"Every day in every way I'm getting better and better." This is Gerda's mantra. She tells me she says it every morning and night and about 100 times a day. She attributes it to her positive attitude. "Try it!" she exclaimed, "It really works!"
Gerda was born and raised in Germany, but always dreamed of living in the United States. As
soon as she turned 18 and finished her schooling in Germany, her parents granted her permission to move to the US. Wasting no time, Gerda moved to New York City where she lived for six years, supporting herself by working at a watch company while going to Flushing High School at night to learn English. (Gerda noted that after two of those six years, she did return home to Germany to visit her parents as promised, but returned to the US in just three months. ) This was where she wanted to be and she was very happy here and happy in NYC.
She says she traveled everywhere by subway and knew the city very well at that time. At the age of 21, Gerda was married and pregnant with her daughter. After six years in Forest Hill, she and her family moved to the Catskills because she and her husband were big skiers. That's where they remained until moving her in 2005.
Gerda explained that she became interested in Yoga in the early 1970's. She has always been a very committed vegetarian and was looking for kindred spirits. She came across a book by Richard Hittelman; who, at that time, hosted a Yoga show on PBS once a week, and taught herself by studying the book. "He was very interested in proper alignment and the philosophy," said Gerda, which is why she gravitated to him.
She practiced Yoga on an irregular basis for years, and got really serious about it in 1999 after retiring from the real estate business. "It was an ethical and moral decision," shared Gerda. "I don't do Yoga for exercise. It is purely a spiritual experience for me. The physical benefits are just a bonus!" Gerda takes her vegetarian life style very seriously and finds yoga to be a perfect fit for her. "I really need yoga," she admits, "and I can't imagine life without it."
Although she will do and does do yoga at all times of the day, she prefers to practice in the evening. "At the end of the day it helps me to wind down and to get into the right frame of mind. It puts everything in the right perspective," she so eloquently stated. Her philosophy is that "we are spiritual beings having a human experience. The world is our classroom and she is learning her lessons!" One of her favorite quotes by BKS Iyengar is "The asanas are my prayers and the body is my temple." And this is why Gerda practices Yoga.
Exercise is a big part of her life as well. And exercise she does! To fulfill this need, you can find her running, biking, power walking, golfing and hiking. She says that friends are always telling her how dedicated she is because of her daily commitment to exercise. Her secret, she tells me, is doing what you love. "I choose to do what's fun for me, that way it's enjoyable and it's easy to do every day," she professed. She is especially proud of the 50 mile bike ride she did with her twin grandsons last year in Newbern, NC for an MS Challenge. "There were 28,000 bikers," she exuded, "and they all had huge smiles on their faces. It was fabulous!" She plans to participate again this year, this time riding 75 miles!
Her dedication and commitment to a healthy lifestyle has served her well though. In January 2006 Gerda was stopped in her tracks by a multiple back injury. In fact, when she first came to Brightwater Yoga, she lamented that she could barely even walk. She was dealing with a herniated disc, spinal stenosis and spondylitis. It took every bit of two years of positive thinking and pure dedication and, although she still feels slight pangs, she is fully recovered and once again doing all the things she loves to do. She attributes much of her good back health today to the practice of Yoga.
Gerda also shared with me that before she left the Catskills, she worked for five years as a volunteer for Hospice. During this time she would relieve the care givers and sit with the patients and listen to their stories. She says she walked away from that experience with the understanding that "all the stuff we accumulate in this life doesn't matter. Just be good, be kind, and be considerate...everything else is not important." Materialism is not at all important to Gerda.
Gerda is also an animal lover! She and her husband brought their pride and joy "City Boy," a 30-year old retired NYC police horse with them when they moved to Etowah. City Boy is boarded in a stable in Pemrose where they visit him regularly. They also enjoy spending time with their dog Buddy who they adopted last October from a shelter in South Carolina. The beautiful mountains, a healthy diet, lots of exercise & Yoga and animal love!!!! Life if definitely very good to Gerda!!!
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White Crane Tai Chi System and teaches at a variety of Retirement Communities and Health Care Facilities where he teaches seniors about health and balance. 
continue to strengthen my own foundation and understand and accept my roots and myself. I can emote and release all these deeply imbedded feelings and send out strength, love and compassion to all of those who are in need. 
roll gently inward and wrap your forearms around your shins to hold the backs or your heels with your hands. Press the hands against the backs of your heels and release your head toward the floor. You may wish to support your head on a block or blanket. Continue to release the weight of the pelvis toward your heels keeping your heels firmly grounded. Stay for several breaths.
Meredith is offering a