My name is Lisa Cummings. I was raised on a dairy farm. I joined the US Air Force in 1981 and stayed until 2002. I had a physically demanding job as one of the first female aircraft mechanics. I've worked hard my entire life.  Yoga was my first introduction to pay attention to my body. I became aware that I pushed my body, like it was my workhorse. 

I was introduced to yoga in 2012 at Unity, on Saturday mornings. It was for the social gathering at first. When emotions showed up during class, I realized I needed my own practice, so i started practicing every day in my greenhouse. I felt safe and secluded. I became stronger among flowering plants and green growth. When the minister left, I accepted the offer to teach the class. 

Everyone wanted more classes, so we moved to Tuesday/Thursday nights. Unity board members asked me to get certified.  I discovered "A Garden for Wellness" in Clarkesville, GA and signed up in January 2014 and attended classes on weekends for six months. I learned about living yoga from Elizabeth rajeshwari Seay, and other wonderful students. In June 2014, I was awarded 200 hour certification in classical hatha yoga in the Krishnamacharya tradition. 

As I continued to teach, I refined the meditation at the end of class. A friend working at the Macon Veterans Administration asked if I would teach veterans, because of the meditation. I said no because I was anxious about causing trauma flashbacks for Vets with PTSD. I asked E. Seay about what to do. She recommended the International Association of Yoga Therapist (IAYT.org) website to find certified yoga therapy teachers. I found Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy and began training in 2015.  I became certified in 2018. 

The original purpose for becoming PRYT certified was to help veterans with PTSD deal with trauma. which I've done, through partnership with The PEACH Pit equine therapy, in Fort Valley, GA, I've provided women veterans yoga/yoga therapy on weekend retreats two-three times per year. Gwendolyn Coley has expanded to a building on Main Street.  I taught classes there but COVID has interfered. 

 In 2018, I signed up with yogacalm.org to learn to teach children.  I practiced at The PEACH/Quest children's summer camp. I connected with children in two groups; ages 4-10 and 11-18, three times/week, using Yoga Calm techniques, for eight weeks. Four weeks were at The PEACH Pit and the other four at Spirit's Quest farm in Roberta, GA. The children flourished in the summer program. 

 I continue a daily mindful movement practice and am teaching restorative yoga on Zoom, by request.