TEACHERS

 

As Ananda has travelled through this lifetime, she’s thought more than most, about Karma. The reason is curious and relevant. Soon after meeting, for fun, her parents, visited with an astrologer who knew they were infertile. Still he insisted they would have three children, all girls. 

 

Many years later, having forgotten the prophecy, the parents learned that her mother was pregnant. Quite randomly, Ananda’s mother joined a friend at a yoga retreat. It was there that Swami Schadananda blessed her and named her first-born daughter, Shanthti.   Later, surprised by yet another pregnancy, a stranger and follower of Muktananda introduced her self to explain that this child was already named Prema. Much later in her life, when age normally prevents this kind of thing, again she was pregnant.  This time it was a friend and sheik who insisted this baby’s name had to be Ananda. For surely with: Peace and Love, Divine bliss must follow.

 

Naturally, they were incredulous - In the face of all Western knowledge, the prophecy had come true.

 

It was not until the chaos of modelling, the yearning for peace, that Ananda began a sincere practice of Yoga. During her travels she was fortunate to learn from many advanced teachers: Jivamukti in London, Eric Shiffman and Shiva Rae in Los Angeles, Cyndi Lee and Elena Brower in N.Y.  Time spent on the mat became essential to staying strong, calm and Peaceful. Maintaining a consistent practice, Pranayama and meditation slowly developed. Defensiveness, inherent in modelling, morphed into feelings of confidence and Love.  With this maturation of feeling, Ananda realized modelling was not the career for her. She needed to increase her knowledge of Yoga.

 

Following a Yoga Works teacher-training program completed in 2008, she came to fully realize her Karmic path: to teach students that by exploring asana, through oneness on the mat, we all can learn how to connect mind and body. Off the mat, we can choose to live each day filled with both strength and softness.

 

Teaching the ability to over-come the extensive challenges of asana is her joy.   For those who want more, Ananda invites them to join her on the path to self-discovery through the mind-body connection manifested in yoga filled with: Shanthi/peace, Prema/love and the ability to rest in their natural state: Ananda/Divine Bliss.

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