Biography
  Bonnie holds certifications in NESTA, CYT, E-RYT 500, A Ten year Disciple of Master Sri Dharma Mittra & 200 Hour Registered Dharma Yoga® LOAY Teacher & 500 Hour Westchester Institute of Yoga Teacher with Tao Porchon-Lynch & E-RYT500 with Yoga Alliance; Bonnie was first certified back in 1996, after 10 years of dedication to the practice of Traditional Hatha/Raja Yoga, Pranayama, Yoga Nidra, and Guided Meditation. She has ten years of first hand personal experiences with teaching Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors in NYU Langone Medical Center, and holds certifications in Pre-Natal Yoga, and both Mat and Ring Pilates through PowerHouse Pilates (following the strict teachings of Joseph Pilates), Sport Yoga with NESTA (National Endurance Sports Trainers Association) & SUP Yoga. Her yoga practice took her to new heights, specifically the Roof of the world, Tibet. She's been interviewed on "In The Spirit," Radio Show on WRPI 91.5 FM for her ongoing support of the Tibetan Home of Hope Orphanage (THOH), in the town of Jian Zha in the Amdo Region of Tibet, nestled between the mountain ranges of the Himalayas. As her practice grew stronger, sweeter, and more connected to the wiser, broader, all-knowing Divine Energy in every living thing, she found herself deep in her spiritual journey up the mountains of Tibet. Bonnie first traveled to Tibet in 2009 with her daughter, then again in 2011, baring witness to the life of the Tibetan people, temples, & stupas. Tibet is truly a sacred land dedicated to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. Bonnie's trips to Tibet were grounded in Pure Karma yoga, and gave her the opportunity to be of selfless service to the orphans and the people of Tibet. She taught English, Math and Yoga to the children, and enjoyed the two (2) mile walks into town with the children to buy them necessities and treat them all to ice cream cones! She made friends with the orphanage's baby cow, got the amazing chance to bathe and walked him down to the glacier runoff water. One day, a older Tibetan boy came to her, whose dream was to go to University to study and become a doctor, but his family could not afford the tuition. Right then and there, Bonnie reached into her pocket, took out her wallet, and awarded the young student a full scholarship! When not mothering the children, she took charge and action to improve a number of issues in the orphanage. She was very much at home visiting the caves of Tibetan Buddhist Monks, being part of the offerings to the Mountain Gods at 19,000 feet above sea level, and living with a Tibetan grandmother in the village (pictures in gallery). Returning to Tibet in 2011, living every awakened hour with the children at the Tibetan Home of Hope orphanage in Jian Zha; She actively received their culture through language, religion and arts teachings and was given her Tibetan Buddhist name of "MeTso" from the people meaning "flower". Her Tibet knowledge and studies had changed her life completely. She continues her Tibetan studies here in NY, under the guide of "Geshe Lobsang Dharge" as she travels down this great path of Buddhism. Bonnie was honored with her Darshan Blessings from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and blessed twice by Dada J.P. Vaswani; by Amma, Divine Mother, and by the Kuten La, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk and Medium who channels the spirit of the State Oracle of Tibet for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. She's an ambassador to the Tibetan Home of Hope 501(c) charitable organization since it's conception in December 2006, consistently helping support them here in NY and in Tibet. Her yoga teachers are all "world renowned" Joan Suval is a senior disciple of Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, who called her “Mother of the Ashram.” Since 1964, authorized by Shri Brahmananda, Joan has offered meditation and Yoga-Vedanta programs for the Yoga Society of New York, both at Ananda Ashram and in NYC. Master Sri Dharma Mittra (she is a Dharma Yoga® Registered Teacher and attended weekly practice of Master class for over 10 years), Grand Master Tao Porchon-Lynch, late Master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, David Williams, David and Doug Swenson, Ana Forrest, Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini, Edward Clark, Nevine Michaan, Duncan Wong. She brings 30 years of personal practice and more than 100,000 hours of experience instructing group classes, private clients, and
workshops since 1986. She began teaching yoga at the Nanuet Adult Continuing Education Centers & Fitness Yoga in health clubs in 1996.
Bonnie has taught children, adult & senior chair yoga in the public school systems and at Clarkstown Pascack Community Center since 2002;
and given free classes at Germonds pool, Lake Nanuet and West Nyack Free Library. In November of 1999 Bonnie founded her beautiful yoga
studio ~ Bonnie's Yoga Shala in Nanuet, NY, A 200-Hour Registered Yoga School with Yoga Alliance. She is the director of the 200 hour YA
teacher training programs. She teaches all the group classes and workshops, from Beginner Hatha/Raja Yoga, Kids Yoga, Tween & Teen Yoga,
Bonnie's Yoga Shala Shakti Namaskara Vinyasa Flow®, In the past she taught years of Ashtanga Primary Series & 2nd Series,
Dharma Yoga® Shiva Namaskara Vinyasa I &II, Maya Yoga Vinyasa Level I, Vinyasa Level II,III, Master classes and Maha (Great) practices.
In the summer months of 2013 she built with her husband and the help of her teacher trainee's The Beautiful Enchanted Garden Yoga Deck.
Bonnie is an Adjunct Teacher for the 200hr and 500hr Teacher Training Certification Programs at Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of NY, Westchester Institute of Yoga® in New York and Juluka Yoga Studio in New Jersey. To help share the benefits of Yoga on an international level, Bonnie joined the faculty of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, MA, Integral Yoga in Buckingham, VA, and Ananda Ashram Yoga Society of NY, in Monroe, NY where she gives her workshop titled "If Not Now,When?” She shares her years of experience, wisdom, and broad teachings with new students in highly motivational and life changing weekend retreats and immersions. Bonnie is forever grateful for her abilities and unique gifts, and takes every opportunity to make a difference in the life of others. Her motto she lives by is, "Who have you helped, and what have you learned?" In 2013 she's became a Ambassador in the Ahnu Yoga Instructor Program, an "extra" in the Yoga movie "Creative Control"; directed by Benjamin Dickinson & a yoga model in the summer catalog for Manuduka. On July 2, 2016 her Sanskrit name SWAHA DEVI was revealed from Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati the Founder and Spiritual Director of the Yoga Society of New York, Inc. (1958) and its country center Ananda Ashram (1964). |
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Last Login: Feb 3rd, 2018