Background in Yoga

Lona has dedicated over 30 years teaching the art of yoga and developing her own practical philosophy. She began practicing yoga in 1969 in the Sivananda method.  In 1973 she made her first trip to Rishikesh, India for more in-depth study at the Sivananda Ashram.  In 1976 she began teaching after completing her first teacher training.  She gradually moved on to study the B.K.S. Iyengar System, and began her Iyengar teacher training with a six month residential study at the Institute for Yoga Teacher Education in San Francisco. After completing her training in England and Scotland she was certified in 1981. This took her back to India several times to take Teacher Intensives directed by B.K.S. Iyengar at the Ramamani Memorial Yoga Institute.  She has participated in numerous workshops given by teachers that have inspired her continuous JOY of teaching others.  Her most influential teachers have been Vishnu Devananda,  B.K.S. Iyengar,  Rama Joti Vernon, Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten.  She loves being a student as well as teacher and continues taking workshops with Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten.  
    For more information on Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten’s workshops, DVD(s) 
    and Books, please visit their website   www.angela-victor.com 

 In the early 80(s) Lona was one of the first yoginis to go to Pakistan and teach yoga. She spent 3 months teaching at the Metropole hotel in Karachi and at a cummunity art center for  women in  Lahore.  She has taught at several yoga centers throughout the Los Angeles area and once taught at the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Institute in Los Angeles for over a period of 10 years.

Background in the Alexander Technique

A chance encounter with the Alexander Technique at a conference in England introduced her to a sensory experience that transformed the way she felt and moved in her body. Being curious she gave herself up to and was able to be fully responsive to the Alexander Teacher who was offering two minute introductory turns.  Gently touching her head and neck, he told her to "DO NOTHING".  Having no preconceived idea of what to expect or how to 'get it right,'  she simply followed his instruction.  She became aware of subtle changes in her body and a 'letting go'.  He then guided her effortlessly to a standing position.  This 'hands on' experience, along with the verbal cue "DO NOTHING' left her with a profound sense of EASE and FREEDOM.  She felt like her whole being had been primed to do anything.  She knew immediately that the Alexander Technique would be a perfect companion to Yoga.  In 1990 she completed a three year training course in the Alexander Technique.  While training in the Technique she continued teaching Yoga and observed how the Alexander Technique SIMPLIFIED  and deepened her practise and teaching of Yoga.  
    She has taught private and group classes in the Alexander Technique in England and
    the U.S.A.