Conversations with Modern Yogis | Healing as Equity
May 17, 2016
Dianne Bondy
Dianne Bondy is a celebrated yoga teacher, social justice activist and leading voice of the Yoga For All movement. Her inclusive view of yoga asana and philosophy inspires and empowers thousands of followers around the world - regardless of their shape, size, ethnicity, or level of ability.
She applies over 1000 hours of training to help her students find freedom, self-expression and radical self-love in their yoga practice. She shares her message and provides millions of followers with affordable access to online yoga classes, workshops and tutorials at her virtual studio: Yogasteya.com. Dianne contributes to Yoga International, Yoga Journal, Do You Yoga, and Elephant Journal. She is featured and profiled in International media outlets: The Guardian, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, and more. She is a spokesperson for diversity in yoga and yoga for larger bodies, as seen in her work with Pennington’s, Gaiam, and the Yoga & Body Image Coalition. Her work is published in the books: Yoga and Body Image, and Yes Yoga Has Curves.
Sara Benin
Sará has worked as a researcher in the fields of of biological, humanistic and social science research for over 15 years. She began graduate school at U.C.L.A. in 2005, where she received her interdepartmental M.A. in Afro-American studies and Political Science. Currently, she is completing her Ph.D. in Education at U.C.L.A. where she researches the biopsychosocial self through a school-based yoga, meditation and pranayama intervention on students experience of toxic stress and well-being. Her passion for contemplative practices and yoga has also led her to complete a year long advanced mindfulness mediation and yoga teacher training at Spirit Rock in Marin, CA. She is also currently working on obtaining her 500-hr yoga teacher certification. She is also a mother, artist, designer, poet and Earth Keeper who loves to dance and spend time by the ocean.
Jennifer Garcia
Jennifer Garcia, PhD, MPH is a public health scholar-activist committed to fighting for health equity. Her research and teaching focus on urban health inequalities, structural racism, and access to resources for communities of color. She is passionate about creating inclusive yoga and meditation spaces where individuals feel comfortable, safe, and welcome. She is a proud graduate of the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program at Green Tree Yoga & Meditation in South Los Angeles. Dr. Garcia serves on the Board of Directors for Green Tree.
Fawntice Finesse
Known as a healing artist, Fawntice Finesse has integrated her life loves of music and alternative and complementary healing, to work with the physical and subtle energies of the living being through music, sound therapy, yoga & mindful movement, and meditation. She has been said to greatly impact lives through her techniques for stress relief and aiding individuals in the self empowerment of awakening, remembering, and putting into action their authentic divine existence.
A graduate of YogaWorks 500 hour Teacher Training and Loyola Marymount University’s Yoga Therapy Certification program, Fawntice Finesse excels in working with individuals, quickly recognizing their strengths, in addition to their challenges and discomforts. Working with students in traditional hatha, vinyasa, restorative, and therapeutic yoga, she enjoys creating and modifying sequences, while offering just the right balance of stimulation and relaxation in their yoga practice. Focus on the accompaniment of breathing, alignment, fluid movement, meditation, gratitude, and a sense of humor is explored in each session.
In addition to being a certified yoga teacher at the Yoga Alliance E-RYT-500 level, Fawntice is a Certified Reiki Master and Certified Sound Therapy Practitioner with specialty in Tibetan Singing Bowls, bells, gongs, and tuning forks, and integrates these healing and well-being modalities in her workshops, classes, private sessions, and retreats. She is also a professional musician with a Master’s Degree in flute performance and integrated media. Fawntice enjoys traveling, exploring the world with her yoga mat, iPad, alto flute especially, and singing bowls in tow. She is a dedicated student of the great masters and path of Tibetan Buddhism, and a daily meditator.
Hi! I teach at Westchester High School Enriched Science Magnets–one magnet is Health Sports Medicine. I’d love to talk to you about how we could be involved with your organization. Originally I was just interested in figuring out how to add yoga to the curriculum. But the social justice workshop (to last minute to get kids onboard I think) would have been even more awesome! We actually are partners with Loyola Marymount U., and I recently ran into a guy who does a yoga program at Orville Wright Middle School. Please contact me at mt LAUSD email if there a way we could work together.