Our Lineage: Bridging Ancient Wisdom & Modern Neuroscience
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all Wisdom” – Aristotle
Rooted in Tradition, Growing with Purpose
Yoga’s lineage is a river – ancient, ever-flowing, and nourished by countless teachers. At Life of Wellness Institute, we honor this river while steering it toward modern needs: trauma recovery, nervous system science, and social justice.
Our lineage isn’t just about poses passed down; it’s about adapting timeless principles to help marginalized communities reclaim safety in their bodies. This is yoga as activism.
From Personal Healing to Collective Empowerment
My yoga journey began in 1990, at 16, in a Vancouver Hatha class. Amidst teenage turmoil, the mat became my refuge – a place to rebuild self-trust fractured by life’s chaos. Though I never planned to teach, yoga revealed my dharma: helping others find that same refuge.
Over 30 years, my practice evolved through:
Viniyoga: Studying under Gary Kraftsow, who showed me yoga’s power to adapt to trauma and chronic pain.
Mindfulness: Learning MBSR from Jon Kabat-Zinn, blending neuroscience with breathwork.
Thai Massage & Yoga Therapy: Tools to help students reconnect with bodies burdened by stress.
But my greatest teacher? The students who’ve trusted me with their stories – survivors, activists, and those the wellness industry often ignores.
Guiding Lights on the Path
Gary Kraftsow (Viniyoga):
“Function over form” – his trauma-sensitive sequencing inspires our BE K.I.N.D. methodology.
Rod Stryker (Meditation):
Taught me to use mantra and breath as anchors for anxious minds.
Denise Holden (Integral Yoga):
Connected me to Swami Satchidananda’s Woodstock-era vision of yoga as social unity – a philosophy we extend to marginalized communities today.
Ancient Tools, Modern Justice
We reinterpret classical concepts for today’s challenges:
Tapas (Discipline): Showing up consistently – for ourselves and students navigating trauma.
Svadhyaya (Self-Study): Using neuroscience to understand nervous system patterns, not just Sanskrit texts.
Santosha (Contentment): Finding peace in progress, not perfection – a lifeline for recovering perfectionists.*
This is lineage alive: adapting ayurvedic principles for eating disorder recovery, or prison yoga programs grounded in Patanjali’s ethics.
“From Patanjali’s Sutras to modern neuroscience – our lineage merges ancient wisdom with tools for today’s trauma-informed teachers.”
Write the Next Chapter With Us
Yoga’s lineage grows with each teacher who asks: “How can this practice serve all bodies?” Whether you’re drawn to studios, schools, or activism, we’ll help you honor tradition while forging new paths.