Lila Yoga Studios

About

How I came to Yoga?

“I am thankful for being introduced to the great science of yoga at age 9 and thankful for being a personality that was receptive to the concepts and philosophies. When I think of those early years, I think of my mother/my Teacher–and her unwavering patience in teaching me with love and persistence.

Influenced by Krishnamacharya’s teachings and Krishna Murti’s philosophies, I was brought into this beautiful lineage of yoga. When I think of yoga, I think of life. Through my life with yoga, I began to refine my awareness, my choices. I experienced moments of yoga–true integration beyond the limited body/mind. These moments were so potent that I felt compelled to practice more–to learn more. By age 14 I was practicing 3-5 times a week with my meditation teacher Dr Clayton McCracken.

As I continued to practice and sensitize, I felt a strong awareness of energy within me and around me yielding complete connectivity. This was the beginnings of Lila Yoga®. Lila Yoga® explores the possibility of living in brilliant ease by rejuvenating Self-trust, awakening energy pathways within the body, and uniting them with the currents of energy around us. Using the body as a tool to understand the mind, Lila Yoga® is a philosophy in motion—a meditation in motion.” –Erica Kaufman

Bio: Erica Kaufman, MFA, E-RYT500+

Erica is a dancer, choreographer, yogini, and a Contact Improviser.

Erica Kaufman’s Portfolio

Erica is:

• a student of Krishnamacharya’s teachings and studied at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India
• a student of Krishnamurti’s philosophy and studied at Krishnamurti Foundation
• Founder of Lila Yoga®
• Highest Level of Registry with Yoga Alliance
• Practicing since 1975, teaching since 1984
• Yoga Journal noted Erica’s Lîla Yoga classes with its signature Karma Credit.
• Teaching Contact Improvisation since 1989
• In 2008 worked with Nancy Stark Smith to coordinate CI36 — the international, once a decade, celebration commemorating the inception of Contact Improvisation.

Tours:

• USA, Europe, and Israel teaching seminars on Creativity, Improvisation, Movement & Reconciliation, Dance, Contact Improvisation and Yoga

Faculty (present):

• Pennsylvania State University
• Shambhala Mountain Center in the Colorado Rockies
• Lila Yoga Studios

Faculty (past):

• Conservatory at Point Park College
• Carnegie Institute
• University of Denver
• Visiting Professor: University of Marburg in Germany (visiting artist Fall ‘05)
• Guest Artist: Bewegungs-art in Freibrug
• Juniata College

Fun Fact: Since 2006, all Pennsylvania deputy sheriffs have been required to take 9 weeks of Lila Yoga with Erica Kaufman as part of their physical training.

All Our Yoga Instructors | Katie Arbulu’s Bio

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