Favorite Peeps

Susan A. Lipshutz, LCSW

I can’t speak enough of Susan, who I adore, and have worked with on and off since I was 20 years old. She is incredibly intuitive, insightful, and a gift to any woman learning to enhance the awareness of her inner medicine. Susan integrates Peruvian shamanic practice into our modern setting while maintaining the authenticity of its teaching. She works with individuals during times of transition (divorce, marriage, death, change, growth, depression, etc), and groups to facilitate collective support of the inward journey. She is a wise one, and a ‘go to’ when awakening calls. Located in Chicago, please check out her work at: www.everydaymedicinewoman.com

Karen Klutznick, Cayur

Karen Klutznick is a dear friend, ayurvedic practitioner, marmani therapist, and master aromatherapist living in Chicago. She hand crafts beautiful ayurvedic skin care products, blends therapeutic essential oils, gives consultations, teaches meditation, yoga nidra and mantra. I distribute several of Karen’s products, and am a huge fan of her creations, especially her: nasya oil, C berries serum, masks and rose balm. Located in Chicago, www.kkayurveda.com

Sarita Rocco, Cayur

Sarita Rocco continues to teach me about bhakti yoga through her shining example,humility, and service to Mother Maya and ayurveda in general. She is one of two ayurvedic practiitoners who have been authorized to share Mother Maya’s teaching and ayurvedic training. She bears the heart of hanuman to every activity she engages in, and presents ayurveda with a vast stillness that provokes inner knowing. She is a graceful and profound teacher, and I feel very honored to know and learn from her. Located in Pennsylvania www.yogainlet.com

Tejas Yoga Studio

One of my initial exposures to yoga in Chicago, was taking a yoga class from Jim Bennitt. I remember during this class he integrated nauli practice in his teaching. As I watched his belly roll, I knew I was in the presence of someone great. I had never been to a drop in class where nauli was even discussed. I was so happy and full of joy that I was in the presence of such a great teacher! A few years later, Jim opened Tejas Yoga Studio, with James Tennant. Tejas is a gift to anyone who lives in Chicago, please do, check them out. Located in Chicago, www.tejasyogachicago.com

Mother Maya

I had read Mother Maya’s books, and studied her contributions for several years before I met her.  When I went to her Ahimsa teaching last spring, I wondered if she were going to be all that imagined of her.  Mother Maya walked in with a pink robe, told the story of how she renounced her monk hood, related it to falling hierarchies, and redirected our attention within, whenever someone went to focus on her enlightenment.  And that was it, I fell in love, this was my kind of saint. Mother Maya is a yogini, Vedic scholar and ayurvedic pioneer.  She restored and brought forth misplaced ayurvedic wisdom relevant to women’s health and wellness.  I feel incredibly honored to know of her work. Located everywhere, www.wisearth.org

Michelle Scandalis Kyncl, Cayur

As I sip the Elderberry Astralagus Elixir Michelle crafted from the Elderberries she hand picked near her home in Washington, I have many fond memories of her insight and wisdom. Michelle and I studied ayurveda together with Dr. Light Miller, at the Florida Vedic College. I was immediately over joyed by how wise she is, and we instantly became friends. Michelle most impresses me for her efforts to present ayurveda as a shared practice of community. She diffuses her expertise through a full heart effort to provoke inner awakening of our relationship with nature, as a natural experience! She shares her knowledge easily and freely. I feel very lucky to know her, and if you can, you should too. Located in Washington, www.anitmonyproject.com

Charlie Knoles, Meditation Teacher

I met Charlie Knoles when I was studying at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s school in Iowa. He was a renegade then, and still is. Charlie, like many emerging teachers, shares the desire to teach Vedic knowledge without being put on a ‘guru pedestal,’ and yet, no one can deny the knowing sparkle in his eye. He serves with his heart first, inspired to spread this life supporting practice with others. With great respect toward the Vedic lineage, the greatest teacher is within obedience to the meditation sadhana. He is located in California, New York, and very soon, Chicago www.thevedacenter.com