Last week NY1.com reported a very cool story in their "NYer of the Week" column.Yoga teacher Lila Lolling, inspired by the works of Hellen Keller, got herself trained in American Sign Language, and now is one of only 20--that's right, TWENTY--people in the world who teach yoga to the deaf.(Another one is the inimitable Susan "Lippy" Oren. Amazing teacher and salty dog besides.)Lolling is shown in the NY1.com video (that I couldn't figure out how to import) pounding on the floor to signal poses, waving a fan to wake students up, and even chanting OM with her deaf students. In class at East/West Yoga, the mesmerizing Alex Grey paintings on the walls provide a trippy backdrop.Lolling says that one of her goals is to create a dictionary of yoga poses for the signing community. Her foundation will also provide scholarships for teacher training for the deaf.
One student, Kat Burland, quoted in the article, says, "It's just totally visual, it's wonderful. And because of that I have relaxed and my total health has improved tremendously."
The video is really worth watching. Check it out here. Go NY1!