From the Women...

Shepsa says:  "My experience in the Celebrating the Call Training was truly life changing. If you would have told me a year ago I'd be doing a yoga teacher training, I would have said you were crazy. But when I heard about this and how the focus was on not only yoga, but cultivating the sacred feminine energy inherent in women to heal the world, I knew it was for me. Having this sacred immersion in the beautiful mountains and oceans of Puerto Rico I was able to tap into the true energy of the Goddess. Through the training, I have acquired a renewed dedication to my yoga practice as well as skills and practices that have proven invaluable in the launching of my new business. Cathy is an amazing and patient teacher who brilliantly pulls from multiple traditions to weave a training experience you will not find anywhere else."

Heather says..."The word 'healer' drew me to this training at a time when I was in a state of deep grief and self-recrimination.  This training found me and I am so beyond grateful that it did.  It became such a powerful force in my own personal transformation, setting the foundation to start to live a rich, full life in ways I never even would have conceived before, made all the more special because of the community of beautiful, strong women that it brought together." 

Hallie shares:  "Every day I think about how grateful I am that I reached out to Cathy about her training.  From the moment I read the description online, I knew it was the right path for me.  I was looking for more than a yoga teacher training, and I found a life changing experience that I continue to grow from, even beyond graduation.  The training gave me the tools and foundation that I needed to begin to become the person that I truly am meant to be.   Cathy has such a unique background and the yoga and  healing practices that she taught were diverse, yet complementary in the most beautiful way.  Being a part of such a wonderful group of women, led by an honest, engaging teacher that is still willing to learn, has changed my life entirely in the best ways possible.  I am learning who I am while being supported by a community of women who have become life-long friends."  
 


 

Ihotu says:  "I feel transformed as a person.  The experience was very deep; it felt like a rite of passage that every woman needs to have to look back on to draw strength from.  I so enjoyed the healing natural environment, the careful building of community amongst the sisters, and the exposure to many different types of healing traditions.  But above all, I most appreciate my reclaiming of yoga: I have a daily yoga & meditation practice that works for my body and my schedule, and is flexible enough to incorporate my talents, curiosities and urges. It's beyond a series of poses -  I now practice yoga to reconnect with myself, and this practice has become my best friend!  Honestly, there's so much ... it's one of those "no words" experiences, but here's a few to describe what I feel:  "Love, support, strength, being pushed to expand my potential, being exposed, lots of hugs, singing, dancing, telling stories, learning new skills, embracing True Self, falling in love with myself, enjoying each breath."   
 

Yael says:  "Women have been circling together forever.  Invoking Spirit through ritual is deep in our bones. No matter her lineage,  go back far enough, she comes from a community of Healers or Medicine People.  Don’t be fooled by the “yoga teacher training” title. This immersion is so much more than the mainstream yoga immersions popping up in Western culture. Cathy is a modern day Shamanatrix, committed to reclaiming women as sacred healers in today’s world. The ancient rituals surrounding grief, celebration, life-cycles and relationships are cornerstones of the experience. So unique are the bonds formed between the sisters, the openness and vulnerability, the sweetness of being held in community. How humbling that we are all honored for our individual stories, lineages, religions, races.  Held in our fears and insecurities.  It is an Initiation into ourselves, to stand firmly and claim our paths, own our stories and be held accountable for our Lives.  I love that Cathy shares with us what she is most passionate about. There is no trying to be anything that we're not. We just are. And it gets pretty wild…
I have committed to walking a Life with Spirit and there is no turning back.
Once You Know, You can Never un-Know."

 
Padmini shares:  "I found my yoga practice almost ten years ago when suffering from a debilitating chronic back pain condition that left me barely able to walk, and on some days, even talk.  Yoga was my path to physical recovery, and I signed up for Cathy's healer training hoping to learn how to guide others who might be on a similar journey.  What I found in our year together was far greater: the strength to look within myself, to stand tall in the light of the sun, and in the end, to be free." 

Roxanne shares:  "This training is about your own vitality.  This is what Cathy said to us, the first group, on the first night of our training in Puerto Rico.  Those words closed the door on the fear of not being able to "do" the training, and opened the door to what's possible within me.  I came to the training broken, and left the experience connected to a greater love for myself and for others around me.  I am now able to honor my strengths and vulnerabilities a lot more and find that, as a work-in-progress, I am more compassionate toward others who are also works-in-progress.  For that I am forever grateful to Cathy and the sisterhood of women who are a part of this journey."   

Meredith says:  "Celebrating the Call has been a deeply transformative experience for me. After years of yoga practice and searching for the right  teacher training program, I finally took the plunge with this one and I'm so glad I did. It taught me true yoga - yoga beyond sweaty flows and arm balances.  I've learned that yoga is a system for quieting the mind and amplifying inner wisdom. Cathy is invested in each student finding her own practice and developing her own connection to the teachings.  A deep personal connection to the material is what drives great teaching and Cathy knows this, encouraging each woman to find her own way into the practice rather than mimicking someone else's.  She teaches the true basics, the foundation of yoga as a philosophy of spiritual exploration and development that can lead anywhere. As for my own path, I am already scheduled to begin teaching yoga classes for staff at the hospital I work at this Spring!"

Jeana says:  As a dancer, I was introduced to yoga in the mid 70's and I was hooked!  Many times, I thought about doing a teacher training course but dancing was always my first priority. I began taking classes with Cathy right after Shambhala opened in 2001. I knew immediately that she was a special teacher.  When many years later, I received an email from Cathy describing the Call, that her Healer/Yoga Teacher Training was about to begin, I knew that was the training for me. That was why I had waited so long...
The training is simply delightful, delicious, and mind-blowing.  Cathy's profound understanding of the essence of yoga combined with her ability to integrate other spiritual traditions makes this Healer/Yoga Teacher Training so unique. I am so proud to be a graduate of the first class!

Christine shares:  "I want to thank you for all that you offer and share with your students.  I had profound experiences in the realm of chakra work during the training and as a result, was hungry for more exploration on the subject.  I was previously aware of the chakra system, but intellectual understanding is no match for a visceral experience.  I've been learning more about it, and am finding so many insights and realizations about behavior, childhood, relatives, physical pain and healing.  I am grateful for the simple truth that through your own healing journey, Cathy, and the sharing of it all, there comes an outward expansion that helps open doors for those, who by the law of attraction, make their way into your sphere." 

 

To hear more about what some of our women are up to, check out their websites and blogs:

Shepsa:     www.Letgoletgoddess.com

Christine:    www.christineorio.com

Hallie:       www.excusemewhileiyogini.wordpress.com

Heather:    http://journeythroughyoga.com/