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Carol Klammer has practiced Yoga since 1990, and became a Certified Kripalu Yoga
Teacher in 1996. She completed training for Yoga of the Heart™ in 1999. She received
the advanced level, 500 hour Professional Yoga Teacher Certificate in October 2001.
Carol is a Registered Yoga Teacher (R.Y.T.) with the Yoga Alliance, a consortium
of nationally recognized yoga training programs. She most recently completed the
American Viniyoga Institute's Yoga Teacher Training program which began in August
2002, and finished with a 500 hour Teaching Certificate in November 2004. (BIG YAY!)
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with honors (1986) from the University
of Chicago, as well as a Masters Degree in Education from the Erik Erikson Institute
of Chicago (1988).
I have formally been a teacher since I was about 20, when I became an assistant teacher
in the preschool at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. A great debate
in early childhood circles was (is still ?): "Does the curriculum need to adjust
to fit the child who is entering school for the first time, or does the child need
to meet the demands of the curriculum?" The critical nature of this dilemma for influencing
the child's entire learning experience came at a time when I was, myself, forming
vital ideas for my direction in life. Satisfying the curiosity, I attended Erik Erikson
Institute for a master's degree program in child development.
In the graduate program
at Erikson I realized that the whole spectrum of cycles of human development similarly
place the individual in potential tension with her milieu as she needs to meet the
demands of the situation, or, the various actors and elements in her environment
respond to the uniqueness of her needs and personality. Of course as we mature there
is often a balance to be struck. However in preschool, coming to school has a whole
huge set of demands in itself. So I came down on the side of responding to the child's
uniqueness and I learned to make as much space as I could for what each child brought
to the class. I fortunately had excellent guidance and mentoring in this.
Leaving
Chicago was a great adventure, difficult and challenging as well. Leaving the familiar
friends and environment, without a structure or framework (like a definite job or
school program) was a huge step. Many of my obstacles were within myself. (Surprise!
Surprise!) In 1990 when I discovered yoga, I was navigating some of the deepest difficulties
of my life. I was feeling isolated in Connecticut, since I had not yet developed
a network of support to hold me through my stresses. Through the crucible of the
relationship I was in, I faced some painful truths about who, why and how I was,
and I was not too happy about it. Through yoga I was able to find the self-compassionate
way toward the changes I wanted to make. The Kripalu approach to witness consciousness
was the most powerful tool I had ever encountered for making internal changes! I
was able to move ever so slowly toward a direction that made sense to my heart as
well as my mind. The vital impact of finding the compassionate heart of yoga when
I fiercely needed reliable guidance was critical to who I have been able to become:
as a partner and friend, a teacher, as a human being. The guidance is from within.
The yoga practices just clear out the obstacles to hearing, feeling and seeing it.
So
from the time of my earliest teaching experiences, my foundation philosophy has been
to favor that which nurtures the individual. The approach of Viniyoga is a parallel
of this paradigm in yoga-how do I match my student's needs most closely so that her
own inner light is kindled, and she can take flight with her own initiatives & interests?
Simple, but not always easy! How do we learn to get out of our own way? I was fortunate
enough to see myself creating much of my own miserable struggle, and to begin - just
begin - to release myself from it. In western society, demands of the social and
physical environment have overrun the individual's authenticity and vitality far
too much.
Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training is over 200 hours of study that includes asana (postures),
pranayama (breathwork), meditation, relaxation, anatomy and physiology, practicum,
professional skills, and ethics.
The Professional Yoga Teacher Certificate (500 hour)
from Kripalu Center includes required study in teaching Pranayama (breath techniques,)
Meditation, Deeper Practices of Yoga and and Inner Quest Intensive. Other components
of the training include: practicum and mentoring; techniques; teaching methodology;
anatomy and physiology; and Yogic philosophy, ethics and lifestyle.
Carol has assisted at Kripalu Center in Yoga Teacher Training, as well as with master
teachers and guest directors in many other programs.
Yoga of the Heart™ Cardiac Teacher Training is a program of over 85 hours that covers asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), meditation, imagery, deep relaxation techniques, anatomy and physiology, and teaching methodology with particular focus for clients with cardiac and other serious or life threatening diseases. It was designed by Nischala Joy Devi, who co-founded the Commonweal Cancer Treatment program, and who worked with Dr. Dean Ornish, directing the Stress Management component of the heart disease program.
Viniyoga The teachings of Viniyoga are from the yoga master, T. Krishnamacharya.
Krishnamacharya's students include B.K.S. Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, who each went
on to influence large numbers of followers in the yoga approaches they developed
(Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga are both practiced world-wide).
Later in his life,
Krishnamacharya became more concerned with an approach to yoga that is primarily
focused on the needs of an individual. He became more interested in the personal
and therapeutic applications of Yogic practices, and also took as one of his principal
students, his son T.K.V. Desikachar. One of T.K.V. Desikachar's longtime students,
Gary Kraftsow, founded the American Viniyoga Institute.
The American Viniyoga Institute
Teacher Training is a 500 hour program. In the group that began in 2002, there will
be five retreats altogether, and much homework and study in between. Acceptance into
the teacher training programs also requires some familiarity with Gary Kraftsow's
work, and so a student is required to attend a workshop, retreat or seminar before
applying for the teacher training program.
For more information on any of these traditions
and institutes, go to the Programs page.
This is a way for me to let you hear from my students, what their responses to yoga
have been. Add Your Thoughts!
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"I have taken yoga
classes off and on for many years. I found that it was very difficult to find an
instructor who was a serious student of yoga and who embraced the physical and spiritual
unity of this discipline. It has always been a source of fascination for me and I
am delighted to have found Carol's class.
In the 2 months I have taken Carol's class
one of the most amazing things I experienced was how I recovered from a fall I took
on our front sidewalk. Normally, I would be miserable for days (or weeks). I anticipated
the worst, but found I was feeling fine in a day or so with no stiffness or aches.
After
I take a class, that night I sleep like a baby. I'm getting better at continuing
my practice at home.
I love the pace of the classes and the TLC Carol gives us. She
has created an extremely comfortable and welcoming environment. Her humor brings
a sense of ease for her students though it's obvious she is serious about her instruction."
~~ Rosemarie
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"I like it because
I have a hard time taking time for myself and relaxing without everyday interruptions.
The
benefits for me have been that I am more calm and not easily upset by things that
are a waste of energy. It has given me a new outlook on life.
When I come to yoga,
I feel at peace. I particularly like Carol's method of teaching. She has a warm personality
that makes everyone feel welcomed and comfortable.
I'm working on incorporating yoga
with my everyday living. If something bothers me, I focus on my breathing and try
to just let it go. I'm expecting my first child, a definate life-changing experience
that will play with my emotions and I feel that yoga will be a big part of keeping
me focused and be able to enjoy this wonderful addition to my life.
Thank you Carol!
~~ Kristan
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"I think you do an
excellent job of balancing the practice with challenges, and beneficial but not difficult
postures. And you are very good at describing and showing the subtleties of the postures.
I always am trying to talk people into taking your classes! And I highly recommend
yoga for people trying to live with ADD. Thanks Carol!
~~ Sarah
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"The weekly yoga
classes are a retreat from the "real" world that is outside and around us, so we
can get to the "real" world that is inside us. It gives me a rare quiet and peaceful
respite. The classes help me to get back in touch with the very simple connections
within myself and with the world around me.
I look forward to waking up every morning
and putting my two feet on the floor and embarking on whatever will happen on the
given day, looking forward to experiences it will bring, challenging or pleasant.
I wake up on Saturday mornings at the same time as weekdays with a special energy
knowing that I'll be spending part of the morning at yoga. Yoga on Saturday mronings
is my weekly "church". It fulfills me in the same way. I like the inner peace from
meditation, the tingling throughout the body from the breathing and stretching and
strength building, the feeling of community and connection with everyone in the room,
though I don't know most of their names.
Physically, it stretches and limbers the
body. Emotionally, it grounds me and helps me get in touch with the beauty of the
moment. Spiritually, it connects me to those around me in the room, to those in life
who I love, and to those who are no longer with me physically, like my son. Since
I began taking yoga over a year ago, I feel a stronger sense of inner peace, an ability
to better integrate the death of my son, into the changed person I have been forced
to become as a result of his death.
It's a great feeling. I feel relaxed, at peace,
ready to move through the next week.
~~ Paul
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"The classes are
great! Carol takes us through each routine in a thoughtful, step-by-step approach
that helps me to deeply feel each position, have compassion on my muscles, and raises
my overall awareness of being "in" my body. I now find myself recognizing tension
in my muscles sooner, and taking steps to release stress at the early stages, rather
than waiting til I'm "bound up" with tension!
I feel excitement over learning a new
skill, and a growing sense of calm each class. I particularly like the challenging
asanas, which for me are any back-strengthening pose. I had no idea how weak my back
was! But now I'm noticing fewer "twinges" and less lower back pain.
I come to yoga
to release tension & build strength, but I also find myself treasuring this as a
scheduled quiet space in my week. Yoga is a great blend of physical, mental & emotional
exercise! It is truly meditation in motion.
~~ Pam C.
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