Such beauty, such peace- please guide me!

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello brothers and sisters!

I am so new to yoga, and so excited. I feel like a little boy in a candy shop. I don’t know where to begin!

I discovered yoga through my girlfriend. She’s overall such a life teacher, a soulmate, a partner, a wise friend… my best friend. She has led me into a life of peace and introspect. I am in love with yoga.

So I went out to buy a mat, I got a block incase, I didn’t even know if I needed it or what it was for. I didn’t purchase any DVD’s- though I want to.

I’m already meditate at my tea shrine (i’m large into loose leaf tea and meditation). Yoga completed the set…

I began doing simple yoga that my girlfriend showed me, and overall just stretching (not with discomfort) to get flexible. I must say I am like a rock! So I am just preparing my body I guess…

My question here is: I am looking for a teacher, a master. Someone to privately and personally teach me yoga on a weekly basis. Someone to also help me meditate. I have panic attacks on a daily basis and I have anxiety problems. I used to take medication but I really don’t want to, I got off of them and it’s been a rollercoaster ride. I simply know I can help myself with my own mind and soul…

I don’t know where to look. I don’t drive (I choose to walk and bike), and I need someone nearby. I live in Oak Park (Chicago)… I want someone affordable and true. I am just a college student working 3 jobs and teaching…

Can someone please help me here? This is rather urgent as my anxiety is leading me closer to a heart attack daily… I don’t want to pay to see a psychiatrist who does not really care for me… I’d rather pay a private teacher who is a true soul.

Any help is offered. I love you all.

Love and Light

-Elvis (this is my real name)

#2

Just to follow up- I don’t expect absolute healing here. I am relying on my own mental strength and courage to help my anxiety… I am just looking for more information on places, groups, events, anything to help get my toes more wet into yoga (and for as least amount of money as possible). I have already received some help, and/but am looking for anything/more always.

Thank you so much my friends.

#3

Hi Elvis, I applaud your willingness to try to treat your anxiety without relying on medication. I am not from that area and am unable to recommend a good yoga teacher in Oak Park. But I do have some expertise in the field of psychology (I am a 5th year Clinical Psychology PhD student), and have a few thoughts I’d like to share with you. I’d strongly encourage you to try to find a good therapist in your area. Anxiety, particularly panick attacks, is one area that psychologists are particularly good at treating. Psychologists are rather unsuccessful at treating some disorders, but panic disorder is one disorder in which therapy is actually better than medication. It angers me to see so many psychiatrists and family doctors default to prescribing Xanax or some other benzo, when cognitive-behavioral therapy has been proven to be a far more effective (as well as cost effective) long term solution. Cognitive-behavior therapy for panic attacks consist of education, self-monitoring, breathing retraining, applied relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and exposure. Try to find someone in your area who specializes in CBT and has experience working with anxiety disorders. If the cost is a problem for you, many universities have training clinics that offer therapy on a low-cost, sliding scale (e.g., $10-20 per session). Although some people are wary about seeing students for therapy, the supervision and training in such clinics is usually excellent. Practicing yoga, relaxation, and breathing will be an excellent adjunct to therapy and will likely help to make sure that the gains you make in therapy are maintained in the long-term.

#4

Elvis -

I’m not aware of any teachers in my own lineage that offer private classes in Chicago, but I found a listing for this gentleman:
Steve Richardson, who is highly educated in a similar therapeutic tradition and would most definitely be able to help you develop a personal practice to help you with your physical goals and panic attacks. I know he is in Chicago and does only private lessons, but I’m not sure where exactly he is located. There were other teachers listed on the American Viniyoga website who all have similar trainings to him, but it won’t let me post a direct link to the search results, so if you like, you can check here by searching in your area: AVI, and then call to see if anyone offers privates.

When I was living in Chicago in 2009, I found the Sivananda Yoga Center off the Bryn Mawr line to have really great, calming energy. I usually went only for the meditation/chanting/kirtans that they have one week a night, (and also every morning I believe), but they offer yoga asana classes too, and you can probably talk to the resident monk to see if there is anyone he can recommend for private lessons in the city. If you’re interested in another great experience, you can go to the Maha Shivraatri celebration in the early part of next year, where they stay up all night chanting! I went once and I felt incredible for days afterward. :slight_smile:

That’s all for now. If you find any of this helpful, please let us know what you found! I’m considering moving back there in the near future and it would be nice to know what kind of results come of your searching. :slight_smile: