Deborah

Deborah has been passionate about yoga since 1975. She completed most of her training as a teacher and massage therapist while she was living in Hawaii. Her first experience with yoga was when a beautiful man gave her Richard Hitlman's 28 Day Yoga Exercise Plan. For the next nine years Deborah faithfully practiced out of this book before she attended her first yoga class. At that first class, an Iyengar class in Hawaii, Deborah knew she was going to be a yoga teacher. Two months later she was teaching yoga five mornings a week to senior citizens. Teaching was a spiritual experience, and a humbling one. “I felt God's grace lead those classes, like it was being channeled through me, as I surrendered my ego,” Deborah recalls. For the next nine years Deborah trained in the Iyengar style with senior teachers. After that she moved to the Kripalu Center for six months.

Students attending Deborah's classes can anticipate a unique Hatha and Hatha flow style, with a focus on alignment, and increased awareness and stretching to the neck. She also considers the importance of the joints, and how to keep them healthy and supported by strong muscles. Students will build core strength as they flow from one pose to the next. The foundation of the feet and legs is also an area of focus, as it is key to moving into a more advanced asana practice. In her personal practice and her teaching, Deborah looks for the balance between strength and flexibility. Her classes are designed to meet the needs of the students, whatever brought them to the studio on that particular day. Deborah hopes that the fun of a flow class will bring joy and peace to her students, and that they leave feeling empowered.

The practice of yoga, in all its forms, has brought her peace, bliss, play, surrender of her ego, creativity, and joy. By practicing regularly she maintains trust and respect for her body. She loves to learn different styles and traditions of yoga, and is always taking new classes and attending conferences. Continuing yogic education expands Deborah's teaching and her life. To stay abreast of the evolution of yoga, Deborah attends regular Yoga Journal conferences. To stay in touch with the roots of the practice, she reads yoga philosophy, and studies Ayurveda.

In addition to teaching yoga, Deborah runs a massage and aesthetics practice in Westlake. She loves to dance, hike, bike, travel and go to spiritual retreats. She has lived in Austin since 1994, and dreams of one day owning a bed and breakfast in Hawaii.

Click here to see when Deborah teaches.

Deborah Recommends:
Yoga for your Body Type by David Frawley
Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda

Favorite quotes:
“Let Go and Let God. It is perfect that I am imperfect. I celebrate my Inner Child. I embrace my uniqueness. I stand for being peaceful, loving, kind and generous.”
“Change is what keeps life interesting and growing, I accept it peacefully, keeping an open heart of trust and understanding.”