#naropamoment

In responding to the question, "How did Naropa find you?" I can't help but respond by saying how grateful I am that it did. It was 2010 and I had recently divorced after 22 years of marriage. My oldest was in college and my youngest a sophomore in high school. I was, needless to say, a tad bit lost. Not terribly so, but more than I thought. I contemplated auditing a few classes at Bowdoin College just to get myself writing, thinking, and engaging again. I mentioned this to a friend. He swung around in his office chair, started typing into his computer, and immediately pulled up the Naropa website. "No you're not," he said. "You're going to get your masters in creative writing. You need to go here," he instructed. "No where else." I was a bit muddled. I never heard of Naropa or ever contemplated getting a masters. Not once. Ever. I looked over his shoulder at the website and was immediately struck with what an important idea this was. At the time I didn't think it mattered where I went, just as long as I went back to school. So I filled out the application one week before the due date, crossed my fingers, and waited. It wasn't until I was accepted and signed up for on-line classes that I realized I would have to take poetry ( I had the grand illusion that I could avoid the poetry classes...this goes to show you how much I knew about Naropa). Poetry scared me. I was so intimidated that first semester, but somehow I managed to write a small portfolio of poems. I was on my way to making a discovery about myself that I never would have realized had I not attended Naropa, and as a result of discovering poetry, I made a discovery about myself. I love beauty. I require serenity. I am easily jarred both emotionally and spiritually. Naropa, and the work I was exposed to and ultimately created, brought me beauty, serenity, and jarred me both emotionally and spiritually. I will always say this. I am a more complete writer having attended Naropa because I am a more complete person. I was sent my "marching orders" to attend Naropa at a difficult time in my life. And so I did. Naropa knocked and I answered. Thank you!

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have attended Naropa. It is here that I met the love of my life who is now my husband. My deep desire for the arts and spirituality led me to Naropa. My major was is in Traditional Eastern Arts with an emphasis in Yoga. My minor was Contemplative Education. I traveled abroad after my studies teaching children’s yoga classes. When my husband and I returned to the states I enrolled in Naropa’s Alternative Teacher’s Licensure Program and attained a CO teachers license in Elementary education. I continued my studies in Waldorf Education at the Rudolf Steiner College and now I have a children’s yoga business entitled Story Blossom Yoga. In addition I am a brand ambassador for Ahava Z Design, changing the face of fashion. Shifting the way things are done in the industry and inspiring women to remember that beauty comes from the inside out.    

I circled most of the courses in the catalog and told everyone I knew about my plans to attend Naropa. I took a year off to travel Europe and the States, having spent two summers on a farm in western Colorado, which included hitchhiking across the Continental Divide a couple of times to visit Boulder and the Arapahoe campus. In the autumn of ‘03 I walked in with my straw hat and guitar into Sangha House, the freshman dorms at the time, to begin a memorable four years as a member of the Naropa community. I have a profound affection for Naropa and the people I have known from the university. I wouldn’t at all be who I am today without having attended, and for that I am extraordinarily grateful.

Since that summer of 1986 I listen to what draws me and I take the risks involved in order to follow the inner passion and motivation to grow. Naropa guided me, pushed me, and supported my voice; my value; my vision.

Class of 1999

http://rivvyneshama.com/

I was considering graduate school when I saw a Naropa M.A. Environmental Leadership ad in Mother Jones magazine. Upon researching Naropa’s website, I was intrigued by its contemplative education philosophy. Being located in beautiful Boulder, CO certainly helped, too. 

I was teaching Alexander Technique as an adjunct at universities and colleges. One of my mentoring colleagues asked, “Do you want to remain an adjunct forever?” I thought about this and said, “No!” She knew about my studies in Buddhism and the somatics and said,”I know just the place for you!” This is how I discovered Naropa’s MFA program in Theatre: Contemporary Performance.