History
Dharana Yoga is the product of a collaborative yoga journey. Liz Fuller and Helen McCaffrey Birney became friends during their 200 hour teacher traning at Sonic Yoga in New York City. Having similar ideologies, a love of yoga, and and a desire to share their joy with others, Dharana Yoga was founded in September 2011.
Liz Fuller
Liz stumbled upon yoga by accident when she was late for a pilates class at her gym. She was immediately hooked, and began to think that perhaps there is a reason behind every happening. After studying with various teachers and learning many different styles of yoga (Bikram, Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa), Liz embarked on the journey through yoga teacher training. She completed her studies at Sonic Yoga in New York City, under the tutelage of Lauren Hanna, Tracy Mohr, Johanna Aldrich and Jeffrey Duval, among others. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level, certified in Vinyasa Yoga. Liz has also trained in crystal bowl mediation techniques with Daniel "13 Hands" McBride, and looks forward to sharing the gift of sound with present and future students.
Liz believes that yoga found her when she needed it the most. Often riddled with anxiety, yoga allowed her the space to settle her mind and find calm. Yoga is not just a practice, but a way of life. Practicing mindfulness in even the most mundane of activities bring her calm, joy and peace. Having lived in numerous countries around the world, she feels that the message of yoga is universal. A practice older than any religion in the world, yoga provides a solid foundation for any spiritual path. Those looking to embark on a spiritual journey will find that she is well-studied in the works of Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, scriptures she gains daily inspiration from.
Formerly a special education teacher, she began implementing short “mindfulness” practices in her classroom. She was amazed at the difference it made for her students, both academically and behaviorally. She co-facilitated a yoga club for elementary and middle school students in Newark, NJ for the last two years, and found that she was able to reach students in a way that she had not been able to in the classroom. She completed childrens yoga trainings with Neney's Yoginis and Street Yoga. She is currently studying with Jennifer Cohen Harper of Little Flower Yoga in Manhattan to deepen her practice. Liz is pursuing a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, as she hopes to help others, especially children and teenagers, through a fusion of counseling and yoga methodologies.
Liz believes that all beings can benefit from yoga, whether directly or indirectly . When we practice yoga with an open heart and listen to the divine within, we are able to discern our true dharma, or path in life. When we have the courage to live our dharma, we find that obstacles in our path fall away. There is no greater joy or peace than living the life you were truly meant to live. Suffering is always optional, and when we choose to let go of it, we find ourselves immersed in bliss.
Liz believes that yoga found her when she needed it the most. Often riddled with anxiety, yoga allowed her the space to settle her mind and find calm. Yoga is not just a practice, but a way of life. Practicing mindfulness in even the most mundane of activities bring her calm, joy and peace. Having lived in numerous countries around the world, she feels that the message of yoga is universal. A practice older than any religion in the world, yoga provides a solid foundation for any spiritual path. Those looking to embark on a spiritual journey will find that she is well-studied in the works of Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, scriptures she gains daily inspiration from.
Formerly a special education teacher, she began implementing short “mindfulness” practices in her classroom. She was amazed at the difference it made for her students, both academically and behaviorally. She co-facilitated a yoga club for elementary and middle school students in Newark, NJ for the last two years, and found that she was able to reach students in a way that she had not been able to in the classroom. She completed childrens yoga trainings with Neney's Yoginis and Street Yoga. She is currently studying with Jennifer Cohen Harper of Little Flower Yoga in Manhattan to deepen her practice. Liz is pursuing a M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, as she hopes to help others, especially children and teenagers, through a fusion of counseling and yoga methodologies.
Liz believes that all beings can benefit from yoga, whether directly or indirectly . When we practice yoga with an open heart and listen to the divine within, we are able to discern our true dharma, or path in life. When we have the courage to live our dharma, we find that obstacles in our path fall away. There is no greater joy or peace than living the life you were truly meant to live. Suffering is always optional, and when we choose to let go of it, we find ourselves immersed in bliss.
- Contact Liz - liz@dharanayoga.com or 845-325-7361
- Check out Liz's blog, Yoganomics, here.
Helen McCaffrey Birney
“Yoga is mindfulness that has taken me higher than I could ever imagine, and has been the missing link of solidity and peace to my otherwise restless self.”
After three years of practicing Bikram, Hatha, and Vinyasa, I fell in love with the rhythm and breath of Vinyasa that help me let go of physical and emotional pain. My constant questioning of why and how could this be possible led me to an intensive yoga teacher training at Sonic Yoga, where I soon found out how yoga works--beyond the physical body, beyond the asana (poses), even beyond the mind--and how I can bring others the joy of yoga as it pertains to their individual needs.
After three years of practicing Bikram, Hatha, and Vinyasa, I fell in love with the rhythm and breath of Vinyasa that help me let go of physical and emotional pain. My constant questioning of why and how could this be possible led me to an intensive yoga teacher training at Sonic Yoga, where I soon found out how yoga works--beyond the physical body, beyond the asana (poses), even beyond the mind--and how I can bring others the joy of yoga as it pertains to their individual needs.
- Contact Helen - helen@dharanayoga.com or 917-543-2732
- Visit my blog, Yoga Delicious*