"Make Friends With Your Body"

by Cyndi Lee, Shambhala Sun, July 2010

What is the connection between Buddhist Studies and OM yoga?

The meditation practices of mindfulness and compassion are the ground of OM yoga philosophy and activity. Cyndi Lee has been studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism with her guru, Gelek Rimpoche for 20 years and this philosophy is embedded in everything that happens at OM yoga. Just as we "practice" yoga, we also consider teaching, greeting newcomers, cleaning the studio, providing store items, relating to our landlord -- all of these everyday yoga studio activities as opportunities for practicing mindfulness and compassion.

When Cyndi began giving OM yoga teacher trainings in 1997, she asked David Nichtern to teach mindfulness and maitri/loving kindness meditation as well as Buddhist philosophy to the teacher training students. It is not our goal to make our teachers -- or anyone -- become a Buddhist. But it is our goal to share the goodness of these practices as methods for experiencing personal strength, stability, clarity and a more open heart. Over the years, interest in these practices has steadily grown and now David is the Dean of Buddhist Studies program at OM yoga.

If, after practicing at OM yoga for a while, you feel that you want to understand Buddhism more deeply, we offer classes and lectures from some of the foremost dharma teachers, including Gelek Rimpoche, David Nichtern, Sharon Salzburg, Robert Thurman, Tenzin Wangyal, Reggie Ray, Roshi Enkyo Pat O'Hara and Mark Epstein.

Learn more about special scheduled Buddhist studies offerings on the OM yoga workshops page.

All are welcOMe!