Yoga as Therapy
The importance of a good teacher choosing the right class. So often when…
The importance of a good teacher
choosing the right class.
So often when I prepare a class, I find myself thinking about how to include all the aches, pains, and injuries my students and I regularly deal with. After 40, many of us start to feel it in our knees or lower backs. Sometimes it’s our shoulders or necks that call our attention. That’s when I’m reminded how valuable the right kind of teacher training really is.
I’ve been very lucky on my yoga path. I’ve never injured myself through yoga, quite the opposite, actually. My practice has always been a place of support and relief.
I started practicing yoga at 15, already dealing with hip and lower back pain. Back then, I was lucky enough to have access on my TV, to two amazing Iyengar teachers: Rodney Yee and Suzanne Deason. I practiced daily with them, without knowing at that time that all those techniques and instructions, besides the commitment and discipline will help me through my whole life.
Eventually, I found a local studio. The teachers there didn’t emphasize alignment or biomechanics, but by then, something inside me, my body, my heart, and my intuition, already knew how to move safely and wisely. I had built a confidence through all those home practices, which carried me forward.
Princeton, NJ, USA – Montreal, Canada trainings.
Later, life took me to Princeton, where I returned to Iyengar yoga in a lovely studio that became my sanctuary. There, I met Joanne, an extraordinary teacher probably in her 60s, who moved with such grace and strength that I was immediately captivated. She was doing asanas I hadn’t even dared to imagine. Her presence, her discipline, and her spirit inspired me deeply. She quickly became a role model, and I practiced with steady commitment for five beautiful years. I soaked up everything I could from her and the many remarkable teachers she invited to the studio.
Then we moved again, this time to Montreal. The Iyengar institute was too far to reach regularly, but just before leaving Princeton, Joanne had said something that stuck with me: “You might actually connect more with Anusara Yoga.” She was right. As if life was gently guiding me, I discovered that just a short bus ride from my new home was Barrie Risman, a gifted Certified Anusara teacher. She welcomed me into her classes, and soon became my teacher and mentor. I completed my 200-hour training with her, and for the next three years, I took every masterclass and workshop she or her community offered. Those years were a gift, transformative, expansive, unforgettable experiences.
Anusara Yoga
Anusara has its roots in the Iyengar method, but its soul is different. On the mat, we don’t just align the body—we tuned into our emotions, becoming more aware of our feelings and inner experience. Its foundation in non-dual Tantric philosophy teaches that we are not separate from life, but intrinsically connected to everything around us—that within each of us lives a wise, guiding light.
Unlike some traditional paths that focus on transcending the body or the world, non-dual Tantra affirms the value and sacredness of all experience, body, mind, emotion, and spirit. It invites us to see the source of wisdom and meaning not as something outside of us, but as something already present within ourselves and the world we inhabit. This perspective encourages us to engage with life fully, with curiosity and reverence.
Through Anusara, I learned to bring this understanding into my practice, to align not just physically, but to move with intention, to listen inwardly, and to trust the wisdom that resides within us all. It gave me practical tools to explore myself more deeply, and to teach with a sense of clarity, compassion, and openness. To move from the heart
Since 2011, I’ve had the joy and privilege of teaching yoga. And honestly, I learn something new every time I step into a class. I’ve long lost count of the hours I’ve spent in workshops, trainings, or deep philosophical studies. While my formal certification compares to a 500-hour teacher training, I’ve probably passed the 1,000-hour mark years ago.
My curiosity, especially around yoga as a therapeutic practice, continues to lead me forward. I’ve trained with inspiring teachers like Martin Kirk, Doug Keller, Jordan Bloom, and Adam Ballenger. I’ve explored philosophy with Carlos Pomeda, Bill Mahoney and Jayendra Hanley. I’ve studied biomechanics, fascia, functional movement, chair yoga, and so much more.
Without a doubt, my deepest lessons come from teaching, being with real people, hearing their stories, and witnessing their struggles and breakthroughs. I’ve also learned so much through my own practice, navigating injuries, illness, and the challenges we all face. It’s in our journeys that I continue to learn, grow, and find even more meaning to keep learning, studying and teaching.
Yoga has been my constant companion, guide, and friend, from my early days in Chile to the present. Making this a journey of continuous discovery. I truly believe that the guidance of an experienced teacher is invaluable. Whether you’re just beginning your practice or seeking to deepen your understanding, having a knowledgeable teacher by your side can offer insight, support, and help you navigate challenges with greater ease and grace.
This is one of the many things I love about being part of the School of Anusara Yoga. Even though I may not be physically close to my teachers, I continue to feel connected and supported whenever I need it.
I invite you to step onto the mat with an open heart, and allow the wisdom of yoga to guide you toward your own growth and transformation.
