Cindy von Miller
EDUCATION:
RN Diploma, Touro Infirmary School of Nursing, New Orleans, Louisiana 1983
BSN, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida 1986
CERTIFICATIONS:
Certified Yoga Teacher (200 hour level) Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health 1994
Certified Yoga Teacher (500 hour level) Ananda Seva, Santa Rosa, California 2007
Yoga Therapy Certification Ananda Seva, Santa Rosa, California 2007
Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor, American Heart Association
REGISTRATIONS:
RN, State of Texas
RYT (500), Yoga Alliance
MEMBERSHIPS:
International Association of Yoga Therapists
Holistic Nurses Association
Cindy first discovered Yoga as a teenager by reading Yoga, Youth and Reincarnation by Jess Stearn. She realized that she had already been practicing yoga by drawing attention inward, and moving slowly and mindfully in coordination with the breath. She did not find her first teacher – Alvina - until 1981. She attended yoga classes in New Orleans, Louisiana, and weeklong retreats in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico with Alvina from 1981 until 1994. Alvina studied at the Himalayan Institute and with BKS Iyengar; but, created her own method based on her experience as a dancer, an artist and a patient suffering from a chronic and potentially fatal illness.
In 1983, Cindy graduated from Touro Infirmary School of Nursing, with the highest academic average in her class. She was always an average student in High School, and attributed her new found academic ability to the practice of yoga and meditation. She completed her BSN Cum Laude. She intended to go on for advanced degrees in nursing, but chose instead to engage in all of the many educational opportunities that she found outside of academia. Cindy went on to work in Critical Coronary Care, Emergency Trauma and Labor and Delivery. She has been involved in nursing management and nursing education. She has worked as a travel nurse from coast to coast. She has participated in medical mission work in South America.
Cindy began the practice of mindfulness meditation in the early eighties after reading A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine. Although she continues to use mindfulness meditation as a tool for grounding herself in the reality of the present moment, she also uses yogic meditation practices as well. Cindy incorporates Sanskrit and Christian chanting into her personal practice.
Yoga and meditation practices provided the clarity of mind, cleansing of emotion, and stress relief required to enjoy a long career as a caring professional nurse. Cindy continues to work in the Emergency Department at South Austin Hospital.
The inward journey upon the path of yoga brought Cindy full circle, back home in a sense to her roots. In the mid eighties she began to deeply explore Christianity, the faith of her ancestors, but one that she did not embrace or understand during her adolescence. It was through Christianity that Cindy was able to ground herself into a life of caring and service in the world. She has been increasingly drawn towards early Christianity, especially the writings attributed to St. Thomas. She enjoys learning about all religious traditions and incorporating these ideas and practices into her own life philosophy. She continues to study with a wonderful group in the Texas Hill Country under the instruction of Dr. Lynn Bauman.
In the early 90’s she met her husband David. In 1996 she gave birth (in the ancient birthing position) to their son Devon, weighing in at 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Her doctor, amazed at Cindy’s performance, concluded that “if all women could do what you have just done, there would be no need for c-sections”. Cindy attributes her extraordinary childbirth experience to her years of Yoga practice. Cindy, David and Devon live a life of simplicity and devotion to one another.
Cindy has been teaching yoga for over two decades. She draws upon all of her knowledge and experience and attends to individual needs even in group classes. She believes that classical yoga provides the theory and the practical tools for creating health and wellness. Cindy’s vision is to use the tools of Yoga to address the issue of illness prevention and to empower people to make healthy lifestyle choices.
