“Linda has a very rare depth of training and understanding of the yoga tradition, intertwined with brilliant intellect, compassion, and altruism. These qualities make her the ideal yoga teacher — someone who “walks the talk” in every way, whose concern is solely with helping others to flower. She is a jewel.” — Kevin K., 2010
Linda Karl’s first OM was in 1973 with Beat Poet and Buddhist, Allen Ginsberg, at a reading of his poem HOWL. She has been a spiritual seeker ever since.
For over 15 years Linda has immersed herself in the study and practice of the complete path of classical yoga and meditation, cultivating a breath-based, heart centered yoga practice. She developed her own vinyasa style in an intuitive and eclectic way based on Krishnamacharya’s method, integrating elements from other schools that enhance her practice and teachings. It is “Mindful Yoga”, nothing more, nothing less, and always remaining true to the ancient teachings.
She has over 1000 hours of training both in the United States and in India. Linda travels yearly to Chennai, India to study at the prestigious Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram with TKV Desikachar presiding. She is an ongoing student of Srivatsa Ramaswami of Chennai who introduced her into the Vinyasa Krama method of Sri Krishnamacharya. In the Acknowledgement of his book The Complete Book of Vinyasa Yoga, Sri Ramaswami mentions Linda as being one of the teachers who has “studied vinyasa yoga in depth with me” and who has “incorporated essentials of vinyasa krama into…teaching and practice even from Day 1.”
Linda was certified to teach at Suddha Weixler’s Chicago Yoga Center and also completed Yin Yoga teacher trainings with both Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley, who told her: “I am very gratified to know you are presenting a broad view of yoga and sharing with people more of the philosophical and spiritual sides of yoga.” Linda has taught yin yoga since first meeting Paul in 2003 and was one of the first yin yoga teachers in the Chicago area. She is humbled and honored that she introduced yin yoga to the Arusha, Tanzania yoga community in 2010.
In 2009 she completed the first Mindfulness Yoga and Meditation Training at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, being one of only two teachers from Illinois to attend this 18 month training. Studying with the world’s leading teachers of yoga and Buddhism, this training offered a solid experiential grounding in an integrated yoga and vipassana practice, as well as an in-depth exploration of the entwined history, philosophy, and techniques of classical yoga and Buddhism.
Linda has also completed Levels 1 and 2 of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training and has created Metta Yoga Therapy, a unique somatic healing modality deeply grounded in mindfulness practice.
Linda weaves Buddhist principles together with yoga’s ancient teachings to create classes that are a tapestry of breath-body-mind-spirit. Breath work, mindful observation of the energy flow through the body, and insight meditation are always a part of her classes. She endeavors to bring her passion for the teachings and her belief that yoga is the vehicle for self-transformation into the lives of her students, truly believing that yoga is lived off the mat.
Begin where you are and experience yoga taught with intuition, passion, and spirit!
Linda lives in the far western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and can be reached at linda.sama AT gmail DOT com or 630.677.4501.
