Beth Gibney
I began practicing yoga and meditation in 1996 to cope with health problems while in graduate school. I felt overwhelmed and knew I needed help in steadying my mind, healing my body, and prioritizing my energy.
Yoga and meditation didn’t cure my chronic illness but did give me a healthy perspective on life. I learned to witness my body and mind with kindness and compassion. My body needs love and support, not critique! Mindful practices have given me the ability to focus on the present moment and release judgment.
I started teaching yoga and mindfulness in 1997 when a friend’s mother insisted that I share my inner peace with the preschool teachers she supervised! I was nervous, but seeing people respond well to the practices showed me how important it is to share peace. I completed Yoga Teacher Training at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts in 2005. My specialization in the field has evolved through the years to include a wide variety of programs:
- Beginner and Moderate Kripalu Yoga classes
- The first Springfield College Outdoor Pursuits Yoga course
- The Yoga of Leadership – for college students
- Mindful Time Management – for college students
- Office Yoga – for college faculty and staff
- Fertility Yoga and Trauma Aware Yoga
- Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Labor, and Mommy & Me Yoga
- Women’s Yoga for a Healthy Pelvis and Healing Diastasis Recti
- Meditation for Mothers
- Women’s Yoga
- Guided Meditation
- Mindfulness for Pain Management
- Kids Relaxation
- Mindful Practices: Office Yoga and Deeper Stillness
- Mindful Leadership – for college students
My personal practice has evolved to include breath work, mantra meditation, movement, and stillness to ease chronic pain and support my well-being. I “preach what I practice” in online group mindfulness classes, private coaching sessions and team workshops as the owner of An Anchored Life.
My daily mindful practices include:
- Morning pranayama and meditation
- Giving thanks for before every meal
- Daily stretching, alignment, and movement to alleviate (or prevent) pain
- Evening mantra meditation
- Gratitude to all beings who support my life journey