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Randa Chehab - Personal Biography

I was introduced to my first hatha yoga class at Smith College in 1987. It was not until 1999 when I found Ashtanga yoga. During my Emergency Medical Rotation in Chicago in 2000, I studied with Jodi Blumstein at Priya Yoga. When I returned to Montana in 2001 for my Family Medicine Rotation, I had the great fortune to study with Suzie Gill, a longtime student of Tim Miller. In May 2002, I met Tim Miller, Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini on Maui when Nicki and Eddie hosted Tim for a weeklong Ashtanga retreat. During that period on Maui, I also went to meet Nancy Gilgoff. After one class with Nancy, I knew I would make an effort to see her again. One month later, I attended Tim Miller's Primary Series Teacher training.

In September 2002, I opened Down to Earth and then made several visits down to Encinitas to study with Tim. In 2003, I returned to Maui and spent time with Nancy Gilgoff. I have participated in three of her adjustment clinics. I studied with her until I made my first trip to India in December 2006. I went to Kovalam to study with Lino Miele. Having never met him, I went on a friend's recommendation because I could not fathom 2+ months in Mysore. (Coming from Montana, I always seek beach and waves!) A couple of weeks into Lino's workshop, I told him I wanted to stay and not go to Mysore. Lino then offered to take me to meet Guruji. So after the workshop was over we went to Mysore, and Lino introduced me to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Gokulam and took me around Lakshmipuram and shared his history there with me.

After that winter I knew I wanted to continue to study with Lino. His stern yet playful manner was so appealing. He completey cleaned up my practice and gave me much insight into the Vinyasa system. Five months later, I met him again in Italy and then followed him to Finland. Since the summer of 2007, I have made 5 trips to India, one more summer workshop in Finland, and most recently (2011), I completed Lino Miele's first In-Depth Study.

I have been honored to host all of my teachers—Tim, Nancy, Nicki, Eddie, and Lino—at my shala in Bozeman, Montana!