About Erica Kaufman

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How I came to Yoga?

“I am thankful for being introduced to the great science of yoga at age 9 and thankful for being a personality that was receptive to the concepts and philosophies. When I think of those early years, I think of my mother/my Teacher–and her unwavering patience in teaching me with love and persistence.

Influenced by Krishnamacharya’s teachings and Krishna Murti’s philosophies, I was brought into this beautiful lineage of yoga. When I think of yoga, I think of life. Through my life with yoga, I began to refine my awareness, my choices. I experienced moments of yoga–true integration beyond the limited body/mind. These moments were so potent that I felt compelled to practice more–to learn more. By age 14 I was practicing 3-5 times a week with my meditation teacher Dr Clayton McCracken.

As I continued to practice and sensitize, I felt a strong awareness of energy within me and around me yielding complete connectivity. This was the beginnings of Lila Yoga®. Lila Yoga® explores the possibility of living in brilliant ease by rejuvenating Self-trust, awakening energy pathways within the body, and uniting them with the currents of energy around us. Using the body as a tool to understand the mind, Lila Yoga® is a philosophy in motion—a meditation in motion.” –Erica Kaufman

Bio: Erica Kaufman, MFA, E-RYT500+

Erica is a dancer, choreographer, yogini, and a Contact Improviser.

Erica Kaufman’s Portfolio

Erica is a life-long student of:
  • Krishnamacharya’s teachings and studies at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India
  • Krishnamurti’s philosophy and studies at Krishnamurti Foundation
  • Florence Kaufman, her yogacharya mother who introduced her to yoga
  • Dr Clayton McCracken, meditation teacher
More info on Erica:
  • Founder of Lila Yoga®
  • Holds the Highest Level of Registry with Yoga Alliance
  • Practicing since 1975, teaching since 1984 since
  • Yoga Journal noted Erica’s Lîla Yoga classes with its signature Karma Credit.
  • Shambhala Mountain Center faculty since 2005 —offering annual Lila Yoga Retreats
  • formal studies in Body Mind Centering, Contemplative Dance, Authentic Movement, Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Mindfulness Living, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique.
  • Teaching Contact Improvisation since 1989
  • In 2008 worked with Nancy Stark Smith to coordinate CI36 — the international, once a decade, celebration commemorating the inception of Contact Improvisation.
Tours:
  • India (2-3 months a year–teaching in Chennai, Bangalore, Goa and Rishikesh) USA, Europe, and Israel teaching seminars on Creativity, Improvisation, Movement & Reconciliation, Mindfulness, Dance, Contact Improvisation and Lila Yoga

Faculty (present):

Faculty (past):

  • Conservatory at Point Park College
  • Carnegie Institute
  • University of Denver
  • Visiting Professor: University of Marburg in Germany (visiting artist Fall ‘05)
  • Guest Artist: Bewegungs-art in Freibrug
  • Juniata College

Fun Fact:   Since 2006, she has taught Lila Yoga, in its basic form, to Pennsylvania Deputies Sheriffs as part of their physical conditioning program.