I am Yin Yoga teacher, a retired acupuncturist, and a meditation instructor.
Yin Yoga is an inherently meditative approach to yoga that focuses on the connective tissues of the body. It helps to stimulate the energy flow of the meridians, which is a fundamental concept in acupuncture as well. Having an understanding of acupuncture, Yin Yoga and the dharma helps me add depth to my students’ practice.
For YACEP modules in learning Yin Yoga, please visit: www.joshsummers.net
Formal Training
I first learned Yin Yoga from Paul Grilley, and trained to teach Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers. My meditation training has been primarily in the Theravada Buddhist lineages, studying with Rodney Smith and the late Sayadaw U Pandita.
I received my Masters in Oriental Acupuncture (MaOM) from the New England School of Acupuncture in Newton, MA. My degree was a dual focus on Chinese Herbology and Japanese styles of acupuncture. After school, I continued my studies with the Japanese Master, Kiiko Matsumoto, and specialize in fertility, musculoskeletal disorders and endocrine imbalances.
Background
I began studying Iyengar yoga in the early nineties with James Murphy in New York City. Since then, I have spent several years in India, Taiwan, and Burma where I studied both yoga and meditation.
As my interest in Buddhist meditation developed, so too did my interest in more contemplative forms of yoga practice. With a professional background as acupuncturist and a personal passion for the dharma, I fell in love with Yin Yoga as a beautiful synthesis of the two.
When I’m not practicing, teaching, or writing, you’ll find me out walking my dog, reading crime thrillers (preferably British or Irish), and playing my saxophone.
Philosophy
To quote the great jazz trumpeter, Clark Terry, jazz improvisation is a process of “imitation, assimilation, and innovation.” I’m committed, as a practitioner and as a teacher, to a creative process of continuous learning, re-evaluation, and evolution.