T H E P O W E R O F W O M E N
YOGItimes magazine for the modern yogi
By Keren Shane
charging a whopping five dollars per month! She has been a choreographer and consultant to the San Francisco Ballet, and has led sacred dance, music and studio tours in the Middle East, India and Central America. She approaches dance as a yoga practice, combining the physical, mental and emotional aspects of human existence to achieve harmony with the Universe. Magaña has received the sacred title of “Yogi” from the Immortal Swami Sivananda, founder of the Yoga Vedanta University of Rishikesh, India, and has been inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame in New York. In addition to her incredible accomplishments in the yoga and dance world, she is also a freelance writer, writing such books as “Breath of Life” and the “Holistic Art of Belly Dancing.” Magaña is truly one of the most inspirational and spiritual leaders of our time.
What is your spiritual practice, outlet or grounding?
Meditation, pranayama and spiritual dance. Rhythmic movements combined with sacred and rhythmic music transport one to higher dimensions of being and joy, and enhance a healing flow to the body, mind and emotions.
What is it that inspires you to continue what you are doing every day?
I am inspired to continue doing daily what I was born to do - be a teacher of healthful practices for the body, mind and spirit through the disciplines of Yoga, dance and resistance exercises. I follow my inner intuition and the guidance of my Higher Self. I have many friends and students who realize benefits from my work, and this gives me inspiration to continue doing what I do.
What brought you to take on this cause/challenge(s)?
At the early age of 22 I married my husband, Walt Baptiste, who was already a legend in San Francisco. He was a pioneer in the Human Potential Movement. He had hundreds of students and, at that time, the only Center devoted to physical fitness, healthful nutrition, breathing, Yoga and meditation. After much practice, study and guidance from him, I became an instructor. I loved the work. It was something I was born to do and become.
If you could see into the future and see your dream realized, what would it look like?
To see a dream realized would be that I could be a greater instrument for the spiritual upliftment of humanity. There would be greater freedom for each individual and the elimination of disease, hatred and ignorance. My dream realized would be to help establish love and peace to all.
What woman role model inspires you? Why?
A woman who inspired me a great deal was Madame Indra Devi, a woman who spent her life expounding Yoga Philosophy worldwide. I studied with her in Hollywood, and she used to come to our Center in San Francisco. It was at this Center where she first showed her movie of the Saint, Sai Baba. She taught and lectured into her nineties.
By Keri Goldenhar-Lassalle
photography by Jasper Johal
Their primary goal is to help these children become tomorrow's leaders, sharing the belief that poverty should not be a barrier against a strong willingness to succeed. Aside from education, medical care and teaching vocational skills, the children are being taught to use the earth's natural building materials, wind-catchers and solar technology, not only to raise environmentally-aware adults, but to aid them in creating a more efficient and sustainable quality of life for own their future communities.
What is your spiritual practice, outlet or grounding?
To make people around me happy, especially the children.
What is it that inspires you to continue what you are doing everyday?
When I see the happiness of the children this really inspires me. These children have come from the streets or from leprosy colonies and now they are growing happily, smiling and are working hard at studying at school, and this is a real challenge as most of them were illiterate.
What brought you to take on this cause/challenge(s)?
I lost my mother at 14, and I realized how difficult it was to live without a mother. It was then that I decided I would have an orphanage. I left France for the US without knowing anyone or speaking any English with this goal in mind. I wanted to work very hard to create this. I started a business after patenting a new type of hinge that I had developed. 15 years later I sold my business so I could start my foundation. In 1999 there was the cyclone in India. So I went to India. And that was the beginning.
If you could see into the future and see your dream realized, what would it look like?
I would like to be the Godmother for over 500 children living in the five villages we intend to build by 2008 in India.
What woman role model inspires you? Why?
Josephine Baker and Mother Theresa because they too cared for orphaned children, the destitute, many abandoned children the children who did not have the opportunity or possibility of being protected and educated like those who have parents. I want them to make them equal like others and if I can help more than five hundred children that will be my challenge and my reward.
maryellen@megfoundation.org
megfoundation.org