Rosemary Jeanes Antze began studying privately with Desikachar in 1974 when she first spent a year in India learning Odissi dance. She returned to Madras (now Chennai) in 1980-81 to conduct research on the teacher-student relationship in Indian culture and dance, and continued learning with Desikachar, while also attending his teachers' seminars. Since then she has travelled regularly to study with him in North America and in India. From 1988 to 1995 she also studied, deepening her knowledge and commitment to teaching, with Mary Louise Skelton, student of T. Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar, and founder of Upstate Yoga in Syracuse, New York.
Rosemary holds degrees from the University of Toronto and from York University (B.A., B.Ed., M.F.A.), where she studied anthropology, Sanskrit and Indian thought, dance and education. Her thesis, "Tradition and Learning in Odissi Dance of India: guru-sisya-parampara," examined the changing teacher-student relationship in Indian culture as dance moved from temple to stage.
Yoga has sustained her through various stages in life, including a decade of professional dancing and acting, the first half with the National Ballet of Canada and the second touring internationally, in Andrei Serban's Trilogy of Greek Tragedy, with La Mama ETC of New York City. For 20 years she taught dance theory and practice at York University, the University of Waterloo and Ryerson University. She is also the mother of two daughters.
In 1976, at Desikachar's urging, Rosemary began teaching yoga to individuals and in classes. Since 1995 she has focused on a community based practice and on teaching young people at the University of Toronto. Respecting the individual is at the heart of her teaching, both in individual lessons and small group classes. She also leads a Yoga Sutra study group, workshops in Sanskrit and Vedic Chant, and retreats for both teachers and student practitioners. Her yoga teacher training and development program (established in 2002) will now be affiliated with the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation (www.khyf.net) in Chennai India.
In addition to being Desikachar's senior Canadian teacher, Rosemary is registered with the Ontario Yoga Association, www.ontarioyogaassociation.ca, is affiliated as a teacher trainer with the Centra de Transmission of Quebec, www.yoga-cty.org, is regarded as a senior International Teacher by the Yoga Association of Alberta, and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Rosemary is invited to teach across Canada, as a regular guest teacher for the Yoga Association of Alberta, the Federation of Ontario Yoga Teachers, and yoga centres throughout Ontario. In February/March 2006 she led a group of Canadian yoga teachers and practitioners to Chennai, India for a special two week intensive study with TKV Desikachar. In June 2006 she participated in the inaugural seminar of the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, KHYF, founded by Desikachar and Kausthub to link teachers around the world. She is recognized by them as a Teacher Trainer in this lineage.
Rosemary has produced 2
interactive Chanting CDs for practice and recitation. Order through rose@anaama-yoga.ca.
Sounding Sanskrit: Vedic and Traditional Chants for Yoga. 2005
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Chapters I & II: Listen, Chant, Learn. (2 CD set) 2007
Chanting Patanjali's Yoga Sutra
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Rachel Smith started practicing yoga in 1998 after the birth of her first child. At the time she was living in Israel and studying with Efrat Izenberg in the tradition of Orit Ben-Supta. Returning to Canada in 2000 she met Rosemary Jeanes Antze whose approach to yoga sparked a deep interest. Rachel loved the link to tradition and the down-to-earth approach of these profound yoga teachings. The teacher and student developed gradually and guided her through a four year teacher training program. She began teaching in 2003.
Rachel has found yoga practice helpful in conditioning the body, especially after the birth of her third child, but equally beneficial for calming and focusing the mind. She continues to explore the links between body, breath and mind which bring energizing, clarifying or relaxing effects depending on the needs of the moment. Her ongoing studies include asana (postures) both classical and adapted, pranayama (breathing), philosophy of the Yogasutra, meditation and chanting.
In daily life with her family Rachel sees the fruits of her yoga practice. Her way of teaching respects each student's individual needs. With tools received from her teacher, she aims to reach people of all ages in her community.
Tiffany Garfinkel credits her mother for her early introduction to yoga. While studying at Trent University Tiffany renewed her interest and established roots in the Peterborough Yoga community, practicing in the tradition of Vanda Scaravelli. Later Tiffany was inspired by several seminars given by the Desikachar family in Canada, the United States and India. In this tradition she met her current teacher, Rosemary Jeanes Antze with whom she continues to practice and develop as a teacher though classes, workshops and mentorship.
Since beginning teaching yoga four years ago, Tiffany has visited South India twice to pursue intensive studies and to gather resources for her work with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Yoga and mental health are central to her interests and she is involved in research on the value of yoga in the treatment of major depression and bi-polar disorders. She also teaches at the Anishnabe Health Toronto, gives community group classes and runs a private practice. Tiffany’s strengths as a teacher are drawn from the example of her mentor and the discipline of her daily personal yoga practice.
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