"Keep knocking, and the JOY inside
Will eventually open a window
And look out to see who's there."
Rumi
About
“May my eyes be never blinded by the surface of things; may my heart be kneaded soft and yielding by life’s trials; may I graciously surrender to the mysterious unfolding of my own life.” - an excerpt from The Little Chest of Ready Blessings by Maria
Yoga has supported my life for the past 17 years through all its ups and downs. As an immigrant from Hungary, the mother of five wonderful sons, and one who was there for herself on every step of her healing journey from a bout of depression brought on by terrifying intrusive thoughts after the birth of my third son; my life is a testimony to the healing power of yoga and how it reconnects one with their inherent wisdom, resilience and resourcefulness in the face of all of life’s challenges. Yoga has proved my fundamental belief that we already have everything within us to survive and thrive on our human journey. So why not get curious about this sense of wholeness and begin to explore it and live it?
And that is my offering to those who wish to work with me either in a group or a private setting: sharing with you simple yet powerful practices (Body Sensing, Breath Sensing, Mudras, Restorative Yoga) and the transformative meditative inquiries of iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation so you uncover your inherent ability to welcome and embrace all of your experiences and all of who you are, while abiding in a sense of wholeness, peace and equanimity.
Originally a teacher of English and Russian Languages from Hungary, I came to Canada more than twenty years ago to be with my Canadian husband whom I met while we were both studying in Russia. Building our life together and fueled by a shared adventurous spirit, we spent almost a decade living in the Canadian Arctic. Of all places, it was in the Arctic that I took my first yoga class on a large towel, in place of a yoga mat, on the linoleum floor of Arctic College. My practice started out simple and after all these years it has remained simple and relevant to my life, guided by my ever-changing needs so I can show up in my life and tend to my share of it.
I started teaching yoga over 12 years ago and have taught yoga, the practice of Mudras and iRest Meditation classes and workshops to various groups and in in different settings.
Since my practice has helped me heal from an anxiety disorder and depression I fell into after the birth of my third son, my passion, throughout my many years of practice and teaching, has been yoga for mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Fueled by deep curiosity and the desire to equip myself with the transformative tools of this ancient practice, I attended numerous trainings and workshops pertaining to mental and emotional health:
Life Force Yoga® for Managing Moods with Amy Weintraub, Yoga for Emotional Balance with Bo Forbes, Yoga for Anxiety, Yoga for Chronic Stress, and Yoga for Depression Teacher Training at Esther Myers Yoga Studio.
I am a devoted practitioner of iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation and also a Certified iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation Teacher. iRest is a form of meditative self-inquiry that research shows effectively reduces PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and chemical dependency; while increasing health, resiliency and well-being. It is a body centered, guided meditation practice for self-regulation and self-care that focuses on physical, psychological and spiritual health.
My curiosity also led me to explore the practice of Mudras (ancient healing hand gestures). I studied the practice of Mudras, their therapeutic applications and the practice of Mudras with Crystals with with Sabrina Mesko PhD. I am a Certified Mudra/Hand Yoga Teacher.
I also hold a Certificate in teaching Restorative Yoga and Yoga for Kids and Families.
One passionate mama in the kitchen, I love feeding my tribe and filling the tummies and nourishing the souls of our five children with yummy dishes from fresh ingredients.
One of my favourite pastimes is drawing in my own comforting, meditative style that I call meditations in ink. My book, The Little Chest of Ready Blessings is the creative outlet of my healing journey from depression.
I love to ride my bike and spend time outdoors to soak up the Light.
My offerings
iRest Meditation
"Life is both dreadful and wonderful. To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects." Thich Nhat Hanh Integrative Restoration, or iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation is a modern-day secular adaptation of the ancient healing practice of Yoga Nidra. The 10-step iRest protocol was developed by Dr Richard Miller, PhD, a world-renowned spiritual teacher, yogic scholar, and clinical psychologist. iRest is a form of meditative self-inquiry that research shows effectively reduces PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and chemical dependency; while increasing health, resiliency and well-being. It is a body centered, guided meditation practice for self-regulation and self-care that focuses on physical, psychological and spiritual health. iRest nourishes qualities such as joy, peacefulness, empathy, forgiveness, patience and loving-kindness toward yourself and others. iRest is an evidence based healing modality useful for people of any cultural background or experience. It can be done in a group or individual setting and is most often practiced lying down, however, one is always invited to find the most supportive position for the meditation. iRest provides you with tools to help you relax deeply, release stress, increase resiliency, improve your interpersonal relationships and provide you with greater mastery and control in your life. Contact me for a private session for yourself or a group session for your organization.
Dyad Co-meditation
"The land of healing lies within; radiant with the happiness that is blindly sought in a thousand outer directions." Swami Vivekananda Dyad Co-meditations are a form of iRest where we meet one-on-one, and welcome everything, just as it is. In this co-meditation, we are learning how to sit face-to-face with ourselves, by sitting face-to-face with another. Simple questions, such as "What is arising in the moment?" What is present now? "Where do you feel that?" keep orienting us to the present moment. A Co-Meditation Dyad is a feeling inquiry where the invitation is always to meet and feel whatever is arising to the degree one can or wants to. By remembering to fully meet each moment , just as it is, integration spontaneously occurs. Contact me for a private session.
Mudra Session
MUDRAS - THE HEALING POWER IN YOUR HANDS "I know a cure for sadness: Let your hands touch something that makes your eyes smile." Mirabai Did you know that our hands and fingers are full of meaning and potent healing energy waiting to be tapped into? Mudras are ancient healing hand gestures that work on our energy body that underlies our physical body. They work by affecting our subtle energy centers called chakras, and energy currents called nadis, as well as our brain centers. They release blocked negative energy and activate a vibrant, healthy energy flow. Mudras strengthen the immune system, balance emotions and aid in mental focus and clarity. They are simple to do, promote self-empowerment and are always at your fingertips. They are a beautiful testimony to our inherent wholeness. Contact me for a private or group Mudra session that can be tailored to your needs.
My book and cards
Contact
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada