Meditation Teaching — Spiritual Counsel/Coaching — Corporate Consulting
“I have had the distinguished honor and great fortune of having studied under Alan’s tutelage for the last year. In my eyes, his capacity to provide useful and personalized spiritual guidance in the lineage of Yogananda, is superlative. Alan is a spiritual warrior of a refined capacity, he used this gift to skillfully direct my practice in a precise course into the Kriya tradition. Gently in one moment, and quite forcefully the next, Alan was able to walk this journey with me deftly and clearly, I felt he was right beside me, almost whispering in my ear where to pause, reflect, let go, etc. It felt as if I was with a mensch-like Yoda teacher as he guided this Luke. I will be ever grateful for my teacher, Alan, and for the vistas of grace that I have found because of him.” Jeffry Jeanetta-Wark, Holistic Psychotherapist, Educator and Facilitator
“In my employment supporting an Executive Coach, I’ve noticed how rapidly people grow when they start working with a good teacher. This made me want to do the same in my own life, particularly in the area of meditation. Though I was well-read in spiritual literature, and had attempted to teach myself basic meditation, I was largely ineffective, due to constantly wondering whether I was doing it “right,” and the lack of commitment which naturally followed.
After only a short time working with Alan, I was very glad I didn’t wait any longer. He helped remove my ambiguity about what to do and why, by providing easy-to-follow instructions and a very rich and motivating context. Any questions I did have were met with prompt feedback, which prevented me from stalling like I had in the past. In more than one session where we had meditated together, I walked out with the sense that “this is what I had been reading about and looking for.”
Alan’s guidance allowed me to quickly clear up my misconceptions about both meditation instruction and meditation itself, and truly delivered on my hope to establish a strong foundation for a practice moving forward.” David G, Research & Content Professional”
The following comments were provided by The Saint Paul Metropolitan Council participants in a 2016 training I facilitated called, Introduction to Mindful Balance:
“I really liked the classes. They were very informative and for me were the right amount of information to take away from the class and use. The instructor provided good information and you could tell that he knew what he was talking about. I can’t think of areas of improvement.”
“I enjoyed and learned a lot from these sessions.”
“It was excellent and very helpful in understanding and beginning to practice mindful balance.”
“Thank you for providing this opportunity to learn about managing stress. After our 1st class I wasn’t sure I’d ever use this technique but, Wow! Was I wrong! I encountered a few situations that were very stressful and I thought what the heck I’ll give the new technique a try and it work wonderfully. I plan to use this whenever I need to re-center the craziness that surrounds my life and work.’
“I thought the class was terrific! I was amazed at how much better I felt at the end of each session. I can’t think of anything that could be improved, although I have to admit there were times that I couldn’t conceive some of what he was trying to convey to us, and toward the end of each session I was nearly asleep. Maybe a got a little too relaxed. These methods definitely work, but my problem is that with such busy days, it’s hard to remember to take time to practice them. Thanks so much for setting this up.”
“I loved the class. Well worth my time. Is it possible to sit in on one of the next sessions?”
“The classes and handout materials were excellent. I have already incorporated many of the practices into my regular day, and hope to continue to deepen my practice in the future. I very much appreciated having a class like this offered here at work, and do hope we can continue to offer more mind-body balance experiences into our wellness program.”
“Yes, the consensus is that you’re awesome!” – Jody Jacoby, Contracts Manager | Procurement Department, MetCouncil
“I have worked with Alan for the past ten years. He has expanded my life in so many ways, spiritually, intellectually, physically, and many more. He is truly a master of his work. He is caring and insightful. It has been a wonderful experience. I highly recommend working with him.” Barbara B
“You may — consider yourself canine endorsed. Your chanting CD truly does calm him and he looks forward to it in our morning routine.” Max, Iggy’s Person
“What I appreciate about Alan’s style is he is very intuitive and has a knack for getting to the core of issues, which allows me to feel out which stuck beliefs/ideas are holding me back.”
— Bryan B
“When I first met Alan, I was suffering from crippling depression and recovering from an eating disorder. I felt I had tried everything to remedy my problems with little success. Alan tailored his yoga therapy perfectly to fit my issues. He understood my goals and was very collaborative in the structure of our sessions. Alan was always available for questions between sessions and provided me with very helpful material — including magazine articles, books, workshop suggestions, and healthcare provider referrals — to supplement the work we did in session. I instantly felt my mood (and my body) lighten after only a couple of sessions. Private yoga therapy with Alan reminded me that the joy I have been seeking is located within me, and he taught me how to tap into it through with regular yoga and meditation practice. I now feel much more centered, peaceful, and connected to my spiritual source. I highly recommend yoga therapy with Alan for anyone who is looking for an alternative to (or in conjunction with) traditional psychotherapy and medical treatment… ”
— Erica R.
“After being told I would just have to suffer with bursitis and hip pain, I tried Yoga Therapy at the Center for Inner Awakening. After only one session with Alan and one week of practicing positions and stretches at home, my pain was almost totally gone and my mobility was markedly improved. Working with Alan has hastened my recovery and given me measurable relief — while letting me take a proactive role in feeling better and getting stronger. And that’s the truth!”… “Alan teaches in an accessible warm way that makes it easy to enjoy. He’s helped foster what I hope will be a lifelong interest for me.”
— Pamela Hill Nettleton, Editorial Director, Minnesota Monthly magazine
“I sought counseling with Alan when I had a work issue that needed to be resolved. I was very emotionally distressed & found it difficult to make a decision. I knew I needed guidance but dreaded the thought of going through the sterile formality of seeking out a psychologist that would suit me. I wanted unbiased guidance in a comfortable setting with someone spiritually rounded whom I could trust. Alan was that person. He provided me with insight and new perspective. I left feeling confident in a decision that I was comfortable with & never regretting making.”
— Shari O.
“I’ve known Alan for 10+ years, both in a professional and personal capacity. After reporting that I’d been having insomnia for more than a year, Alan said he could help. Over the course of several private sessions, he taught me several breathing techniques, yogic practices involving sunlight and water to balance the nervous system, and targeted stretching. It really worked well for me. Alan has a wealth of knowledge stemming from his meditation and yoga training, plus can draw upon an eclectic, integrated background in various therapeutic modalities. His approach to healing is broad, inclusive and insightful.”
—Jill Winegar, Program Director Sweatshop Health Club
“I learned so much in the previous sessions. I thought it was exceptionally comprehensive and, yet, presented in a way that made it easy to understand. You offered practical instruction and readily answered questions during and after class. You were very approachable. I will take other classes in the future.”
—Therese P., Meditation student
“I’ve worked with Alan for several years and have been helped and inspired by him to continuing personal and spiritual growth. I’m grateful for the expertise, talent, skills and experience that he brings to all of his work. I highly recommend him to everyone.”
— S. Nelson
“The depth and breadth of information Alan provides and his ability to speak to each audience in an individualized way are exceptional. I highly recommend Alan as a presenter.”
— Nancy Larson Haskin, President, Children’s Health Care Foundation
“Alan’s meditation techniques and spiritual insights have enhanced my quality of life in numerous ways. Chief among these is a greater sense of well–being and contentment, and the gut– realization that happiness comes from within, not without. Working with Alan has also given me a stronger sense of choice in regards to my inner life, a heightened capacity to engage the thoughts and feelings that nourish my being and to let the others go — in short, a greater hand in shaping my daily experience. He is an inspiring and empowering teacher!”
— B. Love
“Alan’s facilitation is unobtrusive, yet powerfully focused. Quality and integrity are hallmarks of working with Alan, not to mention he’s fun!”
— Lynn S. La Froth, editor publisher, Twin Cities WELLNESS newspaper
“I’ve known Alan as my yoga and mediation teacher, and mentor for over three years and have benefited tremendously from his training and counsel. He easily relates to the challenge and discipline of my six year experience as an Army Ranger squad leader and ten years as an Outward Bound Instructor. His style is intuitive, direct, and sensitive. I wholeheartedly recommend Alan to anyone who is looking for meaningful personal growth.”
— Pete Luellen
“Having been a marine in Vietnam and operated a kung fu studio for 25 years, I’ve seen my share of personalities in life. I’ve known Alan over thirty years; from the time we trained together in martial arts to the years he’s dedicated to meditation and yoga practice. He’s one of the “old–school” types, a dedicated and hard–working guy who takes his training and teaching seriously with a mind to offering his best so others can be their best. I highly endorse his ethics, knowledge, and capability.”
— Norm Orr, Sifu, American Kung Fu“Yes I went to Alan’s webinar. I loved it! In particular I loved his spiritual focus. So much of the time meditation is now being looked at as a way to improve health so we look at how BP gets better, mood is better, it can increase are vitality and longevity, etc. Alan helped me to remember that within all of us is a fundamental wealth of joy and happiness that is accessible through meditation. It is a way to access that piece of us that is beyond the mundane, raises our frequency, and then connects us to Spirit. Thank you Alan!” – BF
“I attended amazing Alan’s webinar on Wednesday. I think we’re all blessed to learn from him!” – CH
“Such a great presentation! As someone who has struggled with seated meditation, I particularly appreciated the step-by-step guidelines for a meditation practice.” – PM
“I wanted to first say that, in a nut shell, the meditation workshop you provided was fantastic and extremely beneficial, especially for me at this point in the journey of going further inward. You have an immense amount of knowledge and share it in a way that is not overwhelming and easily absorbed. I liked the way your material flowed and the ease of starting with the basics and going forward from there.” Cory T