Today the heavens gained an Angel. Our dear sweet fellow yoga teacher & friend, Marilyn, lost her battle with cancer. It is with great honor that I write about her as a friend & teacher~let it be known she is never far from our minds, and always in our hearts.
Marilyn enrolled in the 6-week introductory course at Barefoot Studio over two years ago while undergoing treatments for a cancer recurrence. Since her original diagnosis in 2001, she had been searching and trying out different practices and lifestyle changes to reduce stress and foster optimum health. She found yoga to be just what she was looking for and has maintained a regular practice ever since. Marilyn believes it is the key to supporting her body through ongoing medical treatments, in nurturing body, mind and spirit, and in creating balance and the conditions for healing. She incorporates breath work, postures and meditation into her practice and has recently been exploring the benefits of restorative yoga. Her passion to share yoga with others combined with her experience in training and facilitation led her to pursue certification as an instructor. This past Sunday, February 22, she completed Barefoot Yoga’s 200-hour Teacher Training Program.
Marilyn has worked, lived and traveled internationally over the past 16 years, in the fields of development, training and capacity building, social justice and building/supporting sustainable food systems. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music.
This is part of the Biography on the studio's website written by Marilyn. On behalf of all the students, teachers, friends, family, yoga community & every life she touched, I'd like to add what an amazing woman and soul entered our lives. The greatest gift is truly her. She is one of the most courageous, strong & wisest women ever.
Yoga was such a intricate part of her life, and she was such a blessing in ours. The last evening she spent in Little Rock before moving home to Iowa was one of many to remember. She recounted how important it was to her to complete her teacher training. The word important does not begin to describe it actually...And to say she completed teacher training this past Sunday? She completed it long ago. She IS a teacher....a teacher of humanity & generosity. I'd also like to mention that one of her fellow teachers, Cynthia, made a Prayer Shawl for her that was presented to her at the graduation. She was, and still is, overwhelmed with gratitude. Cynthia, thank you again for a beautiful gift from the heart.
I remember Marilyn as a Beginner student just as I was in the early stages of teaching myself. I can recall the first day she walked into my class after completing the Introductory Course. Strong willed, curious, eager to learn and determined. That never changed. What she didn't realize was SHE was the teacher. We were her students :)
In Celebration of our sweet Angel, this Sunday, February 28's 4pm class at Barefoot will be an All Levels class, open to everyone & anyone. Donations per her request in lieu of flowers can be made to Ecuador or Guatemala county programs through Peace Corps Partnership Program
www.peacecorps.gov <
http://www.peacecorps.gov/> or a donation to the Young Survivors Coalition,
www.youngsurvival.org/donate. Please let them know to acknowledge the family with your gifts.
We hope to see you Sunday at the studio, and thank you ALL again for your love & support for Marilyn! I just can't say Thank You enough :)
Never far from our minds~Always in our hearts
Marilyn,
we love & miss you always sweet Angel
