My Experience

From a young age I was intrigued by India. Its deep, vast history, its mysticism, its art...so when I felt it was time to formally train in yoga, I knew I wanted to go to the country this timeless practice was first developed.

In my classic fashion, I went all-in and bought a one-way ticket, eventually spending a year between India and Nepal. My formal training includes a 200-hour Hatha yoga teacher course in which I studied yoga asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, and yoga philosophy. Later, I enrolled in a 6-week course to study both the Bhagavad Gita and Bhakti yoga, the yoga of love and devotion.

During my journey, I have also completed two 10-day silent meditations. One at Hridaya center, focused on teachings by Ramana Maharshi and the other at the renowned S.N. Goenka Vipassana center in Igatpuri, India. While the spiritual path never ends, learning to sit for 10 hours a day in meditation helped me hone a new level of discipline and mental clarity...I'm grateful for every moment I spent sweating, fidgeting, and occassionally, in deep presence on my cushion.
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Once I had left India, though, I still felt like I hadn't found the path or the teacher I had been searching for...I came to find that while classic Hatha yoga has many beautiful and useful facets, it lacks a certain depth. And while Bhakti yoga facilitates an experience of unconditional love, the institution of it still lives by codes of conduct that tell me a different story. So I began to research further into different philosophies. Years before, I had lived on a commune in Nicaragua that claimed to practice Tantra, but no one on the commune could tell me what Tantra was...so I left it alone. Now, sitting in my Airbnb in Istanbul, I decided to explore it further. I came across my current teacher, Dr. Hareesh Wallis, and read his book, "Tantra Illuminated". It was a true homecoming...a recognition of the inherent value and beauty of life, a striking portrayal of the pure, simple divinity found in every being, tree, and even pile of trash. With further study, I found that this specific lineage, Nondualistic Saiva Tantra, flourished in Kashmir, India during the medieval period—a time in which Europe was consumed by the plague and extreme suffering.

Since then, I was accepted into the Tantric Immersion course offered by Hareesh. I didn't realize it at the time, but a large number of those who apply to this program are not accepted. This course, which includes daily ritual practice, orientation to the view, readings, and weekly satsangs with Hareesh has been a beautiful journey, indeed. I am truly grateful for the chance events in my life that led me to this path, to the lineage masters, and to my kula and teacher for helping me internalize these teachings.

It is my deep wish and calling to teach what I have learned, not as theory, but as lived, felt experience. In fact, this is what defines true spirituality—no faith or belief is necessary. Only an openness to learn, practice, and see for oneself.

Self-love that transcends the mundane concept of self and love is real. Deep, abiding awareness is real. A sense of reverence for the divine mother is real. A recognition of self simultaneously empty and full is real. If you're interested in cultivating this kind of yoga practice, I'd love to see you on the mat.

May all beings benefit. OM.