Devi Das, Karina Ayn Mirsky
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Karina Ayn Mirsky, MA, E RYT is a yoga and meditation teacher, teacher trainer and holisitc coach. She is the Director of Sangha Yoga and a Certified Teacher of Rod Stryker's Para Yoga®. Karina is also a Teaching Faculty Member of the Himalayan Institute, and an Adjuct Professor at Antioch University McGregor.
Karina grew up singing and dancing in Ludington, MI. In 1998 she graduated with a BBA in Management from Western Michigan University (WMU). In 1996 she began studying massage therapy under Rebecca Pearce, LMT, specializing in disabilities management and rehabilitation. For nearly a decade Karina learned much from her clients whose disabilities ranged from rheumatoid arthritis, paraplegia, arthrogryposis, cerebral palsy, fibro-myalgia to those with undiagnosed chronic pain.
Karina's desire to support peoples physical bodies is matched by her desire to serve their hearts, minds and spiritual lives. Since 1999 Karina has been compiling and legally officiating non-traditional wedding ceremonies in the state of Michigan though the Unitarian ULC.
In July 2009 Karina completed MA in East / West Psychology through Antioch University Mcgregor. In February 2010, Karina accepted an adjuct professorship at Antioch. She now mentors graduate students who share her passion for yogic studies.
First introduced to yoga by her grandmother at age five, Karina began teaching yoga in 1998 shortly before meeting master teacher, Rod Stryker. In February of 2002 Rod initiated her into the tantric lineage of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. She fast became a dedicated student, and leading teacher of his tradition. Today Karina is a Certified Teacher and Teacher Trainer of Rod Stryker's Para Yoga.
In January of 2003 Karina was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. Yoga and meditation played key roles in both the discovery and recovery from her illness. She draws from this experience to aid others facing similar life challenges.
In October 2003, Karina opened Sangha Yoga. She also began hosting workshops and teacher trainings nationwide. Her dedication to yoga was honored by her teacher in 2006 when Rod named her Devi Das, Servant of Divine Illumination and granted her the authority to initiate students into "mantra sadhana" - an act she regards as the highest form of service.
Karina's teachings reflect her understanding of yoga as both a modern therapeutic science and an ancient spiritual system, as well as, a catalyst for personal and global transformation. Her unique wisdom in the classroom is informed by her background in yoga, performance art, massage therapy, and psychology. Karina's expereinces recovering from injury and cancer also allow her to offer any body type or level of practitioner a safe and supportive environment for yoga practice.
In 2008 Karina was featured in Yoga Journal as one of 21 teachers under the age of 40 who are shaping the future of yoga in America. (see credits below)
Karina's gift for working with college students has made her a favorite guest lecturer in WMU's Holistic Health Department. She often presents concepts from the Yoga Sutra to over 200 college students at a time. She also teaches yoga for Kalamazoo College, and guest speaks in Kalamazoo Valley Community College meditation classes. Always a student herself, Karina continues her own studies in the tradition of the Himalayan Sages with Rod Stryker, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Rolf Sovik and the staff of the Himalayan Institute. She is also the mentee of Tom Holmes PhD in Kalamazoo.
Today, Karina continues to teach yoga and meditation at Sangha. She also hosts workshops and teacher training programs across the midwest and east coast. (To see Karina's local and national teaching schedules see the links below).
Credits
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In the March 2008 issue of Yoga Journal, Click on the magazine cover below to view Karina's feature. Then, click on the article to enlage the print enough to read it.
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Faculty & Staff Positions |
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