About Us

ANAHATA’S BIO

I was fortunate to begin my practice and study of yoga and meditation with Yoga’s pioneering youth of the sixties and studied with renowned teachers in those early days.

My practice, training, and work experience in yoga and meditation span over four decades and have included a 200 hour certification through the the International Kundalini Yoga Teacher’s Association and the National Yoga Alliance. These include two Prenatal Yoga certifications under Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and one under Stephanie Keach. I opened the Yoga and Wellness Center of Columbia in 1994 as “Kundalini Rising”, and held proprietorship of the center for sixteen years at 2740 Devine Street, relocating to 2730 Millwood for seven years. My associations have included the South Carolina Bar teaching yoga and meditation for substance abuse and mental health risk management, an International Association of Yoga Therapists membership and a license for professional massage therapy in the state of SC.

I was a staff member for the Mind Body Medical Institute’s licensed affiliate program in Columbia S.C. and received training through the Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University under Professor Herbert Benson to teach Yoga and Stress Management skills for medical symptom reduction. To this day I have continued with my practice sharing yoga skills for health and self care.

WHAT IS KUNDALINI?

Kundalini is called by several names and the ideas associated with them: your “life force energy”, “soul self”, or “conscious self.” Kundalini is not something you have to gain! It is your life potential for happiness health and wholeness in mind and body. At this stage of human evolution, it is our conditioning rooted in fear and self doubt that perpetuates unhappiness. Kundalini is your internal energy whereby you grow physically and mentally through life experiences gaining soulful wisdom and awareness.

WHAT IS KUNDALINI YOGA?

Kundalini Yoga, brought to western culture in the mid 60s by Harbhajan Singh Yogi, is for the experience of the timeless core and essence of yoga (union). It is comprehensive in that it is for the whole self (body, mind, emotions and behaviors) a yoga system for health and transformation through self awareness. This yoga practice emphasizes moving meditative yoga exercises through different sets of formulated sequences which are called “kriyas”. Kriyas are often synced with various breath control techniques (pranayama). They may also incorporate mantras, meditations, visualizations and guided relaxation.

Kundalini Yoga practice builds strength and flexibility as in other forms of yoga. It emphasizes awareness of the patterns of the mind body and emotions that are self sabotaging and offers applications for the complex challenges of being you. Kundalini Yoga increases oxygen capacity, improves circulation, balances the glandular system and strengthens the nervous system. It increases self-awareness, vitality, peace of mind, concentration, and self-confidence.

There Is Something For Everyone At Any Age Or In Any State Of Health: If you are an absolute beginner, I suggest private classes or participation in the Stretch & Relax Class. You can also participate in my Beginner’s Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Course. If you are already experienced with pranayama and asana, you are ready for the deepening yoga experience of ongoing Kundalini Yoga And Meditation Level Two classes.