About Erika

Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 Level, Teacher Trainer 200 & 300-Hour Level, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Certified Life Coach, International Retreat facilitator

About Erika

Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 Level, Teacher Trainer 200 & 300-Hour Level, Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Certified Life Coach, International Retreat facilitator

The journey of self-discovery is a long one and like many others both before and after me, mine began at the moment of my first breath; leaving me intensely dedicated to this quest.

Since childhood, I’ve always loved movement. From the age of 13 to 29, I lived to dance. I studied ballet, contemporary, jazz, and musical theater. Dancing was foundational in giving me a deep awareness of my body, the discipline to work hard, and igniting my creativity. My love of yoga grew out of my love of dance.

When I was just out of college meditation was introduced into my life as well as my first spiritual teacher who became a guiding force in my life. She inspired me to look deeper into myself and to fall in love with the various practices of meditation and inner healing work. I was 22 years old.

Around this same time, I found yoga or maybe yoga found me. My first yoga class was one of those moments, when you know your world is about to change . . . for the best . . . and that is exactly what happened. When I left that class, I knew I found the perfect practice which synthesized my love of movement, energy, spirit, and people.

I often tell my students that my first years in yoga were not so much about the physical practice, even though I loved the asana. I was more enchanted with the breathing and energy practices, the chanting, the meditation, and the philosophy. For me, studying yoga was about coming home to my authentic self. I felt so at home inside after a good yoga practice. Strong, settled and more compassionate.

The path with YOGA continues…

My yoga training really began with my first teacher in 1987 who was a student of Sri Tirumalia Krishnamacharya’s and T.K. V. Desikachar. Over the years, I have studied many styles; including Iyengar Yoga, Anusara, Ashtanga, Yin, and most recently the Yoga Works method which is an alignment-based flow style practice. I began teaching yoga in 1992.

The teachers who have influenced me the most in my yoga teaching are Donna Farhi, Judith Hanson Lasater, Sarah Powers, Sianna Sherman, and in recent years the late, Maty Ezraty whom I credit for infusing my yoga asana practice with so much skill. In 2015, I completed an Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor training with James Bailey/Sevanti Institute as a supplement to my yogic studies.

Finding my way with MEDITATION…

I began meditating in my early 20’s with my spiritual teacher and mentor, Erica Knowles who was a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda (Autobiography of a Yogi). Since that time, under the guidance of a handful of teachers, I have studied and practiced meditation daily. I cannot emphasize enough the value of a consistent sitting practice.

Meditation is the heart of my daily self-care practice. I often tell people that to really cultivate a regular meditation practice, you need to fall in love with meditation. To deepen my meditation teaching skills I completed a 2-year Mindfulness Meditation Teacher training program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach in 2019.

Healing more with PSYCHOSYNTHESIS Life Coaching and INTUITIVE Guidance…

In 2010, I began studying psychosynthesis life coaching and intuitive guidance with Kay Taylor. I was called to this form of healing work personally when I was going through a challenging period in my life. Even though I had been a long time yoga, qigong, tai chi, and meditation practitioner, something was lacking in my ability to move through some personal obstacles. Being a spiritual seeker, I wanted to find a type of healing work that included the transpersonal aspect in its approach. I found that in the psychosynthesis process work.

Since that time, I completed more formal training in psychospiritual life coaching with Valerie Silidker and Jon Schottland, graduating with a coaching certificate from the Psychospiritual Institute.

Vitality, Energy & Spirit with QIGONG…

I found qigong in 1991 after I went to see an acupuncturist for some health issues. He was a qigong and tai chi teacher as well, Larry Johnson, OMD, L.AC. Larry told me at the time that acupuncture was good for my wellness but qigong was the more powerful medicine. After over 20+ years of practicing qigong daily, I wholeheartedly believe him.

I find the two paths of yoga and qigong to be incredibly enriching and supportive of each other. Qigong gives me a deeper understanding of the existence and cultivation of vital energy (qi or prana) while yoga provides me with a doorway into the inseparability of my body and mind. They have become an integrated path to wellness.

Today…

after more than 30 years of study and practice, my life is still evolving and I accept this fact with all of my heart. The self-awakening path is a daily practice of inquiry, humility, dedication, and trust.

I look forward to offering back what my teachers so generously gifted to me.

Namaste, Erika