"Born in the farm and manufacturing land of northern Illinois, I truly feel as though I was born to teach Deaf people practices of Yoga.  Everything in my life has pointed me in this direction.  Since I was eight (8) years old, i have been aware of my yearning to be an active member within the Deaf community.  It is truly something I cannot explain and something that fulfills a part of my soul.

The same is true for yoga.  In 1999, I was first introduced to my innate interest and yearning to learn, practice and integrate ancient Yoga philosophy into my journey towards healing from epilepsy.  Since the very first time I stepped onto a yoga mat, I knew this was going to impact my life... but I was clueless as to 'how'.  In 2000, I graduated from the Sivananda Teacher Training Course, where I met my Yoga teacher, Swami Atma and then studied with him for an additional six months at the Sivananda Ashram in Val Morin, Canada.

Simultaneously, I was also introduced to the profound and spiritual teachings offered by Vanessa Stone, founder of the Amala Foundation.  It was through one of her workshops that we were asked to offer a teaching from our soul.  My "teaching" was to sign a song in ASL (which i barely remembered from a 5 year absence from ASL) and then teach the manual alphabet.  That event changed my life by re-igniting the silenced passion.

But it wasn't until 2004 when I experienced two back-to-back corporate layoffs, that I began to question whether I was to serve in the 'corporate' world.  Just maybe I was to devote my Self to serving the millions of Deaf people who had limited, to no access to Yoga.  So, in the fall of 2004, DeafYoga was created.

Knowing how the Deaf community had very few yoga classes in ASL, I had to create a way where they could practice Yoga in ASL.  It was in 2005 that the Deaf Yoga for Beginners DVD was born.  To date, 1,000 DVD's have made it into homes across the globe.

Three years later, and with the help of many, the DeafYoga Foundation was created.  This  501(c)(3) non-profit focuses on sharing traditional yoga teachings in American Sign Language (ASL).  The number of people served continues to grow and hearts burst with love and gratitude.  To date, thousands of people have been served."

"i continue to offer all i have to this cause... sharing the power of yoga in a way that blends ASL, Yoga, creativity,

exploration and a life of union & service."

Lila’s Certifications & Achievements

1996 - Graduated from Waubonsee College Interpreter Training Program (Illinois).

2000 - Graduated from Sivananda Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course.

2000 - Served & studied on Sivananda Ashrams for seven months.

2001 - Natural Health Consultant Certification

2002 - Advaita Yoga Ashrama (AYA) Affiliate Yoga Teacher. (Lila’s teacher, Swami Atma)

2005 - Produced the DeafYoga for Beginners DVD.

2005 - DeafYoga featured in Yoga International Magazine.

2007 - Established the DeafYoga Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization benefiting the global Deaf yoga community.

2008 - Featured in Yoga Journal magazine.  Author of monthly Yoga column in SIGNews publication.

2008 - Currently serving & studying at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch, NY.  Teacher at the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course.

Lila’s Experience

2500+ hours of study in traditional Hatha Yoga & Advaita Vedanta Philosophy.

3500+ hours of teaching experience.

Experience teaching at the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course.