on the sanctuary of my devotion.
And may I awaken
your love in all hearts." - Yogananda
Testimonials
View by topic:
Yoga
Reiki and Healing
Writing and Poetry
Yoga
I want to tell you that Julie and I feel blessed indeed to have found you. You were saying how wonderful it is to have your teacher at Willow Street and how your practice and your life has benefited - we feel the same about you. Also know that your teachings, both physical and spiritual, follow me from my student mat to my teacher's mat. My students tell me they love the things I bring to class, and this is how I feel it should be. You have given me the courage to teach, at any level, without omitting the spiritual and philosophical aspects of yoga.
As you have found by subbing other classes, the people you have touched are the best. I can always tell a make up student from another class. We have learned more Anusara from you than from any other teacher and are embracing it as our yoga.
We're looking forward to your next session – it keeps getting better.
Namaste' and love,
Rick and Julie Fifield
You are unique and especially gifted. Each week while you speak to us we embrace your words, while you instruct us we follow, and while you conclude we carry your message into our next week. You do an excellent job and this next video will be it! Take care and see you on Saturday!
Jan L.
**********I loved hearing about your time with John Friend last week. And you brought me nearly to tears at the end of class today... reminding me that my yoga is mine... and perfect just the way it is... even with it's current limitations!
Thanks,
Sheila G.
You have taught us well and I hope it shows in our teaching – and not just on Saturday! Thank you so much for all your guidance and modeling. You are an excellent teacher and student.
Namaste,
Barbara O.
I also wanted to thank you for re-igniting my passion for yoga. Although I had taken yoga classes in Hong Kong before moving to Virginia, I didn't get hooked on it as I am now. It sure makes a world of a difference when you have the right teachers, like you! So as a former student and a friend, thank you for your encouraging spirit.
All the best,
Karuna
I want to thank you again for the wonderful yoga class today. It really energized and
strengthened me. It came at a very good time for me and I was amazed at how what you said
about "judging" something before trying it proved so true for me today. I felt that I was
able to accomplish things today that I would have been afraid of trying not so long ago.
Thanks again.
And thank you, too, for your offer to talk to me and treat me with your Reiki healing techniques. I so look forward to this opportunity.
Best wishes,
Diane H.
Thank you for the most beautiful class on Saturday. It fed my heart and soul.
As I have told you, my daughter has trouble sleeping at night. After she finally went to sleep at about 2am, I was very restless and was up for nearly the entire night. I worried that perhaps I was not up to the daunting job of parenting that lie ahead of me. As dawn approached, I thought I could not possibly go to class - but something gently told me that I should be there...
Your message was just what I needed. With every pose I felt stronger, and I started to feel in my body and in my heart that YES - I was enough as a mother - and I could do this. In addition to your beautiful story, your inner spiral instructions really hit home, and I felt space and openness that I had never felt. (And I have never been more comfortable in Warrior 1!)
Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you helped me in a moment of weakness to feel my fullest potential, my inner fullness and strength, and to know that I don't have to have all the answers to give all my love. Your teaching this term has been an incredible gift to me.
Anonymous
**********Well, I have the most gifted yoga teacher! Each week I reflect and grow as I listen to your words, and practice the asanas. You invite me to explore new paths and accept my limitations with grace. With time, our collaboration is indeed showing some improvement! Thank-you!
Yoga has invited me into a spiritual journey, and the message that we are complete as we are, is heartfelt. Your words follow me each week as I practice daily (even on days when I am consumed with the damn fatigue, I practice for shorts spurts a few times a day) and they are very helpful as I continue to explore these questions. Have a great week!
Namaste,
Veronica
Olga has been a teacher, mentor and friend of mine for many years. Her inspiration and dedication to Anusara yoga has enriched my understanding of yoga philosophy and practice. As a student in Olga's class I am constantly challenged with enthusiasm for a deeply heart felt practice reaffirming the divine within us. I leave class with the knowledge that I am a perfect individual and can convey that love for myself to those around me. Olga has been instrumental in introducing me to other Anusara teachers and encouraging me to broaden my practice. I am grateful to have such a wonderful teacher in my life.
Mary Rubard
**********Reiki and Healing
What a pleasure it was to meet you and spend the morning chatting!
Thanks for taking the time to chat with me, introduce me in a fuller way to Reiki and send me off with reading materials.
It is a joy for me to meet a kindred spirit.
I'll let you know how I do with my reading and will ask questions as they arise.
Again, thank you so much.
Sincerely, your friend,
Gretchen
I was able to practice Reiki on my friend and her husband this weekend. It was so cool. She really drank it up and enjoyed it. She was also in acute pain so we had an area to focus on that was really evident. Her husband was a little different. He felt very guarded at first and then he relaxed and the Reiki was flowing. It was wonderful for both of them. The practice was really good for me, too. I am starting to trust my scanning more now. I just need to keep on practicing.
Thanks so much for sharing this with me.
Namaste!
Christi F.
Thank you thank you for the Reiki today. I was able to stay for the whole session (until 5:00)
with reasonable concentration because the pain had abated.
If you could send me some Reiki tomorrow I would be most grateful.
Hugs,
Di
Let's see...The first thing I noticed was a dead calm. Which for my type A personality was a first. I was just relaxed, I felt almost anesthetized. I noticed my TMJ was gone! My husband has noticed the HUGE changes in my personality, and that has been helpful to me.
I took Reiki 1 for my family, but it seems I have gained the most benefit. I have gained a wisdom and clarity I never would have believed (and still usually don't believe!) could exist for me. The husband and kids gain that benefit as well. I cannot thank you enough Olga. YOU have changed my life. Even if I never practice on anyone else, you and Reiki have opened me up to a pureness... my life has embraced wisdom, clarity, and pure joy! I feel that I am filled with goodness and light, and owe that to God, Reiki, and you.
How was that for a grand finale? Re-reading that, it sounds over the top, but every word is true so I will not be changing it. I do thank you and I do look forward to Reiki second degree. I do not think I can expect as great of an impact as before, but I do believe I will feel another positive change.
Peace,
Carol L.
Writing and Poetry
Thank you for writing A Yoga of Divine Love: Poems from the Heart of Practice. We are blessed by your sharing. We are all blessed to know each other. We are blessed to be each other, as you said in a poem... "when she does them [salutations] – you are doing them too!" In your writing you have shared so much and I am touched by your work that reaches to put into words the magic of yoga and meditation and healing. Your writing is an important reminder that not only is our asana practice our offering, but our life practice is our offering. Thank you for your writing and for your sharing. My personal favorite is "Salutations Come and Go." You know how much we love the reflection of ourselves in others work and I am certainly no different, only a different spider (I think). My pleasure in this particular poem is a manifestation of "when she does them – You are doing them too!" because it is a poem that I would love to have written.
Much love and many blessings
Namaste
Dee Bujakski
I just recently finished reading all your poems. What a gift you have given me!! I was personally drawn into many of the poems and tabbed some of them for future inspiration. Some of the poems became familiar to me because I was aware of your journey this past year. I only hope that you continue with your writing to share again sometime in the future. I will be looking forward to them too.
Namaste,
Mary E.
Thank you for the fabulous book of your poetry! When I opened it, I stood in the kitchen and read about 6 of your poems before I could put it down! They are beautiful, inspirational, and evocative of the Divine... beautiful, Olga, just beautiful.
Thanks for mentioning me in the acknowledgements...I'm so happy I supported your growth this year. It's so wonderful to be able to share our support, knowledge, perspectives, expertise, etc. with each other. To quote the younger folks, "Our kula rocks!!"
Have the happiest of holidays!
Love & hugs,
Betsey
What a beautiful day! Thank you deeply for sharing the deepest lessons of the Gita with us, and for opening our hearts with your wisdom and light. Your teaching and the messages of the Bhagavad Gita lifted my heart to new joys.
Thank you for your gift of Dancing in the Divine. As I turn the pages, the poems come to life again and again, reminding me of the fullness of life as a yogini, as a woman, as a spiritual seeker. You touch it all. You have the blessing of capturing the expanse of the Divine with only our small words. The acknowledgement is so beautifully written and reaches me at the heart.
As I opened the computer mail this afternoon, I first saw Every Act. What a poem for today. What a poem for always. It is what we will strive for daily. Do everything with love.
Anonymous
**********You are so awesome for sending your poetry book! I love it! I especially love what you wrote on the inside cover. You too have brought so much light to my year. i have had a hard time this year but our connection was and is such a blessing. it feels like I've known you for so long and i feel so close to you. So thank you for your friendship and thanks for all the laughs too.
My love,
Lauren Mones
I had to sit with the words... and then sit again. I found myself being still, for in your words and work there comes the Divine inspiration from the hand of God. Words that touch the soul do not come from and of man, only through and of the power and gifts of Spirit do such gifts come to us.
Thank you for being an instrument of Gods love.
Living with Spirit ~ Deborah
**********