John Friend
Practicing yoga for more than forty years and teaching for over twenty years, John devised the methodology of Anusara yoga as a system of Universal Principles of Alignment™ combined with a philosophy that emphasizes the creativity and freedom of every individual. Highlighting self-examination, receptivity and an unconditional awareness of Grace both in practice and in life, cultivating wonder is an integral part of John’s teaching. The quality of heart I experience in John’s teaching is aptly reflected in this quote from Diane Ackerman, “Wonder is a bulky emotion. When it fills your heart, there is no room for anything else.”
Douglas Brooks
Scholar of Hindu Tantrism and Professor of Religion, Dr. Douglas Brooks demonstrates by example that you will grow in your understanding to the extent that you ask. Those who’ve sat nearby and listened to Douglas have been touched by a long lineage of Tantric scholars. While existing as everyday citizens in the eyes of their communities in India, these masters studied and contemplated the ancient texts of the Tantric traditions from a perspective that espoused recognition, inclusion and choice rather than obligation, patently relevant to our existence today. Douglas teaches me that the invitation of yoga is to choose my boundaries and refine my experience of freedom. “What do you want? That question is the gift you give to yourself. Absorb that gift into your heart until it is a deeply personal experience.” -Dr. Douglas Brooks
Hugo Cory
When I met Hugo in 2000, I was already teaching yoga, but very disjointed and deeply discontented within myself. After working with him for more than a decade, I can claim more clarity, cohesiveness, and connection to my intuition. Hugo is now working solely with corporations to clearly articulate their purpose. “We help the head (leadership), body (organization), and heart (purpose) cooperate in a way that is efficient, effective, and in harmony with the natural laws of commerce. The result is the difference between thriving and merely surviving.”
Handel Group
At a pivotal moment, Lauren Zander of the Handel Group significantly shifted my terms of engagement with my work and my family. The Handel methodology is taught to students at MIT and Stanford Business School, top executives at AOL, Vogue and Sony Music, and has effectively helped me actualize an affirmation I’d been given years back: “I will do work that I love, surrounded by gifted, committed people, and live the life of my dreams.” Going forward, I’ll be co-designing yoga sequences with the Handel Group which combine asana with coaching work, to bring more stability and truthfulness to our lives off the mat. It’s a total privilege to be empowering people to move beyond self-limiting concepts and behaviors in order to clarify and achieve their dreams. Information: click on Life Coaching Courses via phone, or click on Life Coaching Live Workshops; email coach@handelgroup.com or call 800. 617. 7040 to connect. And if this is your first contact with the Handel Group, you’ll receive 10 percent off when you mention “Elena Brower.”
Genpo Merzel / Big Mind Work
Within a few minutes of my first serendipitous meeting with Genpo Merzel, I had a sense of what he calls “ruthless compassion” – for myself. Finally. His work shows me the “family” of my Self; all the characters, inner judgments, and walls I’ve built within and around me – and the exalted experience of accepting, respecting and collecting my Self into an authentic unity. His recordings come with me on every trip.
Lida Ahmady
After receiving acupuncture treatment from Lida, I’m connected to the most willing, receptive aspect of my being. Her tireless work on herself comes through in the understanding and generosity in her hands.
William Ng
Geographically highly desirable for me (TriBeCa, on lower Broadway), Dr. Ng was recommended by a dear friend as a fourth-generation real-life Chinese doctor. His reasonably-priced treatments are no-nonsense true healing sessions; after 45 minutes on his table I’m re-calibrated and thoroughly reorganized.
Abdi Assadi
Abdi is an old friend, a gifted writer and extraordinary healer. His acupuncture treatments are highly intuitive and expeditious, and his book, Shadows on the Path, is a favorite.
Pamela Miles
Pamela certified my hands in Reiki Levels I/II. Most inspiring is her unwavering dedication to bring Reiki into medical settings, bringing healing to new heights. Pamela’s book accessibly explains self-treatment so all of us can experience healing Reiki on a daily basis.
Mark Pellerano
Pranic Healing has been a critical element in building my confidence as a mother and a teacher. Addressing the field of energy that surrounds us, Pranic Healing teaches us to perceive, clear and revitalize areas of congestion; and how to see, address and fortify areas of depletion. At 4 years old, my son is aware of how to clear injury and pain from himself or others. The central meditation to Pranic Healing has shifted my understanding of how our own work translates into the work of the world.
Danny Kalatsky
Charged with seemingly sacred humility, Danny’s treatments always yield a feeling of symmetry and balance. His work to open clearer pathways in the body brings a connection to such potent quiet in my body after he’s done his work.
Shannon O’Kelly
Shannon works with many Virayoga students and staff to clear interferences in the spine that affect the body across systems. Working with acute injury, longterm issues, even children from infancy onward, her subtle touch brings balance by encouraging optimal neural communication and development.
Brad Teasdale
Brad’s work is subtle and profoundly healing. He is a student of Nature in the most authentic sense, bringing his understanding of Ayurvedic massage and herbal healing to his treatments. He’s now practicing and teaching at Virayoga, educating us in the subtleties of herbs, nutrition, and self-care.
Zach Dacuk
Through his extensive study with Tom Myers, Zach has refined his use of the KMI approach to free accumulated binding and shortening in connective tissues. He re-educates the body in efficient, energizing patterns. We teach workshops together whenever we can, and whenever I’m injured, he’s the first call I’ll make.
Scott Schwenk
Scott helped me relate to my breathing in a way that shifted my yoga practice and teaching. In just a few sessions, his simple, practical work gave me a taste of freedom I’d never known in my body, clearing the way for deepening asana and meditation ever since.
Patricia Moreno
Plain and simple, my postnatal recovery can be attributed to three things: diligent breastfeeding, sporadic yoga, and Patricia Moreno’s Great Body, Great Life DVD. She fearlessly teaches us how to actually, verbally articulate self-respect and self-love, and once you’ve done her work, you can never look negatively on yourself in the same way, ever again.
