Lama Christie McNally

Lama Christie McNally trained in Tibetan monasteries in India and Nepal, and received extensive instruction in all the texts required for a Geshe degree, which is traditionally a 20-year course of study. From there, she immersed herself in Yoga, and the secret teachings of Buddhism. She is one of the first Western women to be recognized as a Lama. Through her efforts, she has begun to change the face of Buddhism that has historically been predominantly male.

A translator of ancient Tibetan and Sanskrit, and a professor of religious studies, Lama Christie is the author of the Tibetan Book of Meditation, and co-author of The Essential Yoga Sutra, How Yoga Works, and The Eastern Path to Heaven.

From 2000 to 2003, Lama Christie completed a traditional Great Retreat of 3 years, 3 months, and 3 days of silence and meditation, in the wilderness of the southern Arizona desert. Upon completion of this retreat she co-founded Diamond Mountain University, and Yoga Studies Institute. Since then she has maintained a rigorous schedule of teaching, touring and retreat.

She is the co-founder of Diamond Mountain, a university located in the remote foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains which specializes in advanced studies of Tibet and training in deep retreat. For more information, or to download Lama Christie’s classes and meditations, contact: diamondmtn.org or tibetanbookofmeditation.org.

Lama Christie has also co-founded the Yoga Studies Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing yoga wisdom to the world, by offering worldwide courses in both asana training and yoga philosophy. For more information about teachings in your area, contact: yogastudiesinstitute.org.

But perhaps the most important quality about Lama Christie is her ability to bring the ancient teachings to the modern world—to make them meaningful for normal people with normal lives.

In December of this year, Lama Christie will lead 50 people into deep solitary retreat, for three years, three months, and three days. Their goal is peace—both to the world, and within themselves.

Her latest book Two As One is a heart offering to the world before she heads into another 3 year retreat.

Ian Thorson

Ian Thorson, a native New Yorker and graduate of Stanford University, has spent the majority of his life studying with the world’s greatest masters of yoga and Buddhist philosophy.

With a great passion for languages, Ian has immersed himself in the sacred ancient texts of Tibet and India, and is busy these days planning a school to translate the world’s most ancient books of wisdom.

Stepping into the spotlight now and becoming a teacher in his own right, Ian has co-authored Two as One, revealing for the first time ancient Tibetan asana practices for reaching spiritual goals using a partner. He and Lama Christie continue to teach their unique two-people-one-mat yoga throughout the world.  For more information, contact: naomi@twoasoneyoga.com.

Beginning December 2010 Ian will join Lama Christie McNally in the three-year retreat.