Tonya Cauduro

Community Coordinator, Course in Miracles, Moral Support

• Tell us, when did your mind-body first bend or move you to it's will?  I actually first went upside-down in a yoga class in 1996. I thought it was hilarious and couldn’t quite understand how someone could get a work-out from this. I bought a few yoga videos and tried them but I just didn’t think I could do it. During the years from 1998 – 2001, I was the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life. I was running 3 miles a day and lifting weights for 1.5 hours - 5 days a week! I didn’t make sense that I wasn’t in the best shape ever. I had heard that Pilates was gentler on the body and I was trying to get pregnant at that time so I tried Pilates in 2000. I didn’t stick with it either. (Lazy?)
  
  I went back for more after the birth of my first child in 2001. I wanted to get back in shape of course. I can’t remember where but I read somewhere that every body responds to certain exercises differently. I remember how good I’d felt after a couple of yoga videos and Pilates classes so I thought I’d try it again. I stuck with it this time and even continued yoga into my second pregnancy. I also met a very inspirational yoga teacher at this time. DeAnna has helped me to grow on this yoga journey and my body is now in the best shape ever. Yay Yoga!
• Besides your obvious coolness, what makes you so qualified to teach?  Well, I won’t be teaching yoga… at least not at first. I will be facilitating a class on A Course in Miracles. I have been studying the Course for almost a year and would like to begin a study group that is closer to home. I am certainly not an expert but I think that learning together is the most fun and most helpful. 
  
  I have a BBA degree in Computer Information Systems so that really doesn’t have anything to do with the studio. But I have always had a strong interest in English and reading which helps me to notice grammatical and spelling errors. (That one’s for you, Dirk [editor]!)  I am also a woman (ed. so, you are qualified to teach "woman"?) and a Capricorn. Those two things alone mean that I’m detail oriented and organized. I love to plan parties. So, I’ll be planning lots of fun things for our wonderful Blue Anjou community.
• What other things are you qualified to do?  I think I just covered that, didn’t I? I’m very good at balancing my checkbook. Probably better than balancing myself.
• What can we expect to see, hear and do in your classes?   I would like my class to be as welcoming and comforting as the studio is. I think that the idea for any of the classes is to meet you where you are. I expect that my Course class would be the same.  We will be reading the book and discussing life and how to best apply the lessons we’re learning. I would also encourage people to share things that inspire them. Love is all around us and when you make the effort to notice it and share it, it becomes more obvious. I would like the class to be as healing to others as it is to me.
• What pose/move do you dig the most and why?  My favorite pose is Tree Pose. I’m an earthy kind of chick so it’s cool to feel like a tree. Strong yet flexible. Grounded and reaching for the sky.
• If you could push a button and remove a pose/move from history, which one and why?  The splits. Ugh. (Sorry DeAnna)
• Like, what's your sign man?  Strong Capricorn. Way too much Capricorn sometimes. (Sorry Dirk)
• What are 3 things that make you smile real big and cheesy?
  
  • My kids
  • My friends
  • Vacation with my family
• What is your favorite quote when you're in need of a little inspiration?  I love any quote about gratitude. Right now though, I’m hooked on a quote by Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “One day we’ll wake up and discover that We Are Family.” (I got all my sisters in me!
•  If you could do anything to change the world, what would it be?  Have everyone look at each other with more intention to find beauty instead of flaws.  Have everyone use natural medicine instead of getting hooked on pill after pill and side effects after side effects.
• Any other interesting information you would like to share with the nice people reading this here Bio?  I look forward to the growing family at the studio. I can’t wait to laugh with you all and share life and love. It’s an amazing place so I know it will attract amazing people. Namaste.