September 28, 2009

Get to Know... Yirser Ra Hotep (my future Yogi)

My Journey Into Delf is inspired by a need to live with purpose both

physically and spiritually. As I continue on my path, I will share the
greatness of those that inspire me to grow. As you may know, I practice
yoga. In my studies, I found the foremost leader in a style that is truly one
in which I will learn to master - Kemetic Yoga. I'd like you to meet Yirser,
my future Yogi.

Yirser Ra Hotep (Elvrid Lawrence) has taught Yoga for over 30

years. He is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the
foremost masters and innovators of Kemetic Yoga (ancient Egyptian
system of Yoga) in the world. Yirser is the author of "Kemetic Yoga" a three
volume set of Instructional Yoga tapes and "Journey to Amenta" an audio
meditation and music CD. He has lectured and written extensively on the
African origins of Yoga; stress management, health and wellness for
African Americans; African American culture and health; Yoga therapy,
meditation and spirituality.

Enjoy my interview with Yirser

1. When and where did you develop your love for yoga?

I started practicing Yoga about 33 years ago. About a year

prior to being introduced to Yoga I began a quest to improve
my health and wellness status. I gave up meat, alcohol, drugs,
cigarettes, sweets, etc and became a fruitarian. I only ate fruit,
nuts, seeds, herbs and water. I began fasting and doing 500
push ups, 1000 sit ups and running 5 miles daily. After about a
year of this regimen I felt fantastic for the first time in my
life. I felt energized, strong and emotionally/spiritually
stable. While in college at UIC in Chicago I met a Sister who
persuaded me to go to Yoga class with her. She eventually
became the mother of my eldest son, but the teacher was Dr.
Asar Ha-pi. I felt things from Yoga that I had never felt before
but I could only do a headstand and mummy (corpse) pose
effectively. I decided to master Yoga and began to practice 8 to
12 hours daily for that first year or so. My teacher asked me to
teach classes for him, which I reluctantly did.

2. When did you realize that you had a gift for teaching Kemetic
Yoga?

It took me about 6 years of teaching before I felt as though I

really knew what I was doing. After that 6th year I felt as
though I had found my own unique voice as a teacher. I
discovered that I could move people beyond their perceived
limitations and my understanding of the science had deepened.

3. Who are your influences?

My teacher Dr. Asar Ha-pi was my main influence. But I was

also influenced by Brother Basu who was a teacher and
practitioner along with Dr. Ha-pi. I was also inspired and
informed by the books of B.K.S. Iyengar (Light on Yoga and
Light on Pranayama), the Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga
by Vishnu Devananda and Integral Yoga by Swami
Sathidananda. I was also influenced just in terms of movement
by my Tai Chi teacher, Dr. Jabalani Makalani (Clovis Semmes)
and my African Dance teacher the great Darlene
Blackburn. I had many other mentors and inspirations such
as Kelan Phil Cohran, the great musician, holisitic health
master and founder of the cultural arts movement in
Chicago. The books of Dick Gregory influenced me early on in
terms of health and diet as well as a book called Back to Eden
by Jethro Kloss.

4. What influence has yoga placed in your life?

Without Yoga I would probably have died a long time

ago. Yoga and my interest in health and wellness in general
inspired me to strive for a healthy and vibrant longevity. Yoga
has also allowed me to see myself as seriously strong and
unafraid in spite of any situation that I find myself. Through
my meditation I've come to realize my true power and
connection to the ultimate power in the universe.

5. In your opinion, why has yoga become such a popular fitness

alternative today?

Its kind of hard to say actually. Yoga is hard and most people
who practice it are women. I think the power of Yoga comes
from its impact on stress. Yoga stimulates your stress response
in the central nervous system. Yoga also has so many other
effects such as fitness, flexibility, strength, weight loss, toning,
etc. It also compliments other exercise systems and athletic
activities. You become better at whatever you do if you
practice Yoga along with it. Perhaps it is the spiritual aspect of
Yoga that helps to make it so popular also. People who practice
Yoga for real experience an internal sense of connection with
the "All" and balance and harmony within themselves.
Yirser has taught Yoga and lectured throughout the United
States and in various countries around the world. He has
recently been featured in such magazines and books as Yoga
Journal, Yoga Chicago, Whole Life Health.Com, Houston Life,
Chicago Parent, Healthy, Ebony Magazine, Chicago Tribune and
Natural Living in Chicago and various TV and radio shows
around the U.S. including ABC and WGN. He has been
recognized nationally for his work with children with disabilities
Easter Seals Headstart programs in Chicago.

Yirser Ra Hotep has been a featured speaker at Whole Life Expo, The
National Black Expo, The Festival of Yoga and Music in Havana Cuba, The
African Festival of the Arts, Chicago Museum of Natural History and
various conferences and Universities. For the past two years he has been a
staff writer for Recovered Magazine in Chicago and is a professor of Stress
Management and Wellness at DePaul University.

In 1979 he began a career in Social Work and counseling where he has used
his knowledge of Yoga, Tai Chi and holistic health to develop innovative
treatment programs for at risk youth, substance abusers, developmentally
disabled persons, the elderly, AIDS patients, teen parents and many other
populations.

Yirser is Founder/CEO of Yoga Skills Stress Management and Wellness

Consultants. Through these organizations he presents workshops and
training to the clients and employees of various corporations and
public/private social service organizations. He is host of his own TV show
in Chicago called "Ancient Arts for Modern Living".

In addition to his expertise in Yoga, Yirser is a Social Worker, has a

Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Social
Service Administration from the University of Chicago.

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Yirser Ra Hotep is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the

foremost masters of Kemetic Yoga. He has been featured in Ebony
Magazine, ABC TV, WGN TV, Yoga Journal, African Business and Culture
and has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Contact: Call or email for 2008 Schedule

Yirser Ra Hotep: 773.396-6613 or toll free: 888 599-
YOGA yirser@yogaskills.com
Yirser Ra Hotep is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the
foremost masters of Kemetic Yoga. He has been featured in Ebony
Magazine, ABC TV, WGN TV, Yoga Journal, African Business and Culture
and has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey.
Training Dates for 2009 are being planned. For information on upcoming
cities and dates call 773 396-6613 or toll free: 888 599-YOGA or email:

yirser@yogaskills.com

----------------

KEMETIC Yoga combines all the so-called branches of Yoga into one
system. There is no separation between Yoga that is done for the body,
Yoga that is done for the mind and Yoga that is done for spiritual
development. The originators of Yoga in ancient Kemp believed that the
mind, body and spirit functioned together in a dynamic inter-related and
inter-dependent system.
Meditation and breath control was taught in conjunction with continuous
motion of the body into a myriad of geometrical forms. This is what
separates KEMETIC Yoga from the static and breathless method taught by
modern Western instructors. KEMETIC Yoga is more efficient in the
development of the muscular-skeletal system, respiratory system and the
circulatory system than conventional Yoga. KEMETIC Yoga combines
movements for strength, flexibility, balance and coordination into an
invigorating workout that also develops mental and psychic faculties..
Relaxation, concentration, meditation and transcendence are also
achieved through breathing and meditation techniques.