Lineage and Philosophy
At True Nature School of Yoga, we draw primarily from the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Tradition taught by T. Krishnamacharya and passed to his students including B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, and T.K.V. Desikachar. These teachings and practices were passed to their students including Erich Schiffmann, Gregor Maehle, and Monica Gauci who are beloved and respected teachers of Jean Crisler.
While we continue to embody the Vedic wisdom and practice the Yoga of Patanjali, Jean’s personal practice originated in the martial arts of Japan in Aikido and in the Toaist tradition with QiGong and Classical Chinese Medicine.
The foundations of both the Vedic tradition and the Taoist tradition emphasize study and practice of the teachings given by guides and teachers of the past, while putting this wisdom “to the test” through our own practice and experience. We use our diligent work and discernment to truly understand ourselves.
Jean Crisler
Instructor/Owner
Before Jean discovered Yoga, she studied and practiced meditation and Japanese martial arts (Aikido) in Japan and in the US. She then learned to practice and teach QiGong with Professor Chen Hui Xian while earning her Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Jean is also a licensed acupuncturist.
Jean loves dogs. A lot.
She loves finding the dynamic balance between the tradition of a practice and how it becomes the living practice of a person with a unique individual journey of life. The dynamic balance between the serious dedication of daily practice and the playfulness that makes us wake up every morning looking forward to the discipline. It is very difficult to sustain a practice of discipline and joy without a community to support each other. Building community and training teachers is our mission.