Elizabeth Child - Yoga Teacher

Contact Elizabeth at echild@greenlotusyogactr.com

Yoga is more than a way to get fit. It is a path to living a gracious, peaceful life. I’ve this learned through an integrated practice of asana, pranyama, chanting and meditation as taught by my teacher, Maggie Kessel in St. Paul. I found Maggie quite by accident after a period of searching for the yoga style that most fit me. A former dancer and, long ago, gymnast, I loved the vigor and flow of vinyasa, but the slower paced, thoughtful practice Maggie taught took me to a deeply joyful place. Her lineage comes directly from T.K.V. Desikachar (son of Sri T. Krishnamacharya) and his student, Gary Kraftsow, who founded the American Viniyoga Institute. (I have also had the opportunity to learn from Desikachar.) Taken with the style, and after already completing a 200-hour training, I started at square one again and took another 200-hour teacher training course – this time an intensive two-year journey into Viniyoga. The style incorporates very mindful breathwork and, sometimes, chanting. Having never been a singer, I surprised myself by quickly embracing the deep spiritual connection that chanting provided.

I come from a distinctly western mindset, but yoga speaks to my need for gentleness in life. I am a writer, as well, which can be very sedentary, so I love the balance asana provides. I also love golf (yoga has helped me be far less critical of my bogey game), walks, talks, my self-absorbed cat, my generously spirited husband and a good laugh.