Teacher Feature Summer 2001
Karin Wiedemann

I was born and raised in a NJ suburb, 10 miles east of NYC. My siblings and I were the only kids that wore Birkenstoks, used peppermint oil to relieve headaches, and spoke German. Although our family car was a VW camper, my parents weren't hippies but recent German immigrants. Every moment of my childhood was filled with unconditional love, an appreciation of Nature, respect for all people, and wholistic living in every way.

I was a tomboy and excelled at anything athletic and began jogging several miles a day when I was 15, just because it was fun and felt good. Looking back now, it was actually my way of meditating and doing breathwork. I went to Penn State to study Athletic Training but soon changed majors when I realized all the Chemistry and Physics I had to take. Mountain biking and rock climbing became my passions. I became a Resident Assistant and came to love both counseling and educating myself and others especially in the area of multiculturalism. After graduating, I became a counselor at a rape crisis and domestic violence shelter, destined to save the world. I learned more than I ever imagined I would. Returning to Penn State, I began my 11 year career in higher education, working as a hall director, ESL teacher, cross cultural communication trainer and orientation director. Teaching was incredibly rewarding to me.

With my master's degree in hand, I hopped a ship and worked as a Hall Director on Semester at Sea and traveled to 11 countries, an incredible experience in so many ways. Jogging and walking suddenly became excruciatingly painful and I returned to the States and was diagnosed with Plantar Fascists and was told I could never run again. I moved to DC, took yet another stressful job working 12 hour days, stopped exercising completely and became depressed for many years.

My mother and my best friend practically dragged me to my first yoga class with Suzie Hurley at WSYC's first studio. I didn't like it at first because yoga forced me to face my depression, sit still, and be present in the body I felt so disconnected from. Most days I just wanted to sit in class and cry. I felt stiff, sad, angry, and impatient with myself, realizing I had always been strong but never flexible. My mind raced uncontrollably in Sirvasana. I had become a person with no spirituality. Something shifted in my heart and soul midway through the semester. I learned what it was like to BE and not DO, the importance of breathing and so much more. That was about 5 years ago.

I graduated from Betsey Downing and Kevin Perry's phenomenal Yoga Teacher Training in the spring of 1999 and continue to study with and be inspired by Suzie, Marion, and Jenny. John Friend, Angela Farmer, Dona Holleman and Desiree Rumbaugh continue to influence me. I learned to teach KidsYoga from Shakta Kaur Khalsa but mostly from my incredible nieces LeeAnn and Gwen and my Emeka's nephew Jonathon (pictured). I want to absorb everything I can about yoga postures, meditation, pranayama, and philosophy.

Flow and Ashtanga are the yoga classes I enjoy taking but I like teaching yoga to beginning students that want to relieve stress, reconnect with their body and with their spirituality. As a former counselor, I hope to empower the students in my classes to use the skills they learn on the mat in all areas of their life. I know what it is like to be hunched over a computer all day, racing to catch a flight back to DC, cell phone wedged between your shoulder and ear, only to lay awake at night listening to the sound of car alarms and sirens.

Practicing and teaching yoga has changed my life. July 3rd I will turn 35, leave my stressful job, and embark on my next path in life: teaching yoga full time. My body and soul have been trying to lead me down this path for a while, but my head dominated with Fear and Denial. I am so grateful to my parents Elke and Joe Wiedemann for encouraging me to follow my heart (but also make sure I still have health insurance and file my taxes on time!) all the students, my yoga friends, and the gang at Willow Street. I could not have made this giant leap without you all.