About Lynne
Lynne Baum began practicing yoga in 1996. Her first teacher, a 73 year old Ashtangi, was known in the yogic community as Madage, Sanskrit for Respected Mother. As a traditional Ashtangi, Madage had traveled India extensively studying Asana, Kriyas, and meditation. This, she freely shared with Lynne, providing an education of a lifetime, and the inspiration to share theses teachings with others. After three years, Lynne moved back to Michigan and began a devoted practice at Namaste Yoga in Royal Oak. Under the gentle and informed guidance of Ashtanga Guru Veronica Zador, Lynne continued to explore the multi-faceted teachings initially inspired by Madage, and within a year, completed her 200-hour teacher training certification.
Ready to share the depth of her knowledge and passion with others, Lynne opened her first yoga studio in the small, university town of Bemidji, Minnesota. She named it Moksha Yoga, which means “freedom” or “spiritual liberation.” To no surprise, the studio quickly gained a devoted following, and was an unqualified success. Four years and over 2000 yoga classes later, Lynne closed the studio and traveled to India for the first time. For three months she traveled alone on an inspired, inward journey to find her Satguru, or “true teacher.” Among the memorable and lasting highlights of this personal journey of self-discovery, Lynne was blessed by Amma in Kerala; chanted at Papa Ram Das’ Ashram in Karnatika; sang, danced and rode a camel in the deserts of Rajastan; attended the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh; sat silent for a ten day Vipassana meditation in Dehradun; and hiked the Himalayan mountains. A degree of enlightenment from these life-changing experiences allowed Lynne to conclude that for her, the Satguru exists within. (more…)
I HAD A DREAM
I had a dream. I was already there walking the streets and I was fine. I knew this was a sign and some of my fear of traveling to a third world country for the first time subsided. My family, on the other hand, was terrified and begged me not to go. That’s why I set up my blog, so they could see where I was and what I was up to. But I was dead set against getting an international cell phone like my father cheerfully suggested. After all, I wasn’t traveling for 17 hours by plane, 24 hours total travel time, to the other side of the planet so anyone, anytime, could find me. No, this wasn’t a vacation. I wasn’t going on a guided tour to all the famous tourist destinations. I wasn’t staying in fancy hotels and eating at Pizza Hut and McDonalds- considered good American food. I wanted to experience the real thing. I wanted to stay in ashrams and practice yoga, meditate and pray. I wanted to meet and talk to people on the streets and learn about their way of life. I wanted to immerse myself in the holy water of the Ganges River. I also wanted to avoid getting sick, like so many people who visit third world countries do. So I got the minimal shots required, packed my backpack according to the lonely planet guide book, had my parents drop me at the airport and was off on the adventure of a lifetime. (more…)