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Wisdom Compassion Power |
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People you can trust... |
We are not gurus, pandits, or pundits, and we don't claim to be enlightened. We're just people who recognize that life is a lot better when you spend your time doing things that really matter, and we've devoted our careers to helping people do just that. We live and work in the real world. Although our work occasionally takes us to exotic locations—spas, retreats, and ivory towers—we actually live and work in the real world. As small business owners, long-term yoga practitioners, and working management consultants (yes, we are multi-talented people with diversified career portfolios who are passionate about integrally developing individuals and businesses), we are particularly sensitive and adaptive to the needs of busy, working people juggling multiple commitments. We understand the challenges (and benefits) of developing practices that can be sustained over a lifetime of changing priorities and competing demands. Because we’re householders who practice yoga amidst the demands of life and work commitments beyond our yoga offerings, we are intimately acquainted with the work-life demands experienced by most of our clients and are better prepared to address these challenges than yoga teachers lacking a more well-rounded professional experience and education. We work with you to develop a personalized, sustainable, independent practice that can grow with you and your life. (Incidentally, if you’re an entrepreneur or executive interested in an integral approach to developing your business, check out our strategy consulting work through Integral Ventures.)
We know a lot without thinking that we know it all. When you choose to work with us, you are choosing people with considerable experience guiding individuals through personal and professional growth. We have years of practical education and experience exploring the vast field of human development to better understand how people develop at work, at home, and at play. As self-directed learners who love to read, we have spent a ridiculous amount of time reading hundreds of books, culling both classical and cutting-edge wisdom of the world's religious leaders, spiritual luminaries, philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, educators, neuroscientists, systems theorists, business leaders, and performance gurus to develop a valuable knowledge-base of relevant perspectives and proven practices. Well, we don't really preach, but you know what we mean. We've been consciously practicing yoga by ourselves and with others for a very long time. And of course, along the way, we've channeled all this contemplative learning into delivering the good stuff you find here—the best ideas and best practices—the stuff that actually works customized just for you, so that you can do the stuff that really matters without having to do all the heavy-sifting. We don’t care if you wear fancy pants. Yoga, particularly our Contemplative and Conversational practices, can be practiced just as you are, no mats, props, or fancy pants required. For Contemporary practice, in particular, it is helpful to wear clothes in which you can breathe and move comfortably, but really, you can practice yoga whenever, wherever, wearing whatever—from birthday suit to business suit. Of course, when you’re practicing with us, we ask that you keep your private bits private, but otherwise, wear whatever you like. Fancy pants optional. We care about you, not your money. We are grateful to be paid, particularly for doing something that we love, but we care about you. It seems like this should go without saying, but given the culture of mass-marketed yoga studios cramming people into cramped little rows, and self-promoting gurus promising the fast-track to enlightenment for an arm and a leg, we thought we'd state the obvious. Our work is both professional and personal. We care deeply about each and every one of our clients. We take the time to get to know you, so we can share practices that really work for you. If you're not satisfied, we guarantee that we'll work with you to make it right. We give you our undivided time and attention. Because the sole purpose of our work together is to support your development, we’re here for you when you need us for as long as you need us. We give our undivided time and attention to you and your goals. Plus, because supporting you is what we do, you never have to worry about taxing our relationship. We're here to serve you—your concerns, your priorities, your commitments. You can rest assured that what you share during our work together is greeted with an open mind and kept in confidence. We provide an open-minded, confidential place to explore and learn. We welcome you just as you are, however you may happen to be, and offer a safe place to explore what’s really on your mind and in your heart. Nagging doubts, personal issues, weird dreams, family skeletons, or friendly ghosts? Whatever you'd care to share, trust us, it's all welcome here.
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Why choose us? We live and work in the real world... We know a lot without thinking we know it all... We don't care if you wear fancy pants... We care about you, not your money... We give you our undivided time and attention...
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"Our work is about creating the necessary conditions for people to lead genuinely meaningful lives. Lumina Yoga is my way of offering what I've learned as I continue to learn through this work." Karen is a certified yoga teacher of the White Lotus lineage who has been studying and practicing yoga for twenty-five years. A contemplative consultant, coach, and teacher, she offers integral perspectives and practices that help people translate meaningful intentions into masterful actions. Her work is based on an transdisciplinary background in human development, organizational psychology, expressive and somatic arts, as well as over fifteen years experience leading individual, community, and organizational development initiatives. Karen's work is also enriched by her international background. "Growing up global," she was raised on five different continents by parents from Europe and America, and educated in international, public, private, and home schools. From this transcultural upbringing, Karen inherited a gift for appreciating and integrating different ways of being in the world. She is grateful to be part of a growing population of truly global citizens who call the world home.
She received her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Psychology and Fine Arts from Springfield College, a small liberal arts college known for its commitment to educating the whole person—spirit, mind, and body—for leadership in service to others. Shortly after, as a participant in the first graduate program to integrate all of the arts in therapy and education, she completed her M.A. in Expressive Therapies from Lesley College (now Lesley University). Her training with Shaun McNiff, Mariagnese Cattaneo, Paolo Knill, Peter Rowan, Julie Leavitt, and Susan Spaniol in the pioneering transformative field of Expressive Arts taught her the power of nourishing integral expression and experiential education—multiple perspectives, intelligences, states and modes of being—as a way of growing a profoundly healing connection with self, others, and the world.
Over the years, she has been gratefully inspired and influenced by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, Georg Feuerstein, Hameed Ali, Dennis Waite, Joseph Goldstein, J. Krishnamurti, and Parker Palmer—to name just a few. As a young adult, her hatha yoga practice was greatly enhanced by hands-on instruction from Mary Lou Weprin in the Iyengar method. More recently, she is indebted to her teachers, Ganga White, Tracey Rich, and Sven Holcomb, for deepening her practice with their expertise in contemporary instruction, as well as the many other yoga teachers and peers to numerous to name who have taught her along the way. Her yoga education is also enhanced by 150+ hours of training from the Acupressure Institute in Acupressure, a form of Asian bodywork (including Acu-Yoga, Shiatsu, Tui Na, and Thai massage) based on Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In addition to her work through Lumina, Karen serves as Director for Integral Ventures, a strategy consultancy committed to fostering a more conscious and sustainable world. Prior to working with Integral Ventures, she provided leadership development, performance management, and organizational learning services as managing director of a boutique human capital consulting firm and within the human capital practice of a Big Five consulting firm. Along the way, she has also worked in the social sector as a manager, therapist and fund developer.
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“Karen's ability to explain things in a way that I could understand completely was a treasure--a gift that she shares beautifully.”
Small Business Owner Bainbridge Island, WA
"Karen, you entered to my life as a goddess of light, navigation and wisdom. Simply, my life needed your touch for all the good things to happen. Thank you." Siren Hakimi, City Planner Sammamish, WA |
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Daniel has a real passion for helping people discover and express their authentic work in the world--the unique offering that really distinguishes them in the eyes of those they serve. Using an inquiry-driven approach that evokes both critical self-reflection and appreciative self-expression, he helps people explore new perspectives, clarify their intentions, design effective actions, and learn from experience. He also serves as the Managing Director of Integral Ventures, a strategy consultancy committed to fostering a more conscious and sustainable world. In this capacity, he works with entrepreneurs and executives to develop strategies that create real value with their customers, employees, and investors, while making a positive difference in the world. Prior to founding Integral Ventures, he worked in a series of leading, national management consulting, management development, and corporate finance firms. Daniel's formal education includes a BA in economics from the University of Illinois, an MBA in strategy and finance from the University of Chicago, and an MA in organization development from Antioch University. He also has many years of experience in various developmental practices, including martial arts, wilderness backpacking, and yoga.
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"Daniel is an absolute gift to those who genuinely desire to embrace their authentic purpose in life. He is keenly perceptive, focused, aware and direct in a way that helps you to feel so inspired, energized and excited about living out your personal and professional dreams. I consider Daniel to be one of the most intuitive and intelligent teachers, mentors and leaders that I know...I would recommend him to anyone I know seriously interested in growing personally, professionally and spiritually. I am deeply grateful to Daniel for helping me open my heart and my soul in a way that has truly astonished me." Lynn Lyon, LCSW Mind-body Psychotherapist Charlotte, NC |
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Partners, friends, and resources in our constellation... |
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