason I first came to yoga class was
for stress relief. Working as a dancer was
stressful enough, but then I was going through
a divorce at the same time. I needed to
be accepted, loved, just as I was. I needed
to believe and know that I was good and
worthy of unconditional love no matter what
I looked like, no matter how I performed. Yoga
has brought all this and more to me. I especially
cherish the heartfelt connection to all,
the feeling of oneness, and that we are
co-creators in this experience...in the
universe. What a big blessing it is! And
what a wonderful gift it is for me to teach,
to help and empower others the way my teachers
have done for me. Blessings and all love
to all my teachers including the one inside
of me!
Visit Jaye’s website to read more about Jaye and see his travel schedule |
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Lynne Buchanan |
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I have always been a positive, happy person with lots of energy, but I never really knew what I wanted to do when I grew up and was always seeking what would imbue my existence with greater meaning. During the course of my life, I earned advanced degrees in business, art history, and English and have been a gallery assistant, city government worker, teacher, and banker. I also raised three children, and part of the time as a single mother. I had many responsibilities, and I thought that taking the time to discover a path that would bring me true joy and a sense of fulfillment was a luxury I could not afford. Instead, I kept working at jobs that did not fit my personality. When I tried creative pursuits, I gave up too early because I never felt I would be good enough. There was always a sense of longing in my heart to be something else.
When I discovered Anusara yoga, my world changed. I learned to quiet my monkey mind and eliminate self-limiting beliefs. Daily practice taught me about commitment and the joys of accomplishing new poses after a lot of dedicated practice. I quickly perceived that discovering my true dharma was an obligation and not a luxury. I had always thought my role was to serve my family and community, but yoga showed me that to be truly of service to others we have to first better know ourselves. Since I have always felt a deep spiritual connection to nature, the concept that we should align ourselves with the flow of nature to step into the fullness of who we truly are really resonated with me. Seeing the deep order in nature as a reflection of spirit made me trust in something bigger, and realize that this order is always there to support us; that we each have everything we need to discover to follow our true calling in life. As my practice deepened and I came more into my heart, I felt increasingly joyful – as if I was coming home to myself. I knew I was on a path that I wanted to stay with for the rest of my life. I decided to become a yoga teacher, and help others find their way along the path of awakening.
In February 2011, I attended the Dancing with the Divine Workshop given by John Friend in Miami. His emphasis on creativity and our role as co-creators of the universe led to a major breakthrough in my consciousness. I connected with my lifelong desire to become a fine art photographer. Although I have studied art extensively and have been taking pictures for years, due to feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt, I kept my work hidden and never believed I could be successful as an artist. Practicing with John Friend and listening to him speak made those self-limiting beliefs disappear and I signed up for a photography workshop in the Everglades with Jeff Ripple and Clyde Butcher. I was motivated to move to a higher level of work and change from seeing myself as an amateur to becoming a professional photographer. The lessons yoga taught me about living with an open, receptive heart, looking for the divine in nature, believing the universe provides us with all we need to succeed, and the importance of good studentship also proved invaluable in becoming a photographer. From not knowing what I wanted to do, to pursuing two paths that so seamlessly mesh together with heartfelt dedication and devotion is very exciting and fulfilling. I am happier than I have ever been and feel blessed to have come in contact with amazing teachers and artists, and to have connected with my own inner teacher. When you pursue your dreams with passion, then you are aligned with the universe and amazing things will happen. |
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Paula Morris |
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I'm coming up on an anniversary.
Five years ago, just after Labor Day, I
was laid off from my full-time job, and
the stress and setback of that unexpected
action was the momentum and catalyst for
my going to Garden of the Heart and trying
yoga. What looked like a really bad turn
of events at the time, actually was a Blessed
course correction. That was September 2006.
It was a call to do Yoga and I answered
it.
With time on my hands I hadn't had
before, and a dormant interest in yoga that
had never before got off the ground, I dived
into it fully. My background as a Pilates
instructor and a classroom teacher for thirteen
years found an easy relationship with yoga.
Under the supportive wings of the Anusara
Principles, the progressive syllabus, and
the inspiring teachers that graced GOH,
I advanced quickly in the asana practice
and found an unexpected desire propelling
me to the even greater challenge of teacher
training. I already had well-developed spiritual,
physical, and studentship muscles. Even
so, I wasn't really sure I was ready to
teach yoga but I wanted to try. In 2007,
I immersed myself in yoga, completing my
teacher training and registering with the
Yoga Alliance by year-end. I was actually
in no hurry to teach. I was content letting
it all germinate for a while. But the call
came anyway.
Several months later, GOH
had a vacancy and Betsey Downing invited
me to teach here. Out of almost no push
of my own to do so, ready or not it seemed,
here I must go. When Betsey asked me, there
was no hesitation in my answer. From somewhere
deep within me and with every part of me
there arose a want I hadn't realized was
so strong, a want to be part of that experience,
to teach at GOH with that community. Though
I had doubts I measured up, I answered the
call. I said yes to that challenge too.
So it was that in 2008 the Universe called
on me to deepen my practice and teach Yoga.
Like approaching any advanced pose,
mastery is not a smooth, straight line of
immediate success, and applying what you
have learned in order to teach others is
like tackling a super-advanced pose. You're
going to falter. It's going to be inconsistent
and awkward, strong and weak in various
places, and you may stumble far more often
than you succeed at first. You may re-consider
what you thought you wanted or what you
thought was possible. But if you continue
nonetheless, you grow as a teacher the same
way you grow into mastery of a seemingly
impossible pose: by applying courage, willingness,
awareness, practice, perseverance, humility,
failures, successes, and commitment. Along
the way, you discover that to really do
Yoga you must become Yoga. It’s more about
what’s going on inside.
Which brings
me to September 2011. On my fifth anniversary
of doing Yoga, this is what’s been on my
mind all year. I hear another call and it’s
beyond doing, beyond even teaching. It's
the call to Be Yoga in everything and every
way I live. It doesn't cut out the other
things I do, it includes everything I do
and everything I am into my practice. It's
an auspicious call on my fifth anniversary.
I’m answering Yes to this one too.... maybe
you'll join me in this alignment and we'll
keep company in the community of our hearts.
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Randall Buskirk |
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Once or twice a year,
when I was a kid, a magician would come
to town and do a show in the school gym.
My friends and I had gotten interested in
magic tricks and gimmicks you could carry
around, coins that appeared and disappeared,
objects that amazingly changed color. Pocket
miracles. Soon we'd be able to read minds
and predict the future, reveal or conceal
secrets as appropriate. These things always
worked at home in front of a mirror, but
in performance they quickly turned mundane.
Coins and cards dropped to the floor. Suave,
adult patter provided with the tricks sounded
even more ridiculous from a 12-year old.
One day a real magician came who had the
same kind of show that always cursed us-rabbits
popped up at the wrong place, birds flew
away, balls rolled across the floor. But
we were out of class, so it was still great
fun. After the show I went backstage and
persuaded the magician to let me help him
pack up his tricks. He relented and said, “Ok,
kid, take this box out to the van.”
He was surly and smoked a cigarette and
argued with his wife who doubled as his
lovely assistant. We packed the splintered
plywood cases into the van and shut the
door. He reached into his wallet and said, “Here's
my card, kid.” I kept it for a long
time, maybe even wrote him a letter. But
no secrets were ever revealed. It wouldn't
be the last time I was disillusioned.
I still searched for the magic. I longed
to understand the mystery. I knew there
had to be something else because I felt
it so strongly. I shot basketballs and threw
baseballs. I picked up a guitar and dragged
it around and said “Show me that song,”
or “How do you play that lick?”
I read books and looked for the revelation
in words. I studied physics and tried to
solve the equations. I looked at paintings,
at color and form. I drank a lot of beer,
worked crap jobs, and had guns put to my
head. I played in bands, wrote some stories,
wrote some poems, wrote some songs. I searched
for love and a place in the world.
And then one day I walked into a yoga
class at a gym and practiced in my sneakers.
I didn't know where I was, but it felt like
home. I went back another time, then finally
took my shoes off and dived in. Let me tell
you, it's a deep pool. When I emerged I
felt clean and good and my breath came easy
and I felt alive like that for days. I wanted
more of it. I felt connected to that mystery
again, that I moved within it and it moved
within me. It wasn't the mystery of darkness,
but instead the mystery of light. And this
light began to shine on those things I was
still searching for, so that now they seem
almost within reach, and if I stretch just
a little farther…. See, I'm not sure
how to talk about yoga, but if given a chance
I'll talk all day. So just let me say come
to the studio, come to the mat. Come home
to your heart, wherever you are.
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Stephen Gillum |
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When I was 19 my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I was devastated and
angry with God . As I started to think about God and how does all of this work,
I began to look at eastern thought. Even as a child I was fascinated with India
and Japan. I was never able to buy into the God in the sky idea . I started
reading books on Yoga and Meditation. They made sense in a very deep way,so I
began to do asans breathing and meditation on my own, always thinking in the
back of my mind that one day I might meet a Guru. I moved to Sarasota in 1975
after coming in contact with The Light of Yoga Society. They were building an
Ashram so I decided to help, having a background in construction. They said I
could live in the Ashram and meals would be provided if I helped build it. This
sounded like a good idea to a young man in his 20s. So I found my self living
and working at the Yoga Center on Orange Ave. They asked me to go to India with
them in the summer of 1976. The next thing I knew I was in teacher training and
living on a houseboat in Kashmir studying with Swami Laksmanjoo. This was a
magical, wonderful time, learning Yoga under the stars on Dal Lake in Kashmir.
This is also where I meet my beautiful wife to be Maureen . I continued training
for three more years, living in the ashram ,returning to India three more times.
I moved to Cleveland in 1979 where I taught for 11years. Meditation became my
main focus. I studied and taught with Dr. Kulkarni, a Tantric master, who holds
a Phd. In Chemistry and Sanskrit. I had always been drawn to Zen and started to
meditate with the Zen Center in Cleveland which was connected with Dia Bosatu
Mountain Monastery. wI I was able to go deep into meditation. Maureen and I
moved back to Sarasota in 1999. She began to attend classes at The Garden of The
Heart. I met several people here and feel drawn to teach my life’s passion
meditation. I feel very fortunate to have found such a beautiful place with so
many beautiful people to teach meditation again. My life has been very blessed
and I sincerely hope that I can in some way help others to find the deep peace
and joy I have found through my meditation practice. I feel it is what is needed
in our busy lives and the best gift we can give the world. Happy Healthy People!
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