E-RYT500, Lic. Ac., Founder, Summers School of Yin Yoga
I am Yin Yoga teacher, a licensed acupuncturist, and a meditation instructor.
I lead workshops, trainings, and retreats throughout the United States and Europe. I offer an unique perspective to the practice and education of Yin Yoga, in that I am a practicing acupuncturist of 15 years and a dedicated dharma practitioner for 20 years.
Yin Yoga is an inherently meditative approach to yoga that focuses on the connective tissues of the body. It helps to stimulate the energy flow of the meridians, which is a fundamental concept in acupuncture as well. Having an understanding of acupuncture, Yin Yoga and the dharma helps me add depth to my students’ practice.
Trainings and Retreats
I founded the Summers School of Yin Yoga (Yoga Alliance Registered) which offers 200-hour and 300-hour Certifications Yin Yoga Teacher Training, including the following modules:
- Foundations Module (50 hours)
- Mindfulness Module (50 hours)
- Traditional Chinese Meridian (TCM) Module (50 hours)
- Yang Yoga Module (50 hours)
- Practicum Module (30 hours)
- The Retreat (70 hours)
For more on this training please visit: www.yinyogaschool.com
In addition to my workshops and trainings, I offer silent meditation retreats. Here’s a list of all my upcoming retreats.
I also teach within 200-hour and 500-hours advanced yoga studies programs in the United States and Europe. Please contact me if you are interested in including any of my modules in your training curriculum.
Podcast
I produce a podcast called, “Everyday Sublime: Shedding Light on Yin Yoga and Meditation” as a way to illuminate the theory and practice of Yin Yoga, Chinese Medicine, and meditation as three interwoven tools for apprehending the Everyday Sublime. You can find the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and all the other major podcast apps.
Books
In my latest book, “The Power of Mindfulness: Mindfulness Meditation Training in Sport” (2018, Springer International Publishing), my co-author Amy Baltzell and I demonstrate how a clear understanding of mindfulness can help athletes optimize sport performance.
Before that, I was a featured author in “Mindfulness and Performance” (2016, Cambridge University Press), a collection about how performers, coaches, and athletes can use mindfulness to achieve peak performance and improve personal well-being. This book was based on an innovative course called “Mindfulness and Performance,” which I co-designed and co-teach in the School of Education at Boston University.
I also co-authored “The Buddha’s Playbook: Strategies for Enlightened Living” (2011) with Michael Brooks, about practicing a set of simple techniques to make the habit of meditation practice real and relevant.
On the Web
In partnership with Yoga Journal, I produced an online course called, “Yin Yoga 101: The Benefits of Slowing Down.” This 6-week course is an in-depth exploration of the theory and practice of Yin Yoga, delving into the physical, energetic, and meditative aspects of Yin Yoga.
I conduct featured dialogues on meditation and spirituality for MeaningofLife.tv, produced by Robert Wright’s Nonzero Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to spread knowledge and diverse perspectives.
I also blog about mindfulness in what I call my Minute of Mindfulness here on my own site.
Formal Training
I first learned Yin Yoga from Paul Grilley, and trained to teach Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers. My meditation training has been primarily in the Theravada Buddhist lineages, studying with Rodney Smith, the late Sayadaw U Pandita, Ajahn Amaro, and currently Jason Siff.
I received my Masters in Oriental Medicine (MaOM) from the New England School of Acupuncture in Newton, MA. My degree was a dual focus on Chinese Herbology and Japanese styles of acupuncture. After school, I continued my studies with the Japanese Master, Kiiko Matsumoto, and specialize in fertility, musculoskeletal disorders and endocrine imbalances.
Background
I began studying Iyengar yoga in the early nineties with James Murphy in New York City. Since then, I have spent several years in India, Taiwan, and Burma where I studied both yoga and meditation.
As my interest in Buddhist meditation developed, so too did my interest in more contemplative forms of yoga practice. With a professional background in Oriental Medicine and a personal passion for the dharma, I fell in love with Yin Yoga as a beautiful synthesis of the two.
When I’m not practicing, teaching, or writing, you’ll find me out walking my dog, reading crime thrillers (preferably British or Irish), and playing my saxophone.
Philosophy
To quote the great jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry, jazz improvisation is a process of “imitation, assimilation, and innovation.” I’m committed, as a practitioner and as a teacher, to a creative process of continuous learning, re-evaluation, and evolution.