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Swami Rama of the Himalayas is founder of the Institute and our spiritual guide in all our teachings. This rare yoga master was born in the Himalayas and raised by the saint, Bengali Baba. He spent his life connecting east and west, utilizing the science of yoga to shape the future for many. He built hospitals and colleges, wrote books and sang songs, always offering love. |
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Swami Jaidev (Justin O'Brien, Th.D., Ph.D.) is a leading teacher in the Himalayan Tradition and a spiritual director of IHT. A disciple of Swami Rama, he has lectured internationally since 1967. Theologian, philosopher, initiator, professor, explorer in consciousness, and author of several award-winning books (Walking with a Himalayan Master, Wellness Tree), he lives for wisdom and share it with all. |
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Ma Devi (Theresa King, M.A.) is a spiritual director of IHT and a life-long student of spirituality. She is a hatha instructor, initiator, writer, and international teacher of personal spiritual growth. She has authored award-winning books (The Spiral Path, Divine Mosaic), and poetry, and is manager of Yes International Publishers and editor of the IHT journal, Himalayan Path. |
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Manuraj (Maynard Speece) is a long-standing initiate in the Himalayan Tradition. He serves as president of IHT. He has worked in chemical dependency treatment facilities for many years, establishing ethics and working as a legislative lobbyist for patient care. He now works for United Care and is a frequent writer for Himalayan Path. |
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INSTRUCTORS |
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Jes Siiteri, Ph.D., PA-C is trained as a research scientist, having earned a doctorate in endocrinology before changing careers to practice medicine as a physician assistant. He is certified in Mind-Body Medicine and is currently developing an integrative medical practice in the subspeciality of urology. An IHT student since 1998, he is a certified meditation instructor and teaches anatomy/physiology for teachers. |
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Bill Murray in the Coast Guard and trapped lobster in Nova Scotia before his painting career. He holds a BFA (Mpls. College of Art and Design) and an MFA (U of MN). For 26 years he was fine arts instructor at the MN Correctional Facility in Stillwater. In 2001 his work won first prize in Artist Magazine’s landscape competition. He and his wife share their home with three cats and a 100 lb. Rottweiler! |
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Dr. Yangbum Gyal received his degrees in traditional Tibetan Medical Science in Tibet and at Men-Tsee-Khang, the Dalai Lama’s institute in Dharamsala, India. He has taught at Indiana University, serves as the USA coordinator for the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine in Dharamsala, and works in Spring Green, WI. He is the author of the book Tibetan Medical Dietary Book. |
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Ken Pearson was initiated into the Himalayan Tradition in October of 1998. He loves to study yoga philosophy and tries (“with varying levels of success,” he says) to put it into practice with everything he does. Ken works as an attorney and has homeschooled his three children with the unending patience and assistance of his wife, Kate. |
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Kate Poole was initiated into the Himalayan Tradition in 1998. After years of study, she assists in teaching at the center as a certified hatha yoga teacher in both beginning and intermediate courses. She homeschools her children, is president of the Institute’s teachers association, and teaches prenatal, beginning, intermediate and advanced hatha yoga at IHT. She wins all with her smile! |
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Dena Jackson came to IHT in 2002 as a certified yoga teacher searching for a true “yoga home” after she had studied hatha yoga and meditation for several years. She was then initiated into the Himalayan Tradition and became a certified hatha teacher at IHT. She serves as vice-president of IHT’s teachers association and as secretary of IHT’s board of directors. |
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Nandini (Nancy Avery), is a certified beginning hatha yoga teacher. A native of Portland, Oregon, she now is an assistant in the offices of IHT and Yes Publishers. She is one of our BETAR technicians and also serves as a photographer for IHT. Nandini lived as an Institute ashram resident for several years and still has a beloved patch of garden on the property! |
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Julia Phillips has been a student and teacher at IHT for several years. Her sunny smile and eagerness to help makes her always welcome. A greatly loved teacher of hatha yoga, she also sews the breathing sandbags and the meditation cushions for the IHT bookstore. Julia is also a certified beginning yoga teacher. |
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Alida Winternheimer has been a student at IHT for several years, attending classes and teacher training. She is a writer and a mother. She is a certified beginning hatha teacher, the secretary of IHTTA, the institute’s teachers association, and teaches the children’s classes as well as Intermediate Hatha classes. She is a writer and book reviewer for Himalayan Path as well. |
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Barbra Bloy has taught yoga to students aged 5 through 75 for the past several years. A long-time student of hatha yoga, she came to the Institute in 2002 and has completed her IHT first hatha certification. Barbra is also a massage therapist trained in Esalen, deep tissue massage, shiatsu, and reflexology. She is also an artist and a cat lover in her busy life. |
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Lynette Nyman is a certified beginning hatha yoga teacher in the Himalayan Tradition through IHT. She was initiated into the tradition in 1998. Lynette holds an MA in cultural anthropology and is a communications professional in the Twin Cities. The beauty of her own hatha yoga postures inspires the students to keep working! |
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Kaitlin Fuller came to IHT in 2003 after teaching hatha yoga for several years. She was initiated in 2004 after her pilgrimage to India with Swami Jaidev and Ma Devi. A certified massage therapist for seven years until the birth of her daughter, she has recently completed her study in IHT beginning hatha yoga and is a certified instructor. |
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Tammy DeCenzo has an M.A. in Health Education and has been practicing hatha yoga for over a decade. She has studied teacher training at IHT and is certified for beginning hatha yoga. Tammy was initiated into the Himalayan Tradition in 2005 and is a serious student of the tradition. She has three children and lives in Stillwater. |
