Y.E.S. Salutes!
The Y.E.S. Salute is our way of honoring our members for their work and passion. Members are randomly selected each month from our current member community.
Ayosea, 80+ Yoga Teacher
"I do thank you for honoring my age and experience. I think young people do need to know what has gone into the structure of the programs they are involved in today. History counts!!"
Read Ayosea's Letter and hear about her Yoga Journey through the years!
Claire Schwartz
You have a very demanding “regular” job. Has your personal practice helped you in that job? How about your teaching?
Yes, my job as a Chief Information Officer is demanding and challenges me in every way possible. I manage technology for a large public organization and so there is no ‘down day’ or ‘time to think’…it’s very fast paced and unforgiving. My personal practice teaches me to not take myself too seriously, to give myself permission to just try to accept, be myself, and to live IN THE NOW and breathe!
When I teach, I teach what I know. I stray from things that might impress my students. I try to lead by example without getting all wrapped up in the 'shoulda, woulda, coulda' of things. I teach as a way to connect with others, to be authentic, and to make a difference. Know your truth, and live it.
What advice would you give anyone considering becoming a yoga teacher?
Knowing when to pause! That's something I work on each time I teach. Also another biggy...Don’t forget your own practice! Make an effort to keep some of your personal energy for yourself. That point seems so simple and obvious, and I thought that ' I wouldn’t let that happen'! Well it does, and it's a product of being a teacher and preparing for classes.(at least the way I approach things.)
What do you love most about teaching?
That maybe I can help make a difference for someone, one hour at a time! Just imagine if everyone in the world brought yoga into their lives that way. We might have a chance at a happy world. The blending of a physical practice, the calming of the mind, and the sound and focus of our breath….That’s a simplicity that could change our world and the planet.
Sheyna Purna (Sandy)Peace
How long have you been a practicing yogini?
I began practicing in late summer 2001, following a back injury. A neighbor brought over a “Yoga Zone” DVD (Alan Finger) and I began a daily practice. It worked better than rest, meds, chiropractic or Physical Therapy. My massage therapist in Ramona was going to a local yoga class and I tagged along. This happened to be a Svaroopa® yoga class, and I got hooked!
Do you currently teach yoga full time?
I currently work full time in Radiography, and teach two Svaroopa® yoga classes: Monday evening - Continuing level and Thursday evening - Deeper level. I plan to retire from my full time job in a year or so and I plan to open a yoga and meditation center in the Poway/Rancho Bernardo area. I will continue advanced teacher trainings to offer Continuing level, Deeper level, Pre-Natal and Gentle level yoga classes, will offer Yoga Therapy and Vichara, and will become a certified Meditation teacher as well.
What part of yoga are you able to “take off the mat” and infuse into your daily life?
Although asana is a large part of daily practice, yoga is so much more. Infused into my daily life is the pause between the breaths, the pause between intake of information and response. Yoga is meditation, asana, and study of the texts. Yoga is seeing God in each person I meet. There is really little separation between my practice and my life – yoga is the inner search in the depths of my being, finding the sameness, as opposed to focus on separation. I am a part time yoga teacher and a full-time yogini. There is nothing more than the Self – that which I already am. Sometimes it's right there, right with me, and sometimes seems far away.
What have you personally gained that you can attribute to yoga?
Before yoga I wasn't that into volunteerism, and YES was a wonderful introduction to Seva. For that reason, I served as YES Vice President from June 2006 to 2007, and as President from June 2007 to January 2009. Yoga is service. Seva, or Karma Yoga, has offered so many growth opportunities. I currently am a mentor in the Master Yoga teacher training program, a member of the Master Yoga Standards of Practices committee (based upon the Yamas and Niyamas of yoga), and assist Swami Nirmalananda with several ongoing projects for Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram (www.svaroopavidya.org).
For additional information on Sheyna Purna (and to learn what her name signifies) feel free to check out a previous article at: Examiner.com
