Brooke Gessay McNamara
Adjunct Faculty
Programs
BA in Yoga Studies - Adjunct FacultyEducation
MFA Dance and Somatic Studies, University of Colorado BoulderBA Dance and English/Creative Writing, Connecticut College
From the heart
Naropa students keep me on my toes and in my heart. In general, they are earnest learners, and not conformist. It is a prerequisite for me to be able to teach from my mind, body and heart all at once, and Naropa not only welcomes me to do so but encourages and demands it.
Honors/awards
- Center for Humanities and the Arts Fellow 2010-11, University of CO, Boulder
- Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, May 2003, Connecticut College
- Charles B. Palmer Prize through the Academy of American Poets, 2003
Recent publications
Feed Your Vow // poems for falling into fullness
Creative activity summary
I am a practicing yogini and zen monk regularly engaged in creative process through poetry and dance theater. I recently published Feed Your Vow // poems for falling into fullness and held readings in Boulder and San Diego, and have dance theater performances scheduled in Boulder and Denver throughout 2016.
Courses taught
Yoga I
What book do you find yourself regularly pressing into the hands of students?
The Inner Tradition of Yoga by Michael Stone
Describe a moment when you helped a student reach an “ah ha” or transformational moment.
Today in class describing healthy backbending for heart opening — all 20 some students, feeling their thoracic spine move toward reversing its natural curve, smiled in heart opening.
What's next?
This full inhale. This complete exhale.
