The beauty of a spiritual journey is that it can begin in any place or time. My Yoga journey began when I was 10 years old. We had just moved from New York city to New Jersey. My mother and I would take the bus to the port authority every week to shop and visit relatives. Every time we walked around this busy sub-way I was fascinated by the young people in saffron robes dancing and chanting in their seemingly ecstatic states.
These excursions were the highlight of my week. As a spiritually precocious curious young girl, my devout Christian mother, God bless her, always supported and encouraged this curiosity. My mother and this intense spiritual curiosity played a significant role in those formative years.
I found myself enthralled with Indian lore and the spiritual stories told. On our weekly jaunts to the city I would be drawn to these books as my mother patiently observed from a safe distance. On my 13th birthday my mother surprised me with a precious gift of beautiful gold bound books.
These were the Bhavagad-gita; with all the teaching stories and colorful pictures I loved. From that moment on my mother and I began to study the philosophy of yoga together.
As a young girl, I was introduced to a yoga community at an Integral Yoga Studio. I was immediately taken under their wing and felt like I found my Shangri la. We took vegetarian cooking classes and I took yoga lessons. Every day after school we would move the coffee table and practiced our Yoga watching “Hatha Yoga with Richard Hittleman.” I bought all his books!
Each night I would turn every page and practice the postures, breathing and meditation until the wee hours of the morning. Resting between each pose [as advised} I remember feeling an incredible strength, peace and a heightened awareness over my whole body.
I have had many great Yoga Masters, Gurus, and teachers but these memories are the sweetest and most precious of all. The seeds were planted then and continue to inspire and enrich my life.
Yoga-the Journey
By Ann harrison
For over 25 years, Ann Harrison’s passion for Ayurveda and Yoga stems from her commitment to the Vedas and to the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle embracing Yoga, Meditation, Holistic therapy and natural foods.
Ann learned the art of Ayurvedic cooking from Usha Lad and for several years served as the head cook for the monks of Kriya yoga meditation workshops throughout the southwest. Ann is an active practitioner of Kriya yoga and has trained intensively in Iyengar Yoga with many masters, including Ramanand Patel, Patricia Walden, and Rodney Yee.
Originally from New York City, Ann moved to Miami back in 1982 where she was introduced to Siddha Yoga. She continued her study of yoga and began teaching at the meditation center in Miami.
Ann graduated from Educating Hands in 1985 and received her license in Massage Therapy. She continued her studies in various types of massage for several years while establishing her private practice. In 1994 she moved to New Mexico to study Ayurveda where she received her certification in Ayurveda from Dr. Vasant Lad. Ann was then offered a staff position at the Ayurvedic Institute and soon after she became the assistant to the director of the Pancha Karma department. She continued her studies with Dr. Lad for several years, and was appointed director of the Yoga department, responsible for developing the Ayur-Yoga program for the institute.
Ann is bringing her rich Ayurvedic background to Hollywood, FL and is now working with JothiVita as the Director of Panchakarma Massage and Yoga.
Buddhiyukto jahati ha
Ubhe sukrtaduskrte
Tasmad yogaya yujyasva
Yogah karmasu kausalam
From the Bhavagad Gita; II 50
"It is the knowledge of Yoga alone that enables an intellectual
whose mind is at peace to discriminate between
good and evil and to steer the course of his life skillfully.."
Director of Panchakarma Massage and Yoga at Jothvita.