About

Background

I came to yoga after a failed acting career. This was the greatest gift I could ever have received. Though my previous life as an actor offered rewards in terms of a measure of excitement, the opportunity for creative expression, and my active, daily involvement in something I felt was meaningful - this was nothing compared to the endless rewards I’ve experienced as a yoga teacher and practitioner. Acting was rewarding - but only to myself. I was craving the experience of having a lasting positive impact on those around me, but couldn’t find an outlet until I explored yoga. Yoga has given me strength, compassion, strong friendships, well-being and meaningful life insights that I doubt I would have had, had I continued to pursue acting or any other career for that matter. I hope that the limitless gifts I’ve received as a yoga teacher translate into my work and are shared with others.

 

How I discovered yoga

My introduction to yoga came at a young age as I watched my father, Taras Cerkevich, practice his daily routine. I’d  often find him in head stands or doing strange and vigorous breathing exercises that, at the time,  seemed just plain weird. It was only after his death that I learned how much he incorporated yoga into his private practice as a clinical psychologist. In college I dabbled in gym yoga classes and was increasingly drawn to the yogic techniques taught by my acting professors as a way to alleviate physical stress and prepare for a role

 

Why practice yoga?

I’ve always been guided by the belief that “there has to be something more to life than a daily routine of work, TV and a few hobbies.” The philosophical, spiritual and scientific tradition of yoga offered me an avenue to further explore this instinct. Having been lucky enough to be inspired by powerful mentors early on, I have always maintained that one should make a career (in other words spend the bulk of your time) doing something that one loves. For me, I needed to believe in that choice as well, and I found that the experiential nature of yoga made it something that was easy to believe in.

Signing up for my first teacher training at a local yoga studio and starting to offer small group classes to my friends seemed natural. My fascination with anatomy and desire to restore some inner peace were a perfect match for a beginning yoga practice.

            In addition to studying yoga, I began training in Thai massage from physical therapist and Anusara yoga teacher Jonas Westring. It was with him that I learned a deeper, more complex level of body dynamics as well as my first true introduction to meditation and the fascinatingly natural movement of energy within the human body, mind and heart.

After a period of teaching at community centers, private homes and pilates studios and corporate venues I begin teaching at my beloved home studio, Flow Yoga Center. I was blessed to be surrounded by talented, experienced teachers with a variety of backgrounds. This supportive and encouraging environment has allowed me to hone and deepen my teaching and personal practice.

 

Specializing in Yoga for Mental Health

            In July of 2007 I grew restless. I had a wealth of clients and classes, but something was missing. I was not making the type of impact that I’d like through my work, and it was then that I began my studies in yoga for anxiety and depression with Amy Wientraub, creator of “Lifeforce yoga” and pioneer in the field of yoga therapy. After receiving my certification for Lifeforce yoga for mood management with Amy, I grew intrigued by the possibility of the application of yoga for trauma recovery.

I then begin studies with Dr. Richard Miller, psychologist, yoga teacher, and director of the Center for Timeless Being. Dr. Miller developed a yoga nidra protocol which is currently being utilized by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have been lucky enough to assist in several of the programs and look forward to continued involvement.

While receiving training focused on yoga and mental health, I set my sights on international work.

 

Yoga in Rwanda

In September of 2007, I traveled to Rwanda to volunteer with an NGO that focuses on conflict resolution and sustainable peace among the youth of the country. I hoped to reach a population that had limited access to mental health providers and share simple techniques for self healing and peace in action. Since empowerment is intrinsic to healing, I felt the best way to serve the population was to teach them to teach others and provide them with something they could continue to explore, share and most importantly, modify to meet their cultural needs. The adaptability of yoga to different cultures and religious traditions, combined with its cost effectiveness, makes it a perfect match for underserved populations.

            Longer term, I hoped that well-trained individuals could serve as catalysts for healing and social change within their communities. The initial program I offered was a success with 30 participants and 11 graduating teachers. A year later, several yoga communities have been created and flourished with regular classes and meetings in and around Kigali, Rwanda.

 

Formation of the non-profit Anahata International

In November of 2007, I set to work creating Anahata International, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to bring yoga to post conflict countries to promote healing and social change. As executive director of Anahata International, I look forward to a year of continued advanced teacher trainings and outreach both in Rwanda and Washington, D.C.

 

 

Yoga Therapy in Washington DC

Currently I am working with Greenleaf Integrative strategies to provide mental health care workers with workshops on the application of complementary and alternative therapies with their patients. I offer workshops on mood management through yoga and  yoga nidra. I enjoy forming partnerships with local physicians, see private clients and continue my studies in the exciting new field of yoga therapy.