Polly’s yoga certification is through the Himalayan Institute and she continues to be influenced by the work of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Sandra Anderson, Pandit Rolf Sovik, and Pandit Jerome Smith. Polly’s approach to teaching honors each individual and is grounded in a mindful exploration of treating the body with respect. Instruction in pranayama, the mindful use of the breath throughout the physical practice, exploring variations on classical yoga poses, and the application of spiritual precepts of yoga are hallmarks of Polly’s approach.
Polly’s experiences at the Himalayan Institute helped her to realize that for her yoga is the art of living fully engaged in the present moment with freedom and clarity. The discovery of the authentic truth of our being lifted her up and opened her heart to receive love and radiate love. Swami Rama said we are all like the little waves in the ocean – we are all made of the same material, interconnected, yet have our own individual rhythm. Yoga affirms this truth that we are all connected, yet have our own unique point of view on the universe. Patanjali tells us that yoga is the state in which there I clarity, expansiveness, and freedom. He also says that yoga is “skill in action”. How we live is the true expression and measure of our yoga practice. In Polly’s teaching she endeavors to explore these truths and affirm that yoga is accessible to all.
Polly is also an AOBTA Certified Shiatsu Practitioner and has been a student of Chinese Medicine since 1997. Polly graduated from the Ohashi Institute in New York in 1999 and studied with Sensei Ohashi in New York, Chicago, and Italy. Polly is on the staff at Zen Shiatsu Chicago, supervising student clinic and teaching all levels of the Shiatsu Technique Classes. Polly is also on the staff of the Integrative Medicine Program at North Shore University Health System (since 2000). Polly treats the patients who come to the Integrative Medicine Program with Shiatsu and also pioneered their Therapeutic Yoga Program and Meditation Classes. It is a beautiful thing for her to see the healing power of yoga in action in a Western Medical setting.
Nourishing the beauty and light in the heart of each student is Polly’s passion. Tibetan Heart Yoga and the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hahn and Pema Chodren influence Polly’s work in her meditation classes. Buddhism and Chinese Five Phase Philosophy beautifully compliment the teachings of Yoga and are interwoven into her meditation and yoga teaching.
In Polly’s Vinyasa classes she honors the variations in the Sun Salutation allowing the movement to ride on the flow of the breath and the inner rhythm of the body. For her Yin Yoga Classes, she synthesizes the meridian stretches from the Taoist tradition with the classical yoga postures. In all of her classes Polly shares the underlying philosophy of Yamas, Niyamas, and the Yoga Sutras. Polly also loves chanting the sacred mantras and sharing the beauty and vibrations of the sacred mantras with her classes.
Yoga heals, yoga inspires, and yoga introduces us to the beauty, light, and truth of the authentic self and I am honored to share my love of yoga with all of you. Please join me for yoga on Saturday mornings from 8:00 – 9:15am, and on Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 10:45am at Heaven Meets Earth’s South Evanston location – 825 Chicago Avenue at the Zen Shiatsu Chicago School and Clinic.
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