Birgit Reimer teaches in the direct lineage of Yogacharya Benjamin A. Thomas, her beloved teacher and spiritual inspiration, the Iyengar yoga style. It is said that a guru can have only one sisya per life time so that the transmitted knowledge and wisdom stays as authentic and pure as possible. There should be no deviations/fluctuations between the consciousnesses of the guru and the sisya. This journey requires an intense, devoted and unconditioned practice and the grace of a guru. One can not make it happen. Once these transmissions flow these fine golden lines weave a net of love and devotion to the higher consciousness.

Birgit has been studying with him for 5 years, on a daily basis, many hours per day; she assisted in workshops and pranayama classes; a teacher training program and at a college. After these intense and demanding years Mr. Thomas certified and qualified her to teach asana levels I-III and pranayama. She began to teach many public classes in different yoga studio in the Bay area, workshops and pranayama classes; at the AARS yoga for former drug addicts and to the staff at the VA in Menlo Park. After Mr. Thomas’ retirement, February 2008, she has taken on all of his public classes and teaches the Iyengar/Thomas module at the Avalon Teacher Training program.

The new generation, in this lineage, of open-hearted and open-minded teachers is now on the path. The journey continues with faith in the process. Birgit continues her studies with her teacher and the Iyengar family in India.

Deep foundations in Soto Zen and Shotokan Karate for more than 30 years as a student and teacher; as well as the study and practice of medical Qi Gong and T’ai Chi (Shen style) with Professor A.Tayam add to a harmonized style of teachings. Birgit’s classes are a WELL-BALANCED composition of yogasana, pranayama, chanting, meditation and philosophy with the emphasis on the Yoga Sutras by Sri Patanjali. The focal points are on alignment, balance, breath, creating and maintaining space with an open and HUMBLE heart and mind.

Her next trip to the Ramamani Yoga Institute in Pune/India is planned for 2010; in progress is a workshop in New Mexico, January 2010.

To contact Birgit, email birgitreimer@comcast.net.