IMPACT
The Witches of Westchester

When I first found Katonah Yoga® my brain broke. Everything I thought and had understood in practice and in my life was up to bat. ⚾️ 🧤 Words were untethered from their meanings and somehow all of my answers had questions.

I began to attend, transcribe, apprentice and listen to hours of Nevine’s classes; it was like mental arithmetic; mathematical gymnastics, a rapper’s delight of rhyme and wisdom.

Her poetry and cadence; so recognizable that even today in an instance, I can spot her mark in all sorts of teachings and writings.

Katonah Yoga® is a language born from a conversation that Nevine began in her living room, with friends, 50 years ago. In Katonah-land, Nevine is the GOAT.

Like John Coltrane with his Tri-tone Substitutions; Nevine rewrote the formula on a yoga practice and fortified her own cannon of harmonic constructs with in the bounds of an elegant and sophisticated frame.

I joke about how I was lucky to meet the “Witches of Westchester” and how they taught me to read feet and fold bodies like paper. I tell everyone how the Katonah Yoga® practice ABSOLUTELY changed my life.

Often in conversation, I iterate, how Nevine gave us yoga teachers a real career path. Without compromise to the theory and its recipes.

-Where it was more important to measure up than to become a “snake charmer” 🐍

If you asked me, I’d say “Nevine’s class is the perfect mix of Chinese wisdom, Western theology and New York Jewish humor, in a well measured, Thursday morning, cup of coffee.” 📐 ☕️

I can recall that day, nearly 10 years ago, I was sitting beside Nevine as she did what she always does; masterfully reading, seeing, empowering and uplifting the human in front of her. It was then that I understood my job as a teacher.

She said: “Put them on their throne, teach them to tie the knot, 🪢 tack the wind in their sail and remind them where they’re going.“

Teaching yoga, I truly believe, IS the best job there is and I feel blessed to have found Nevine on my way. ☀️ ⛵️