Donna Cheema/ MEd, HHP, LMT, RYA(E)-500

She holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed in Counseling Psychology from Rutgers University, worked in the mental health field for 10 years and was on a training path as a doctoral Clinical Psy.d student for 2 years. Being so inspired by the power of yoga (and massage) as a holistic system of health, though, Donna left her doctoral program in 1992. Encouraged by one of her first long-term teachers, Charlene Berling, she embarked on her first series of teacher trainings in her teacher’s style, that lasted from 1990-1997. This style resonated deeply, being based in the Vinyasa/slow flow style of yoga with a strong focus on sequencing, alignment and breath. Donna’s 1st Yoga Teacher Training certificate was signed jointly by Charlene Berling and Erich Schiffmann who had a powerful influence on the studio and teaching style offered there. Along with Erich Schiffmann, with whom Donna went on to complete many additional teacher trainings, intensives and classes with, other powerful influences throughout the 90’s and 2000’s have been Maty Ezraty (one of the original founders of Yoga Works), Aadil Palkhivala, Kofi Bosia, Rodney Yee, Natasha Rizopoulos, Gary Kraftsow, Kia Miller, Sally Kempton, Jason Crandell and Annie Carpenter. During and since then, Donna has also studied with and completed additional teacher training segments with Roger Cole, Suzi Hately and Jason Crandell, among others. For, yoga is an ever-flowing lifetime of learning. In 1991, Donna began to teach yoga classes, workshops and intensives at Healing Hands School of Holistic Health in Escondido. Inspired by student requests and feedback, she eventually created and implemented a 200 hour Yoga Tteacher Training program, called “Body, Mind & Spirit Yoga”, which has since taught and certified many holistic health and massage students at the school as well as other interested students from the community. Donna’s teaching style can be described as an alignment-based, slow vinyasana yoga with a focus on the breath and brief mindfulness meditation. Born with a 35 degree of scoliosis, severe lordosis and an anteverted hip, through yoga, Donna has shifted from alot of physical pain and imbalance in life into a typically physically balanced state of doing and being, as a yoga teacher and massage therapist. Having trained in several yogic traditions, experienced many teaching styles and taught many thousands of hours herself, Donna’s teaching style has evolved with purposeful passion, spirituality, the science of yoga and a good dose of eclectism. Donna’s experience and expertise ranges from teaching beginners with modifications and props such as blocks and chairs to teaching more challenging classes to advanced Level 2-3 students. Although many years of teaching were spent teaching in San Diego, particularly at locations in Escondido and Carmel Valley, Donna’s preference for the past 10 years has been to teach small group, closed, long-term and dedicated groups of students. Being “online” is new for her as she embarks on offering additional classes and teacher training segments on a new type of “platform.” Through a wide variety of offerings, Donna’s intention is to make yoga accessible to everyone, through gradually offering a wide variety of offerings online, for the beginner through more advanced student, as well.