“After many years I am beginning to learn even more deeply about this ancient art and science called Yoga. This has been accelerated through continued study and by teaching. I practice more consciously now due to limitations caused by many serious injuries sustained in an auto accident. Yoga continues to be more fulfilling since I truly had to rebuild my body – learning how to walk again and understanding through experience how to relate and assist others with special needs or disabilities. I survived and am able to function again with joy, enthusiasm and health – health that is manifesting in the mind, the emotions as well as the body.”
Bea Ammidown
BEA AMMIDOWN, E- RYT500 has been a student of yoga since 1964 and certified as a Yoga instructor in 1986.
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Born in New York, educated in Paris and Switzerland, surrounded by eclectic diplomats and artists. Bea was an editor for Life Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar, journalist with the LA Times, publicist for MGM Studios. She enrolled in Peace Corps volunteer training . Inspired by her neighbor Norman Cousins she founded and directed HumoRx –Laugh Wagons a program dedicated to the healing effects of affirmative emotions on the immune system at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
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While traveling abroad, she suffered severe injuries in a head-on auto collision that killed her fiancé.
From the demands of learning once again to function physically through four years of major rehabilitation processes, she developed a form of Yoga for her healing. The YogAbility Institute, her second nonprofit corporation offers yoga therapeutics to people with physical or mental challenges. Yoga for Special Needs DVD with Bea Ammidown instructing is selling worldwide. This DVD offers a compassionate professional approach by introducing the first of a series of 60 minute Special Needs Yoga sessions instructing patient tested exercises for Cerebral palsy, heart and stroke recovery, hip and knee replacement and Macular degeneration.
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Fluent in French and Spanish she is a member of the International Assoc. of Yoga Therapists; Yoga Alliance. Yoga for the Special Child” trained and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Facilitator. Mother of two actresses, one social worker and wild grandmother of six little girls.
Teaching experience:
* Ammidown Studio, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy
* Ammidown Studio, Yoga for the Special Child
* Ammidown Studio, Yoga & Writing
* Ammidown Studio, Restorative Yoga
* Care giving for Care Givers Yoga Workshops
* Childrens Hospital LA. Yoga Therapy for staff
* Multiple Sclerosis Society, Yoga Therapeutics, UCLA
* United Cerebral Palsy Center, Restorative Yoga for staff
* AARP Care Givers Retreat, Yoga Therapy
* L.A. Yoga Center, Yoga Therapeutics
* Kaiser Permanente, West LA, Health Education Yoga Therapy
* Kaiser Permanente, Physical Medicine conference, Yoga and the Spine
* Santa Monica College, Hatha Yoga
* Santa Monica Zen Center, Restorative Yoga
* Santa Monica Yoga, Restorative Yoga classes
* Occidental College, Beginning Hatha yoga
* Petalli Islands Resort, Greece, Hatha yoga for families
* Y.M.C.A., Santa Monica, Hatha Yoga
* LACRC. 48 Hour Andrus Gerontology-USC Care Giver’s Retreats
* Brazilian Clinic, Rio de Janeiro,Yoga Therapy
* Brentwood Presbyterian Church, Yoga for Seniors
* Brentwood Presbyterian Church nursery school, Yoga Play
* Junior Federation for the Blind, Hatha Yoga
* Hollywood Mental Health Clinic, Yoga Therapy
* Rehabilitation Halfway House, LA, Yoga Therapy
* Los Angeles Parks & Recreation. Gentle hatha Yoga
* Studio Royal Senior Retirement Home Geriatrics Yoga Therapy
* Step Up on Second, Santa Monica, Yoga Therapy
* Senior Psychiatric Ward, Sherman Oaks Hospital Geriatrics, Yoga Therapy
* Sunrise Senior Living for assisted Living, Alzheimer’s group, Yoga therapy
* Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, Conference Yoga Therapy
* Yoga Works, Children’s Yoga classes co-facilitator
* Fiesta Educativa for the Disabled USC Conference Yoga Therapy, bilingual
* Best Buddies Walk-A-Thon Yoga Therapy
* Daniel Freeman Hospital Stroke Survivor’s Yoga Therapy
* Canyon Charter School, Kindergarten and first grade, Yoga Play
* Adelphia (Century Cable) Public Access TV, Producer, Writer, Host, & Teacher Yoga Therapy Series, 10 video programs
* KNBC-TV. The Knowledge Series; KHJ-TV At Home, Production; Associate Producer
* Special Needs Yoga DVD, Associate producer, writer, instructor
* After School Yoga, St. Martin of Tours Church, Yoga Therapy
* Yoga and the Writing Muse, Mystic Journey Book Store, Yoga Therapy
Training and qualifications:
* Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Teacher Certification Yoga Therapy (1996)
* Erich Schiffmann Hatha Yoga
* Marva Spellman, UCLA, Teacher’s Assistant Sivananda Hatha Yoga(1972)
* Yoga Works Teachers Training & Internship Hatha Yoga (1993)
* Yoga for the Special Child Teacher Training Yoga for special needs (1998)
* International Yoga Studies Teachers Intensive Hatha Yoga (1997)
* Gary Kraftsow Yoga Therapy – Viniyoga
* Alan Finger/ Rod Stryker ISHTA/ Tantric Yoga
* Judith Lasater Restorative Yoga
* Indra Devi Hatha Yoga
* Paul Grilley Taoist Yoga
* Guru Singh Kundalini Yoga (1990 to present)
* Mantra Yoga chanting
* Pranayama yogic breathing
* Samkhya Yoga Philosophy History of yoga
* Bio Mechanics Anatomy & Physiology
* Yoga for Disease and Illness Focused Yoga (1994)
* Larry Payne “User Friendly Yoga” (2004 to present)
* Krishnamacharia Yoga Mandiram Teacher’s Training, India (2002)
Professional memberships and language skills:
* International Assoc. of Yoga Therapists, Yoga Alliance
* Fluent in French and Spanish. Knowledge of Italian and Greek.