Wendy first came to Saint Mark's in 1996, and has been involved in Cathedral Yoga since its very beginning in 2013. For those who think that yoga teachers are all super-flexible contortionists, it may be interesting to know that Wendy has both scoliosis and spinal stenosis. In 2020, after experiencing terrible pain, she went through serious back surgery— a laminectomy in the lumbar region. After a lot of healing she is now pain-free and practicing yoga as she has been for over 50 years!
How did you first get involved in yoga?
I loved the first yoga class I attended in 1964 in Boston. I then always went to yoga classes wherever I was—in Manila and Sydney and then here in Seattle. Through the years I experienced many different types of yoga and studied with a lot of yoga "stars". Finally I did my teacher training with Ana Forrest and Shari Friederickson.
What are your goals for a Cathedral Yoga class?
My goals for Cathedral Yoga are to have people receive a visceral sense of the sacred, to leave feeling better than when they came, relaxed and stretched out.
If someone was on the fence about attending Cathedral Yoga for the first time, what would you say to them?
Individuals have told me over the years how much they enjoy yoga on the altar platform. No other yoga setting can compete!
The idea of attending a yoga class can be intimidating to someone who has never done it before, but it's worth the adventure. Cathedral Yoga is always taught in a way that will be rewarding for people of all levels, including absolute beginners. Some have found that practicing in the huge space of the cathedral nave actually make them less self-conscious than they feel in the smaller space of a typical yoga studio!
Cathedral Yoga is offered every Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the cathedral nave. Please contact Gregory Bloch at gbloch@saintmarks.org with any questions.
It is my great delight to share the exciting news that The Reverend Eliacín Rosario-Cruz has accepted the call to serve as Canon and Priest Associate at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Eliacín (pronounced “ay-lee-uh-SEEN”) is no stranger to Saint Mark’s, having served as Adult Faith Formation Associate here 2005–2008, and he was ordained a priest in the cathedral in 2015. Since ordination he has served St. Luke’s~San Lucas Episcopal Church in Vancouver, WA, and, more recently, as rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Snohomish since September, 2017.
