My story

The beautiful traditions of Yoga and Ayurveda come from ancient wisdom dating back thousands of years. It no longer surprises me to learn something about yoga or Samkhya philosophy that clearly reflects the emerging science of today. Our understanding of the nervous system is mirrored in the gunas (qualities of nature: sattva, rajas, and tamas). When we look at the body’s systems and how they function, we find similarities in studying vayus (vital energy currents) and nadis (energy channels of the body). It’s amazing. Humans have had this wisdom all along. Traditions like yoga and Ayurveda are rooted in the belief that we are Nature, not separate from it.

This understanding guides my practice and teachings. The closer we get to Nature, the safer and freer we become. Nature shows us the importance of rest, community, sharing resources, resilience building, and beyond. In a world that moves further away from these truths, learning from and connecting to Nature’s rhythms is an act of resistance.

I am beyond grateful for my training in yoga therapy. I found my way to it during a difficult time in my life. My husband had just survived a traumatic brain injury (TBI). During his recovery, I became acutely aware of the injustices and harm upheld by the Medical Industrial Complex. While Western medicine saved my husband’s life, I knew there had to be more ways to heal than in cold, impersonal rooms, disconnected from each other and our humanity.

Yoga therapy taught me a whole-systems approach to healing. It taught me that the mind is not separate from the body, the breath, our relationships, and our emotions. It has gifted me so many tools that restore harmony in our systems, connection to Nature, and connection to one another.

Yoga therapy is often 1-1 work. Because of this it tends to get appropriated in the West to push a hyper-individualized lifestyle. I believe in the power of individual practices, but if these practices don’t take into account the land, community, and ethics—if they don’t allow space for us to explore our contributions to harmful systems—they are being used as a tool for white supremacy. This is a massive problem in the “wellness” world that I do not wish to contribute to. I promise to continue learning from indigenous people, POC, disabled voices, fat-liberators, queer and trans siblings, and beyond as my practice and understanding of these teachings deepens.

We are living during a polycrisis of ecocide and genocide across the globe. Nothing about it is normal. These teachings will not help you look away or feel good at the expense of others; they will ground you in your experience, offer opportunities for deep reflection, help you harness your prana, or “life-force energy,” to sustain you, and deepen your relationship with yourself, the land, your community, and the collective. Whether you found your way here because you are a caregiver, a TBI survivor, sober, or in pain… our struggles are deeply connected. My dream is to build networks of care, share resources, and help one another get empowered to show up for ourselves, the Earth, and each other. Will you join me?

With love and gratitude,

Ray