I am a Rolf Practitioner of Structural Integration. Please visit ruthiebodywork.com My teaching I teach a breath-centered, dynamic and multi-dimensional form of Vinyasa Yoga that emphasizes alignment, awareness, and intelligent sequencing. Each class incorporates a brief meditation, a few minutes of simple chanting, some pranayama practice, and a full-body sweaty experience. The physical practice is inspired by the precision of Iyengar Yoga, the movement of Ashtanga Yoga, the importance of bandhas, and the detoxification and opening achieved through ujayii breathing and increasing heat and prana. My style is adaptable for all levels of practitioners, from beginner to advanced and everyone in between. I love to teach for students' specific needs and shift my focus appropriately. I also love teaching children of all ages. The grace of asana, the process of meditation, the study of Hindu mythology, the wisdom of Buddha, the simplicity of Tao, breathing with awareness, cultivating a connection to the Earth, and a holistic-minded approach to living are all practices of turning inwards to empower our goodness and shape our offering to the world. My teaching combines these methods to heal our selves and each other, awaken joy from within, and illuminate our unique spirits. My recent journey traveling through India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka deepened my understanding of the roots of Yoga and developed my knowledge of many spiritual teachings from the East. With enormous gratitude, I am excited to share my experiences and ideas with students and friends, continue investigating the wisdom in our obstacles, fears, and human nature, and explore further the mysteries of Yoga and life. About me I have been practicing yoga since 2000 and teaching since 2003. I started with Iyengar yoga as a method to complement my dancing; I was a dedicated modern dancer and performer, as well as a student of West African dance, for many years. I immediately discovered profound healing and opening through the Iyengar practice. I attended Brown University in Providence, RI, graduated 2003. In Providence I found Tom Gillette, who changed my life forever with his abundant wisdom, charisma, and love. Through his masterful and phenomenal teaching of every aspect of the practice in the form of unique vinyasa classes, I experienced how yoga transcends the physical and penetrates to the mental, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual realms. I began to transform from the inside out, and my love affair with yoga was in full swing. I studied with Tom intensely for over 2 years and participated in his truly amazing teacher training program for many months. Since then I have taught in Providence, Costa Rica, Mexico, and New York City, I did OM Yoga's advanced teacher training, and studied with many incredible and well known teachers. I have also been developing an Ashtanga practice over the past year, including studying in Mysore, India. I continue to be increasingly excited and inspired by yoga, its history and philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism... I practice yoga, meditation, and chanting daily, I love it more than anything, I love to teach. This is my life's work and my life's joy. Teacher Training July 04, NYC . Om Yoga Certification, Road to Om Intensive Program . vinyasa sequencing, adjustments, Om Yoga teaching style October 03 . Yoga Alliance Certification 200 hours March . July 03, Providence RI . Apprenticeship with Tom Gillette, Eyes of the World . assisting, mentoring, adjustment workshops, individualized training Oct 02 . July 03, Providence RI . Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training with Tom Gillette, Eyes of the World . history, philosophy, Hinduism, Buddhism, use of language, voice quality, anatomy instruction training for all levels . asana, pranayama, meditation Teaching Experience 07 . Brooklyn, NYC . Jaya Yoga . vinyasa, beginners series 07 . NYC . The Murphy Institute . lunchtime yoga . beginners Aug 06 . Nov 06, Boulder CO . Studio Be Yoga . vinyasa all levels July 06, Troncones Beach, Mexico . Present Moment Retreat . guest yoga teacher . vinyasa, restorative, meditation Feb 06, Lenox Mass . Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health . assistant for weekend yoga program with Tom Gillette June 05, Saltillo, Mexico . Avemed Casa de Yoga . vinyasa, alignment workshops Jan 05 . May 05, NYC . OM Yoga Center . vinyasa all levels, restorative, kids, families March 04 . March 05, NYC . Gesundheit Center . vinyasa all levels, restorative, meditation, workshops Sept 04 . March 05, NYC . Dancespace Center . subbing vinyasa all levels Aug 04, Puerto Viejo Costa Rica . Samasati Nature Retreat . vinyasa, meditation March 04 . May 04, NYC . Open Skies Yoga . vinyasa all levels Dec 03 . Jan 04, Montezuma Costa Rica . Montezuma Yoga . vinyasa all levels, restorative, meditation Sept 03 . Nov 03, Providence RI . West Side Yoga . vinyasa all levels March 03 . Aug 03, Providence RI . Eyes of the World Yoga Center . hot vinyasa all levels Jan 03 . May 03, Providence RI . Brown University . vinyasa all levels Consistent Study 07 . NYC . Yoga Sutra . Ashtanga Yoga . Christopher Hildebrant 07 . NYC . Iyengar Institute 07 . NYC . Lara Warren, Genny Kapuler, Lisa Landphair June 06 . Dec 06 . Boulder, Colorado . Richard Freeman, The Yoga Workshop . Ashtanga Yoga & Yoga Philosophy Jan 06 . June 06 . NYC . Iyengar Institute July 05, Mysore India . Shashadri . Ashtanga Aug 05, Dharamsala India . Vijay . Ashtanga Apr 05 . 06, NYC . Ethan Nichtern . Buddhist studies & meditation Jan 04 . May 05, NYC . Om Yoga Center . Cyndi Lee, Margi Young, Joe Miller, Lisa Landphair. vinyasa, restorative Dec 04 . Jan 05, NYC . Yoga Shala . Ashtanga 02 . 03, Providence RI . Eyes of the World Yoga . Tom Gillette, Shannah Green . hot vinyasa, meditation, philosophy 01 . 02 , NYC . Iyengar Institute . basic alignment Workshops Oct 07, Integral Yoga . Art of Kirtan . Jai Uttal Sept 07, Kripalu Center . Ecstatic Vinyasa . Tom Gillette Sept 07, Omega Institute . Ecstatic Chant . Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Wah, Sonotam June 06, Providence RI . Richard Freeman and Vyaas Houston . Language of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Sanskrit, Asana April 06, New York City . Bhagavan Das . Kirtan, Chanting and Puja workshop Oct 05, Southern Thailand . Suan Mokkh Buddhist Monastery . Vipassana meditation Sept 04, Philadelphia PA . Doug Swenson . Ashtanga/ vinyasa April 04, Boston MA . Rodney Yee April 04, Boston MA . Aadil Palkhivala . Iyengar inversions April 04, Boston MA . Swami Satchidanda Sept 03, Burlington VT . David Williams . 5 day Ashtanga June 03, Santa Fe NM . Tias Little . vinyasa Recommendation Letter from Tom Gillette June 2004 To whom it may concern, Ruthie has been a close student of mine for many years. We have spent many hundreds of hours together in yoga classes and teacher trainings. She has been my employee and now more my colleague than student. She is a yoga prodigy. I would place Ruthie in the top ten out of hundreds of yoga teachers I have certified over the last 14 years many of whom now run yoga centers. She is that good. Grounded in a diverse dance and yoga history, Ruthie has extensive technical yoga and movement training. She knows the body well. But far more important in my mind is that Ruthie has that unteachable ability to communicate to others her own deep connection to her body and soul. Ruthies enthusiasm is very infectious. Students get electrified being around her. From her very first class, she was immediately pretty awesome. Her students in Providence miss her. Namaste, Tom Gillette Director of Eyes of the World Yoga Center