Introduction

Valerie Withington:

Valerie has a long-time presence in the Orange County yoga community. She has led thousands of students through group asana classes, teacher trainings, private lessons, mentorships, workshops, retreats, philosophy courses, and guided meditation, with all classes rooted in the common denominator of her studies in the Sri Vidya spiritual tradition.

She holds degrees from Emory University, and built upon her academic foundation with years of professional and corporate experience, and certificates from Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500 /YACEP. 

While raising her three children she maintained her disciplined regimen of long-distance running. During these years she added yoga, meditation, and study of philosophy. At that time she met her Teacher, Master Yogi Jñāna Nanda Bharati, and for the first time was exposed to Vedic concepts and methodologies. What started as curiosity quickly turned into full immersion in the bodies of knowledge surrounding Vedic and Tantric sciences.

Her esteemed Teacher dedicated over two decades of his life to intense training and practice, becoming proficient in the various sciences expounded in the Vedas including Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra, Mantra, and Pranayama. He studied under the guidance of his Teacher, who sent him to other Himalayan Masters for specific training, and gained extensive knowledge of numerous texts including the Upanishads, Soundarya-Lahari, Vivekachudamani, and the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.

Level 1-2:

These classes build greater strength, flexibility, and stamina, while still providing thorough instruction and options. Students will be exposed to subtler concepts within the practice, stronger and more challenging flow sequences, and begin learning more advanced poses including basic arm balances, backbends and inversions.