Denise Lapides: Teacher Feature June 2010

What got you into yoga? When Where Why?

I fell into yoga, visiting a friend in Switzerland and her yoga teacher was my first. I had a profound experience of pure inner silence, and knew from that, that something very deep and transformative had occurred.

I returned home, immediately found a very spiritual teacher, and my journey into my heart began. I had been on a nearly year long quest at that point to find my relationship to myself, and when the yoga appeared, it was, in my feeling, meant to be.

When and why did you decide to start teaching?

Within one year of a devoted daily practice, I began to feel that if I could feel this good from yoga, I wanted so much to share that with others, and thus I was drawn into teacher training.

My first one was with Bobbi Golden, in Miami, FL, a Level III Iyengar master teacher. She shared her love and practice and was very encouraging to us newbies. She made it clear that it did not matter how long we had been on our mat, but what was in our heart and our devotion to learning that was most important.

Briefly describe your training and influential teachers.

After that first TT with Bobbi Golden, I began to study with many other teachers. I spent weeks and months in intensives learning from a myriad of incredibly inspiring and knowledgeable teachers: Rodney Yee, Angela Farmer, Shiva Rea, David Life, Sharon Gannon, Jonny Kest, and several years of classes and apprenticing at Unity Woods in Bethesda, MD, one of the east coast's premier Iyengar studios.

Eventually I found my way to Kundalini Yoga and began to study with Gurumukh, Deva Kaur and Kirn Kaur as well as Shakta Kaur. My love for yoga transcends all forms and styles.

After spending a month in India just recently, I feel even more connected to the ancient path and wisdom of yoga and know that it all comes from the one place of the heart wanting to realize its divinity.

Briefly describe your personal approach to the practice.

My desire and intention is to always continue to educate myself, practice what I teach and to grow continuously. I completed two 200-HR teacher trainings, one in Hatha Yoga and one in Kundalini.

In 2008 I completed my 500-HR teacher training with Anusara-based master teachers with a heavy influence in Ayurveda and am nearing completion of the Kundalini yoga Level II modules.

As an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and teacher trainer, both in Hatha and Kundalini Yoga, I feel that my whole life and destiny are directed at being a channel for these sacred and phenomenal teachings of our ancient saints and masters to come through.

Briefly describe your own practice and any thoughts or insights about staying with the practice.

Essentially, my life shifted into a forward positive mode once I realized and made the commitment to my daily spiritual practice, or Sadhana. When I had that moment, and stopped trying to 'fit yoga into my life' and began to live by 'fitting my life around yoga', I became happier, steadier and more realistic.

Not a day goes by that I do not find my way to my mat, no matter what. I have learned to stop criticizing myself if my physical practice is light one day because maybe my meditation is stronger that day and the next it may be the opposite.

No matter what, each day is carved around that commitment. I teach, not preach and hope that each person that I am blessed to communicate with leaves my presence feeling uplifted, stronger and more empowered with their own intentions, desires and connection to their heart.

What part will you play in the teacher training and what can potential trainnees expect from the training?

I have taught this teacher training through two full rounds, and all graduates have experienced the power of their own personal transformation.

Working with Yoga Village and Lisa Abernethy in the classroom, and having the personal relationship and commitment from Linda and Jamie, instills in me a great joy and excitement to bring this program to your community. (Denise is based out of the D.C. area.) 

Divine LIght Yoga is all about creating a conscious community for spiritual growth and connection. It is not just teaching someone how to teach yoga but sharing teachings and a way of life to enable each person to grow to their unique, beautiful and special potential and to become an integral part of a greater whole.

Embarking on this journey into teacher training is really saying that you want to journey into your own heart and soul and find your own light within, and share that light with yourself, your family, community and even the world.

The challenges we face can be met with such grace and dignity, when we know who we really are and we stand in that light! I believe that, and have experienced that with each person I have had the honor and privilege of teaching. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you soon!

Look for dates and times for Denise's summer workshop in Special Events, TBA. She is bringing Divine Light Yoga to Clearwater and co-leading the teacher training with Lisa Abernathy starting September 17.