RAMANA ERICKSON 510-847-3502 Email · [email protected] ramanaerickson.com
EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION/DEGREES
JULY-AUGUST 1974 SIVANANDA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE (TTC) Taught by Swami Vishnudevananda at Vrindavan Yoga Farm, Grass Valley, CA
NOV – DEC, 1976 SIDDHA YOGA TTC Shree Gurudev Ashram, (Now Gurudev Siddha Peeth) Ganeshpuri, India MAY – JUNE, 1978 SIDDHA YOGA ADVANCED TTC Shree Gurudev Ashram, Ganeshpuri, India
JUNE, 1988 - PRESENT ONGOING VEDIC/TANTRIC/YOGA/KIRTAN STUDIES Under the guidance of Mata Amritanandamayi at MA Center, Castro Valley CA; Amritapuri, Kerala, India and many other places worldwide.
BA EDUCATION/SOCIAL JUSTICE – HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY, OAKLAND CA Summa Cum Laude, Member - Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society CERTIFICATE IN TECHNICAL COMMUNICATIONS – DEANZA COLLEGE, CUPERTINO CA
EXPERIENCE
2000 – PRESENT INSTRUCTOR/MUSICIAN – YOGA PHILOSOPHY, SANSKRIT, KIRTAN Providing ongoing workshops, courses, and concerts throughout the Bay Area in Yoga Philosophy, Beginning Sanskrit, Tabla Instruction, and Kirtan.
WORKSHOPS/COURSES Multiple workshops and courses in Yoga Philosophy and Beginning Sanskrit at the following yoga studios, schools and festivals: Breathe Together Yoga, Los Gatos CA Lesley Desaulniers Yoga TTC, Novato CA Mountain Yoga, Fairfax, CA Prajna Vieira Yoga TTC, San Jose, CA Yoga@Cindy’s, Sunnyvale, CA Cosmic Dog Yoga, Livermore, CA Vedika Global School of Ayurveda, Emeryville, CA Irie Yoga TTC, Sebastopol Bhaktifest/Shaktifest, Joshua Tree, CA Open Secret Bookstore, San Rafael, CA
KIRTAN – TABLA/VOCALS Founding member Mukti Kirtan Ensemble MA Center Bhajan Group Ananda Rasa Kirtan Kirtan with Mirabai Kirtan with Sitadevi Astud and the Cosmic Caravan Stefan Andre Waligur Kirtan with Sheela Bringi, and many others Performed kirtan at multiple Bhaktifests, Shaktifests, Moksha and Prasada Festivals and others.
Provided tabla accompaniment for Krishna Das and Jai Uttal Provided private tabla instruction to many Bay Area students
1998-1999 ONGOING VEDIC/TANTRIC/YOGA/KIRTAN STUDIES MA Mission, Amritapuri, Kerala India studying under Ammachi’s tutelage as well as various resident brahmacharis, swamis and visiting lecturers
1996 – 1998 FOUNDING MEMBER, MA CENTER, TOKYO, JAPAN Held multiple Beginning Sanskrit/Yoga Philosophy workshops; founded MA Center Tokyo Kirtan group. Provided Tabla, Harmonium instruction and taught kirtan and bhajans sung by Ammachi (Mata Amritanandamayi) Held fundraising workshop on South Indian Tantric Puja
1992 – 1996 ESL/HATHA YOGA/SANSKRIT/KIRTAN INSTRUCTOR, SAPPORO, JAPAN Provided ESL instruction at Berlitz School of Languages Taught Sivananda-style Hatha Yoga at Josei Center, Sapporo Held multiple Beginning Sanskrit workshops and courses Provided Kirtan, Harmonium, Tabla, Vedic Chanting Instruction Assisted with Ammachi’s Japan Tours in Tokyo in 1992/93 Divided time between traveling and studying with Ammachi throughout the US, Europe and India, and Sapporo 1995/96
MAY, 1994 1994 AMMACHI WORLD TOUR – SAPPORO JAPAN Hosted Ammachi and her tour for three days of public programs.
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JUNE 1988 – MAY 1992 ONGOING VEDIC/TANTRIC/YOGA/KIRTAN STUDIES Intensive study and world-wide travel as part of Ammachi’s tour staff; assisted with opening of MA Center, Castro Valley CA including helping with the construction of the Temple and other structures in 1989.
JUNE 1975 – MAY 1983 ONGOING VEDIC/YOGA/KIRTAN STUDIES – SIDDHA YOGA Intensive study living continuously in Swami Muktananda’s ashrams in Oakland, New York, and Ganeshpuri India studying Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism, Yoga and all aspects of kirtan under the tutelage of Swami Muktananda, Swami Tejomayananda, Swami Gopalananda and others. Personal attendant to Sanskrit and Vedanta Scholar Swami Tejomayananda in Ganeshpuri India from 1976 – 1978.
JULY 1972 – JULY 1975 ONGOING VEDIC/YOGA/KIRTAN STUDIES – SIVANANDA YOGA Initial studies as child staff member of Vrindavan Yoga Farm, Grass Valley CA under the direct tutelage of Swami Vishnudevananda. Received Swami Vishnu’s permission to take the TTC course in 1975 at age thirteen. In addition, learned all aspects of animal husbandry on working farm.
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