ChayaYoga - Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

PROGRAM: Adaptive Yoga and Holistic Lifestyle for
People with Multiple Sclerosis and Similar Conditions

The following testimonials and writings were collected from students of the week-long "Adaptive Yoga and Holistic Lifestyle for People with Multiple Sclerosis and Similar Conditions" program at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

I am always impressed and inspired by the courage, focus and participation of the groups I lead, and I am grateful and honored to have witnessed their transformation, unfolding, and expression of all these shining souls.

What Participants had to say about the program:

It is difficult to get this amount of information across and Chaya was very capable, understanding, and organized to be able to do the unfolding that helped all to learn to nurture the self and bring home the components of the training.

Alison Abrams, Nurse Practitioner/Yoga Teacher, Long Island, NY

Chaya is a gift—skilled, warm and supportive.

Toni Fontanini, Retired Teacher and consultant, Des Moines, IA

It was an honor to meet and work with and learn from Chaya. She is a special teacher with many gifts; patience, articulate, compassionate, balanced, wonderful teacher, lovely smile.

Anonymous

Chaya is a real local treasure—listen to her.

Katherine Hruby, Homeopathic MD, Easthampton, MA

I was most touched by the message of integration of the physical and the soul.
Chaya was so gentle at getting the lesson taught and encouragement to go there.

Liz Kopel, Physician, Wellesley, MA

The variety was beneficial. Excellent presenting, demonstrating, and awareness of participants needs.

Anonymous

Thank you; for the wonderful presentation during the past five days and for your assurance that your program would be helpful for me. Without that earlier assurance I think I would not have attended.Your program answered many questions that I’ve had, and helped me to understand and think differently about Yoga practice.

Matthew Ferris, Electrician, Marlborough,MA

"I am sooooo very proud to be your student and have you as a mentor."

Sara Kanter, Social Worker, NJ

"I have gained a greater understanding of myself and a greater sense of power and control over my disease. I feel it will change my life by helping me to continue to discern what a holistic lifestyle means to me."

Carey Esposito, Greenfield, MA

"I have learned to be more positive with myself and I know it will change my life continually for the rest of my life."

Cheryl Ann Cummins, Des Moines, IA

"Being with a group of people who came together for (because) MS or other health related reasons, to improve themselves and live the best way they can is so powerful! About Chaya- Terrific! Helpful and attentive. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience her gifts.This program has given me more tools to add to my MS arsenal. My experiences came at a perfect time."

Nadine Shapiro, Manchester, CT

"What specific experiences were the most meaningful/powerful for you? For me, a non-MS person, it was seeing everyone respond to the Yoga and information given them. The people with MS seemed to become more at ease with themselves and even with being with others, as well as embracing their condition.Chaya was very attuned to everyone’s needs and energies and kept the class flowing and moving with compassion and so much knowledge of the course material.I don’t have MS, but am a Yoga Teacher who hopes to be able to help people who have it. This was an excellent training for helping me in that direction."

Karen McIlwain, Yoga Teacher, Rolla, MO

"Chaya has a beautiful voice and is a polished, good-humored presenter. I feel it (the program) will be transformative in my daily life."

Lois Thompson, Portland, ME

"About Chaya and her assistant- The most caring, warm, loving people I have met in my life. God bless them! I have gained a more nurturing attitude toward myself."

Diane Minervini, Englishtown, NJ

"I thought there was a nice balance between Yoga and theory, sharing and lecturing.
It was even better than I expected.Chaya is a warm caring presenter and person. She kept classes focused while letting people share their experiences and ask questions. The structure and content of her class was excellent. Her assistant was very available and helped me with adapting many yoga poses to my ability."

Cordelia Vahadji, Manchester, CT

"Chaya Heller was a wonderful, soothing speaker. I have gained insight into my life I will take with me. I will make significant changes in how I live."

Laura DeGoursey, N. Stonington, CT

"This class has helped me understand Ayurveda more. Enough so I will bring it into my life."

Beth Costa, Bantom, CT

Participant Writings

Tranquility
I treasure the quiet aloneness when I am yearning to be floating alone on a lovely river.
Then I have the intention to practice never using food as anything but what it is meant to be….nourishment, pleasure and enjoyment.

- Laura DeGoursey, Medical Technologist, North Stonington, CT

Smile
Start a new era-
Modify life for the sake of simplicity, eliminating illusions.
Be in one’s element-whether it is in the mountains, or an island, or in another land.

-Anonymous

Sound
So simple, to listen to the undulations of the ocean; to downy sore birds at home with numinous waves.
And the watching, the listening, the toes in water, in sand, the good salt in the air, all an overture, perhaps leading to solidifying an understanding one that is not negligible. And I tell myself-
Say yes to downsizing, so you can find the opal.

- Ruth A. Meyers, Music Therapist, Lancaster, PA

Energy
Everybody needs energy to rejuvenate, grow….and stay Young
Healthy eating nourishes the body, enlightens the soul, restores balance and generates Youthfulness.

- Toni Fontanini, Retired Teacher and Consultant, Des Moines, IA

Heal
The acidity of life is a lesson that can help one evolve to reach “the source”.
The awareness of a lesion is the essence of what is needed for a high level of healing.
The story: There are many lessons in life, some like acidic lesions. Others like the morning dew on the grass, the sun bursting thru the fall leaves, the sunset of the equinox.
The essence of these helps us evolve to a higher awareness of existence.

- Alison Abrams, Nurse Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, Long Island, NY

Peace
Preparations emphasize Earth’s anguish at cruel cowardly excess. ENOUGH!

- Katherin Hruby, Homeopathic MD, Easthampton, MA

Whole
When, where, how will her openness lead everyone?
When, where, how will our longings end?

- Katherine Hruby, Homeopathic MD, Easthampton, MA

PROGRAM: Tapping into Your Soul: Stompin' at Kripalu with
Chaya~Sharon Heller

What specific experiences were most meaningful to you?

"Enlightenment-cohesiveness-spiritual meaning
Yoga was wonderful-relaxing-invigorating
Tap was phenomenal! I loved every minute of Chaya’s class-she’s terrific!"

"Overall the program was excellent. Chaya is an energetic teacher and has the capacity to pull all levels in to the dance experience."

"Yoga in the morning as part of the program. All of the dancing, the final piece.
Chaya is a great teacher!"

"Wonderful blend of yoga and tap and some Ayurveda included during tap breaks. Inadequate superlatives to describe Chaya."

"The loving, supportive way in which Chaya teaches. So much appreciated that Chaya brought footage of master tap dancers for us to borrow and watch in the evening if desired."

"Actually learning to TAP, and a routine. It was so much fun and the program surpassed my expectations."

"I loved the energy-the beauty of your (Chaya’s) soul and honesty."

"The sharing of Ayurvedic history and constitutions-the opening and closing of yoga practice-blessings and chanting I left TAP DANCING!!! What else can I say?"

"Loved it, the tap and yoga were the best yet."

"This is a fun program! I have been coming to Kripalu for 20 years and this is the MOST FUN I have had!!"

“Professionalism all clothed in LOVE”

“Breathing through emotional resistance; begin (to be) ok with emoting and still feeling like part of the class; getting the steps in the end”

“Learning (dance) combinations in comparison to relationships was fun”

“Building on basics”

“Enjoyed Yoga in AM”

“Great dance routine”

How the program could be improved?

“TOP NOTCH ALREADY”

“Program was ideal, loved the combination and the relationship (to Yoga and it’s definition of poses) to be steady, comfortable and relaxed”

What were the most satisfying aspects of your experience at Kripalu?

“CHAYA!!!!”

“Whole experience”