**Richard Freeman**
Richard became a student of yoga in 1968. He spent nine years in Asia studying yoga asanas, pranayama, Sufi mysticism, Sanskrit, and Indian philosophy. He trained in asanas under the guidance of B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois and engaged in dialogue and shared learning with various Buddhist teachers, integrating Buddhism and yoga into a reflective approach to life. Richard is known for his metaphorical and humorous teaching style, which has resonated with students from diverse backgrounds and countries.
**Mary Taylor**
Mary began studying yoga in 1971 and has since deeply explored yoga asanas, meditation, and the integration of yoga with Buddhism, examining how these practices can help us navigate complex and challenging times. Her primary asana practice embodies the core principles of Ashtanga Yoga. She is also a core faculty member of the Upaya Zen Center's "Being with Dying" training program and the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy training, both of which focus on applying meditative practices to enhance sustainable mental and physical health in medical settings and daily life.
Richard and Mary teach together online and around the world, offering workshops and various trainings. Richard’s guided video instructions and yoga-related CDs are considered exemplary works in the meditative art of yoga. The two have co-authored several books, including *Yoga and the Art of Meditation: The Fluid Art of Vinyasa*, *Yoga and the Truth of Love: Leading the Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita into Modern Life*, and *Yoga and Mirrors: Seeing the Universal Truth Through Physical Practice*.
