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SITTING
LIKE A BUDDHA ATOP A PEDESTAL in one of the hallowed rooms in New Yorks
Yoga Zone, yoga instructor Jillian Pransky enlightens her faithful students
with exercises and imagery. But watching her stretch effortlessly into one
of yogas more sought poses, the downward dog, its hard to imagine
barely a year ago she possessed more inner conflict than a Tennessee Williams
play. I liked my job, which made it hard to leave, the 31-year-old
says about her previous career as Marketing Director at St. Martins
Press. Yoga made me listen to what I wanted to do with my life.
In May 1999, Jillian left her lucrative position to study and teach yoga
fulltime. Today, Jillian is a senior yoga instructor at Yoga Zone. She founded
and directs the yoga program at the Hoboken, YMCA, and has a large private
client base. She teaches what she calls Yoga At Work, a program for employees
during their lunch breaks. She was also a guest instructor at Self magazines Body, Soul & Self Day 1999 to benefit breast cancer.
In 1994, the New Jersey native landed at St. Martins Press as marketing manager and by 1997 was working with a $3 million budget. She had already been nationally certified through the American Counsel on Exercise (ACE) in 1990, and worked evenings as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. A life of wearing two hats finally caught up with her and in 1994, she was suddenly faced with a personal crisis. Truthfully, I was stressed out of my mind, she recalls, I passed a yoga sign, went in, and after that went to classes five times a week for three years. After regular study and genuflecting to the yoga gurus, (which included soul-searching trips out west), Jillian was certified at Yoga Zone. After securing a foothold and student base, she then gave notice. Three weeks later, however, she reneged. I got too scared, she says, I didnt have a savings I wasnt ready for the commitment. Finally, in May 1999, she gave her notice again-this time for good. It was interesting to watch people at work when I left, she remembers. I got a lot of perplexed looks. Jillians style of teaching draws on the strength building of Astanga, the alignment methods of Iyengar, and the relaxation of Restorative yoga. What yoga means to me is not how you do a pose, its getting sensitive to your own body. Thats what you take with you into your daily life. Jillian conjures visuals in class to accent the poses. Her customary choice of water as an image helps wring out memories of the concrete jungle. For her corporate sessions, theres a different challenge. You have to create a vacation time. How fast can you swing them into a space where they forget about work and then bring them back again? Although
she prides herself on accommodating each individual, she encourages her
students to listen closely to themselves. How do you get quiet enough
to learn how to listen to your own voice? she says. Thats
how I left my job. I just got quiet enough to listen to my own voice. |
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Jillian Pransky is a New York City/New Jersey based yoga instructor. She is Director of Restorative Yoga Teacher Training for Yoga Works Nation-wide, co-director of Bright Spirit Yoga Teacher Training, and leads programs at Kripalu, Omega, and other international venues. Known as a nurturing guide with uplifting energy, Jillian’s teaching focuses on brining the practice of yoga and meditation into everyday life. |
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![]() Erich Schiffmann ![]() Pema Chodron ![]() John Friend ![]() Alan Finger |
MORE ABOUT MY TEACHERS Yoga means Union of Body, Mind and Soul. Each of my teachers has influenced me greatly, with a bit of a ‘bent’ in one of these aspects of the trinity – body, mind, or soul. I have infinite gratitude for each of them.
OF COURSE THERE ARE MANY MORE ….
T.K.V. Desikachar- Teacher Training – Therapeutic Applications http://www.kym.org/ Gary Kraftsow – Teacher Immersion - Therapeutic Applications http://www.viniyoga.com/ Charles and Lisa Matkin – Lots of training! Therapeutics, Chronic Illness. Lots of Love!!! http://www.matkinyoga.com Sharon Salzburg – Meditation Immersion (and many workshops) http://www.sharonsalzberg.com/ Krishna Das – Chanting and Meditation immersion (many workshops and retreats) www.krishnadas.com Stephen Cope – Meditation Immersion http://www.kripalu.org/presenter/V0000065/ Angela Farmer – Teacher Training - Finding form from inside teacher training http://angela-victor.com/ Jonas Westring – with whom I received a certification in Thai Yoga Healing http://shantaya.org/jonas_westring.php Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal, with whom I training in Therapeutic Yoga www.chericlampett.com Certified through American Council of Exercise from 1990-1998, Personal Fitness and Health Instructor. http://www.acefitness.org/ My husband Brad and son William – with whom I step into ‘school’ with every day. And all my students! Whom with out, I would cease to grow as a teacher and a practitioner! To all, I bow. |
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Students' Comments Only the real master-teacher is blessed with that rare combination of gifts that enable students to blossom physically, mentally, and spiritually. Jillian Pransky embodies these gifts. Her teaching exists in that exciting liminal space between kinesthetic awareness and physical transcendence. Jillians ability to share her profound knowledge with humor, intelligence, compassion and boundless creativity is unparalleled. As a former professional dancer with over thirty years of experience in body/mind practices, I can truly say that she is among the finest teachers I have ever encountered. It is a privilege and a joy to study yoga with her. Namaste, — Tamara Chaplin Matheson Jillians teaching style and deep respect for each student has literally changed my life. She is the only teacher I know who is completely lacking in judgment or ego when she teaches. I get a huge dose of love, just being in her class. I would follow her wherever she goes. Rosanne Cash I had been going to Yoga Zone for about 2 years before I had the pleasure of experiencing one of Jillians classes. The class was much different from any of the other classes I had taken to date. She brought a new approach to yoga making it less rigid and focused on getting the asanas right. I found that once your mind is not so set on doing it right your body kind of takes over and does it right naturally. Jillian has brought a certain flow of ease, sensuality, freedom and fun into her teaching and at the same time her students get all the benefits from her knowledge of yoga asana alignment and form. Ana Suric Jillian has a true gift for sharing yoga with others. She manages to make each person in her class feel like theyre the only one in the room, while maintaining a connection with everyone at once. Jillian keeps my practice fresh by reminding me to always look at my practice with a new perspective. Im always amazed at how one tiny adjustment by Jillian can completely change the way I look at a pose. Its an honor to study yoga with Jillian Pransky, and anyone who is lucky enough to learn from her and have that experience will be forever grateful. Jodi Williams Some people are born with a natural gift. Jillian is one of those individuals. She is a natural born teacher who beautifully shares her knowledge of yoga. I love her images that help explain yoga so simply. And her choice of descriptive language has always appealed to me. To use one of her adjectives Jillian is a yummy teacher. What I learn in her class I take with me each day in all facets of my life. Colleen Smith Wallnau I never knew the numerous benefits I could reap from practicing yoga even only a few times a week. I started to practice in April 2000 - Jillian was my first instructor and inspiration. With Jillians instruction I have embraced yoga into my life. Her unique and special way of teaching has allowed me to see the spiritual and physical side of the practice. The levels of awareness which have entered my life as a result are incredible! I feel as though I have matured five years in the last nine months. Beth Seibold, Hoboken, NJ I have been studying with Jillian consistently for the past three years and I think the most profound quality to her teaching that I have experienced thus far is how she continually shares her growth process with her students. It manifests in her words and in her touch Jillians light, love and dedication to life and all its beauty shows up in her teachings in every moment. It emanates out from her soul, which creates such a powerful relationship with her students. She is Yoga. She is completely present with each and every one of her students. When I take class with Jillian, I feel like I am in a private lesson. I feel her presence and love and support so strongly. I feel free to be with me and to listen to me. She is remarkable. Jennifer McCabe I made my way to Jillians class in desperation, I was going through one of the most emotionally difficult times of my life, where living through each day was my goal.....Jillians YOGA, is Jillians alone...her style is flowing and a workout from the INSIDE-OUT!!!! Her teaching has touched my heart and changed my life...it is my favorite part of my day....she is the epitome of someone finding their way along their path and loving what they do, it shines through.... Namast Wendy As my teacher, Jillian has provided me with the opportunity to grow into my own yogic experience. Jillian has been a light that illuminated my soul, my love, and my inner wisdom. Her teaching has given me a key to the source of love and possibility. I am grateful for Jillians courage, as she regularly shares her inner truth, love, and light with all of her students. Thanks! Susan Richardson Jillians non-rigid attitude and personal warmth is reflected in her teaching style and every class with her is truly special. Through her teaching, I have learned how to truly make my yoga practice my own. By allowing myself to let go and directing my focus inward, rather than outward, my practice has greatly improved both physically and mentally. Dalita Keumurian To study with Jillian is an invitation to study yourself spiritually & physically. Contrary to so many yoga classes in New York City where the process is akin to a workout on ESPN and removed from the study of yoga, Jillian urges you to explore your body, and, as a result, your mind and spiritual self. Perhaps what I admire most about working with Jillian is that she herself is in a constant state of evolution. No sooner than she has absorbed a weekend or retreat with Eric Schiffman or the study of Thai massage, does she immediately impart her learnings to her students. As a result, there is never a predictability to her classes and to her teachings, nor a challenge to simply strike a pose with the purpose of attaining the most extreme possibility. Lisa Sitjar Yoga with Jillian
is a treat. Her classes are always different. She brings her own practice
to ours and we work on what she has discovered for herself. Her teaching
is very fluid. She delights us with humor and her fresh view of the world.
Her love of Yoga and joy in the potential in all of us is evident. I always
feel as if Im in a private class even when we are a class of many.
She transforms the YMCA basement into a sacred space. I always know when
I enter that room that I am doing something very, very good for myself.
I have never been disappointed. Nancy
Greene |
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