Marina with her music teacher in Rishikesh, India

Marina's biography

From the forword in the teacher's manual:

I would like to begin by saying that discovering the energy world of the ‘Science of Yoga - Chakra System’ has been a magical, unfolding, mystical journey. The science of the universe is vast and mysterious.

Mother Earth carries within her energetic memory the history of many ancient civilizations, some of them far more advanced than our modern age. Many cultures such as the Greeks, Egyptians, East Indians, Chinese, and the Mayan culture, to name a few, seemed to understand the workings of the mind, the energy body, as well as the power of sacred sound. These ancient cultures practiced advanced techniques for the development of their higher senses such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy and visualization. Understanding the inner world of the chakras, through breathing patterns, meditation, as well as working with sound, light and sacred geometry, these ancient peoples were able to connect with their higher consciousness, the upper, heavenly realms and affirm their place with the oneness of the universe; the one consciousness. Many enlightened beings have graced our beautiful planet and many ages and earth changes have manifested in the last thousands of years.

For myself, each day, I am grateful to have been introduced to the teachings of the ‘Science of Yoga - Chakra System’ by David & his teacher, Swami Gitananda, for it lays out a well traveled map to self-realization. In opening up to this integrated system of yoga I was very inspired. I felt I had found the piece of the puzzle to the great mystery of the cosmic universe. I felt a sense of remembering this ancient knowledge and how it all made logical sense to me. One day after one of my yoga practice I remember saying, “all the world should learn this knowledge”. If all the world’s people were to practice the nine forms of yoga we would have a much more healthier, happier and peaceful global village.

It was in 1995 that I was very fortunate to meet David through one of his weekly yoga classes. I felt a sense of exhilaration in stumbling across a teacher who had this knowledge. In studying & practicing with David I was very impressed with his dedication to the discipline of yoga. I thought his mandala drawings of the chakras were incredible. In his teachings David laid out the system of yoga similar to how it was taught to him by his teacher, Swami Gitananda. The progression and integration of the nine forms of yoga made a good balance. I was excited to perceive that the practice of each of these forms of yoga leads one to the mastery of the self and in union with higher consciousness of the sacred universe. This practice of yoga is a sacred, scientific, spiritual path which has been explored by many enlightened beings over the past 10,000 years or more.

Another teacher who brought the teachings of the Science of Yoga to the West is Sri Paramahansa Yogananda. Yogananda was sent to the United States from India by his Guru, Sri Yukteswar Giri. During his 30 years teaching in the West Yogananda initiated over 100,000 students in the practice of Kriya Yoga. This practice of yoga encompasses the forms of yoga such as Pranayama Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Mantra Yoga as well as Bhakti Yoga: Techniques and practices to attain self-realization.

In his book, A World in Transition, Yogananda stated, ‘Kryia Yoga provides the ‘missing link’ in our twentieth century understanding of energy. He said it gives the means to balance material progress with spiritual development.’ In 1934 he said : “there will come a day, after I have left this physical form, when there will be a great surge of spiritual enthusiasm and interest in God. The message of India will sweep the earth. The Science of Yoga will take hold in this country more than any other form of spiritual seeking. The entire trend will be away from churches, where people go only to hear a sermon and into schools and quiet places where they will go to meditate and really find God.”
(Noted from his book, A World in Transition)

Yogananda taught that only by purifying our own minds and energy fields could we begin to help purify and positively help the consciousness of our global community. The people of the earth are awakening to this ancient science of the universe. Around the world today people are drawn towards the practice of yoga, meditation, chanting, tai chi, qi gong, pranic healing and so on. There is an intuitive and soulful longing for divine self-realization and union with our spiritual universe. Each person’s individual practice can make a good difference in the world as a whole.

In the last several years practicing, studying and teaching chakra yoga with David I have been amazed by the accuracy of this science. The accuracy of the chakra energy time cycles and their psychological characteristics have been very profound to experience. As well the exact science of Mantra Yoga has also been very clearing and awakening for me. Chanting particular Sanskrit sound formulas has many physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits. It is incredible how it works on so many levels. All of the forms of yoga integrated together purifies one’s mind and energy field and leads one to sweet levels of bliss and peacefulness.

In Alberta, Canada, at the young age of nineteen, I began my practice of classical Hatha yoga. I started out with some weekly classes from a local yoga instructor in my community and fell in love with the flowing, meditative practice of yoga. Yoga became my daily practice. Since 1995 I have been greatly influenced by David’s inspiring teachings of the ‘Science of Yoga-Chakra System’. For me, it has been an incredible exploration of the self ; body, mind & spirit!

In my early 20’s I also explored my love of dance and singing. I enjoyed studying and practicing different schools of dance such as the styles of jazz, ballet, modern, contact improve, African, and creative improvisational dance. In my yoga classes I encourage my students to explore their authentic dancing spirit to awaken their unique chakra energy centers and connect with the breath and the rhythm of the cosmic universe. Dance is known down through the ages of many civilizations and shamanic cultures as a gateway to connect and come into union with the masculine and feminine energies; the Shiva & Shakti of the divine universe. Our body holds much knowledge and thousands of memories from past and present lifetimes. This awareness has been has been substantiated by renowned scientist, Dr. Candace Pert who wrote the book, Molecules of Emotion as well as recorded the lectures, Your Body is Your Subconscious Mind. Through her research on neuro-peptides she affirmed that every thought or experience we have in our brain is also registered in the receptors of particular cells in the body depending on the vibration of the thought. This is amazing research of the modern age! Our mind is not just in the brain as the old schools of thought once believed. The mind is in the whole body. We can free our mind through the medium of dance!

Gabrielle Roth, a dance teacher & musician from New York who wrote the books, Maps to Ecstasy and Sweat Your Prayers, created a format of dance and music called ‘The Five-Rhythms’ and uses it to take people on a journey through the physical and energy body. It has proven to be very liberating for people from all walks of life!

On another note working with sound & vibration has proven to be a very effective way to connect with spirit and free the soul! For myself, all my life, I have loved. It has given me great joy! I believe everyone loves to sing and everybody can sing but the singer in many people becomes dormant as a child gets older. This happens for various reasons but I feel this is sad for I truly believe that the soul is truly alive when it sings or makes sounds in such practices as chanting or vowel toning.

My formal training includes the study of drama, musical theatre, jazz singing as well as classical voice training. Exploring the potential of my voice was an incredible journey back to the self! Opening up one’s voice frees and expands the soul and awakens the beauty & joy within the heart chakra. I encourage all my students to give themselves the gift of singing lessons, even for a few months, for it is wonderful to know the potential of your voice, to use the power of the voice through song & poetry and awaken the life-force of the throat chakra. This vibrant chakra energy is the home of the akashic records, the ancient library of knowledge and reservoir of many creative gifts.

It is through the practice of the various forms of yoga, breath, mantra, voice, dance, music and art that these latent, dormant energy centers along our spinal column begin to awaken. The lotus petals of the chakras emerge into the light and thus awakened from the darkness of the sub-conscious mind. In this awakening one feels the vitality of the pranic life-force flowing through them. One begins to feel motivated, energized, confident, courageous and curious. In activating the chakra energies one begins the journey of re-uniting with their inner teacher, leader, artist and creator! Kundalini-Shakti awakens and the creative potential and beauty of the universe is revealed! OM Namah Kundalini!

Back to my love of yoga, through my own self-study programs I have been grateful to research the teachings of Harish Johari, Hiroshi Motoyama, Anodea Judith, Dr. John Mumford, David Coulter, B.K.S. Iyengar, Mukunda Stiles, Esther Myers, Godfrey Devereux, Erich Schiffman , Patrcia Walden/Linda Sparrow, Beryl Bender and others.

In the world of yoga philosophy I have been influenced by the teachings of Swami Vishnu Devananda, Swami Sivananda, Eknath Easwaran, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Swami Sivananda Radha, Sir John Woodroffe, Rammurti S. Mishra, David Frawley and George Feuerstein to name a few.

In the world of the ‘sacred power of sound’ I have been truly inspired by the research & writings of David Tame, Dr. Alfred Tomatis, Swami Sivananda Radhe, Fabian Maman, Laurel Elizabeth Keyes, Thomas Ashely Farrand, Don Campbell, Robert Gass, Jonathan Goldman, Eknath Easwaran, Hazrat Inayat Khan and others.
Gratitude goes out to all of these authors and teachers dedicated to spreading the knowledge of yoga, meditation, mantra , sound and vibration. I am forever grateful.
It has been a great honor and educational experience to collaborate with David on the writing of this yoga book. The teachings are infinite on many levels.

I am deeply grateful to David & his teachers for sharing this system of Chakra Yoga with me and all the students who have joined us on this spiritual path. We are truly fortunate to learn these mystical teachings of India!