#souljourney #yogicpath

Angela is a RYT500 yoga instructor and dedicated practitioner of the Himalayan lineage of yoga. Her initial exposure to the yogi life began as a young child when she volunteered on the weekends at nursing homes and hospitals with her Grandparents, spent a great deal of time in worship with her family, and organized neighborhood kids clubs to help those less fortunate. In high school, she began to study world religions, when her father introduced her to mantra meditation, and she read excerpts from his book on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. She used those teachings while building dual careers in patient care and law over the next 10 years, eventually merging paths as a healthcare attorney. 

During her legal career, she stayed close to the path of yoga by writing a thesis on why yoga should be covered under the ADA, lobbying for reimbursable therapeutic remedies, starting 3 medical legal partnerships for low income households, clerking under Equal Justice Works for a homeless shelter and legal aid clinic, organizing company wide fundraisers for animals, and people without food or winter coats, facilitating healthcare access for the homebound as a Presidential Scholar, and was published in the MN Journal of Law, Science and Technology for several articles covering moral concerns in emerging healthcare technology. 

Yogic practice came back into her life when she took a self-health challenge dedicated solely to weight loss. While achieving her goals, she also noticed the many positive impacts on chronic stress, concentration and productivity. In a desire to share these fruits with others, she earned a kundalini yoga and meditation teaching certificate in the Himalayan lineage from Yoga Farm Ithaca, began implementing corporate wellness programs, and taught yoga at work, resorts, and to private clients. 

She then took a pilgrimage to the birthplace of yoga, Rishikesh, India, to study advanced kundalini and white tantra, where she took classes under spiritual masters at the Samadhi Yoga Ashram, participated in a shaktipat ceremony, meditated at the Ganges, and received a blessing at the Kunjapuri Devi Temple. She is currently studying Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra, has applied for adhikaara training, and will complete her Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and eRYT200 certifications this year. She hopes to use her legal background to support the expansion of Yoga Therapy for more holistic medical care.

She spends her free time with family, friends, running marathons, volunteering with the Special Olympics and Humane Society and hiking with her beloved rescue dogs Bonny Rooski and Lucky Kai (Suarez Perez). She is passionate about sharing yoga with her community, and is honored to be a part of her students journeys.