Hi Alicia

Good to hear from you. Hope this gets to you, as I never know where these posting really go???

Wonderful you are continuing this important work. You asked me about: a manuel, advanced techer training and a contact in Michigan for your friends sister.

Yes, I use a manuel in my training now. Hope to have it in a book soon. You will get an email about. PLEASE send me your email address (not yogabear or facebook).

No advance training is scheduled, however many requests. I am looking to a date in 2012. Until then I am booked with trainings and retreats.

In the meantime, use the OM Blog to ask questions, make comments and get conversations going with other trained yoga teachers who are interested in all cancers and have experience teaching survivors. http://blog.omyoga.com/page/2

No one has gone thru my training from Traverse City, MI. But I will post that to asktari@gmail.com

Hi Alicia
Thank you for being in my path. How is your teaching going? I am working to turn that manuel into a book that can be shared with all yoga teachers. If you have specific comments, things that were most helpful, or new information you would like to share/add, please let me know. Put in on the blog here. Your comment is a great endorsement. I appreciate that.
More 5-day teacher trainings for cancer survivors are scheduled thru OM. Upcoming: Holbrook, NY, Charleston, SC and Boulder, CO. Pass the info on to others and check their website. www.omyoga.com

Hi Alicia,
Thank you for sharing your story with me. It is an inspirational story of determination and hope! My cancer story began with what I assumed to be an exacerbation of irritable bowel. I was a Resource Specialist for SDCS, and felt that the irritation in my intestines matched that of my heart, as special services have practically disappeared for learning handicapped students. As weeks turned into months, I went to the doctor with fatigue, anxiety, lack of sleep, stomach pain, and was diagnosed with depression. I continued my weekly schedule of part-time work, spiritual work, singing, taking care of my aging mom, keeping house, keeping up with a teen and a marriage partner, going to yoga, low impact aerobics and using weights. When blood appeared, I knew I had cancer. After surgery followed by six months of weekly chemotherapy, I was told 'you don't have cancer anymore, go live your life'. It was then I needed direction the most, and I didn't know where to begin.
Prayer had sustained my spirit, my body felt ravaged by dis-ease and my mind was fragile. I started at home with a yoga tape, five minutes....ten...five...ten..never being able to complete the tape. I felt called to fill a gap. Just as I had done for children, 'catching them up' to their peers, I saw a gap in what I wanted to do and what I could do. Could others have this gap? I asked the director of a little, annex YMCA, where I had belonged for many years, if I could teach a yoga class for survivors. I went about getting trained, looking for adaptive yoga and restorative yoga as a base for my training. Years of practicing yoga let me evaluate my educational gap....teaching has always come naturally to me. I continue to learn and grow. My students are my best teachers and Wednesdays are my favorite days because we will be together. Because the Y has so many instructors and various levels, I teach a restorative class. One that I could have attended during treatment.....Blessings! Joy! Jean

Hi Alicia, Am so looking forward to a class. So sorry I missed last week...Ifell down the stairs- 13 steps and I counted each one as I bumped down them! After a zillion xrays ( just what I needed after 33 weeks of rads) my doctor assures me nothing is broken so I am good to go! See you at 4 Kathy

Good morning Alicia, I would love your recomendations on a short (15 min) daily session. I have a great cd that Shelley Dungan did for me last summer, but it is an hour long and is just too overwhelming for me right now. As my father would say.."my get up and go, got up and went" ! Physically I am feeling fine after surgery, it has been 2 1/2 months and I am pretty well recovered with almost full mobility. Surgeon gave me a go ahead for yoga and thought it was a great idea. Mentally, I am getting into a rut, just hanging around. I am doing rads in Providence so I think the daily trek is wearing on me and limits my time and energy. I need a good swift kick! Thanks for caring, Kathy

Hi Alicia, Hurry back! I took a couple of classes with you in the fall and enjoyed them so much. You were so helpful gracious and kind as I was facing surgery. Your classes gave me the inner strength to face that next part of my journey.

Looking forward to classes in the spring.
namaste,
Kathy