“The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn.”
~David Russell

Ever wonder about the credentials of the yoga teacher standing in the front of your class? It can be downright confusing even to those of us in the industry.

As many of you know, I am a yoga teacher and yoga therapist. What does that even mean?

It means that I am a yoga teacher, but in addition to my 200 hour and 500 hour training (including study of the Sutras, the Hatha Pradipika and other traditional yoga texts), I have at the current time had nearly 1000 hours of mentored clinical experience in both private and small group sessions including oncology, children’s autism, breast cancer, pediatrics, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, palliative care, and many other small group and individual need-specific physician referred environments through the Beaumont School of Yoga Therapy, Level III. This school is registered with Yoga Alliance through the highest level allowed, and is currently in process for accreditation through the International Association of Yoga Therapists. I also have over two years of teaching 4-8 classes per week in a medical environment through Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in the Cardiac Rehab, Oncology and Trauma departments.

What does that mean?

200-hour training means that the individual teacher has studied and taught for a combination of 200 hours. They are qualified to lead the class in several different varieties of yoga flow.

500-hour training means that they have an extra 300 hours (plus the original 200) in training and teaching hours… i.e.: they have more experience, hands on training, and knowledge.

The next designation is actually 800 hours, which means that the teacher has even more training/teaching hours.

Yoga Therapy is a new and developing field specializing in small group classes or individual sessions specific to the individual person’s concerns. Science has proven over and over again that the centuries-old tradition of breathwork and meditation (stilling the mind) can bring calm, lifted spirits and relieve stress. The physical stretching and asana flow are even more beneficial. At any age stretching and flexibility are crucial to good health and feeling/maintaining the best that you can be, as much and as long as possible.

In addition to my training, I have over two years of experience teaching four to eight classes every week in a major medical institution in the areas of Cardiac Rehab, Oncology and Trauma. I teach group classes as well as individual sessions. I am currently in the process of searching for a medical office or yoga studio to partner with, so please let me know if you or anyone you know is interested in partnering in an alternative ground-breaking way.

“I like to see myself as a bridge-builder, that is me building bridges between people, between races, between cultures, between politics, trying to find common ground.”

~T.D. Jakes

Recipe of the Month: Fall Detox Veggie Soup 

From: http://TheHealthyMaven.com

Ingredients

1 Tb olive oil

2 cups sliced cabbage

1 large onion, chopped

128 oz. can diced tomatoes

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

6 cups vegetable stock

2 celery stalks, chopped

2 tsp Italian seasoning

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

1 large sweet potato (2 cups) chopped

1 tsp sea salt

2 cups peeled butternut squash, chopped

2 Tb freshly chopped parsley

Directions:

Heat up a large pot over med-high heat and add olive oil. Throw in onion, carrot, and celery and cook for 3-5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add in sweet potato, butternut squash, and cauliflower and cook for 5 minutes. Top with cabbage, diced tomatoes, vegetable stock, and spices and give it a stir. Bring to a boil and then let simmer, uncovered over medium heat for 30 minutes. Top with fresh parsley and serve warm. It will keep for a week in the refrigerator and freezes well for several months.