I met Charisse (Dr. Charisse Balance, .. but so unpretentious and assimilating - she never…read moreintroduced herself as such), .. as my Anatomy Instructor, in my Yoga Teacher Training, at Point Reyes Yoga, in Point Reyes Station, California - with Nicholas Giacomini (MC Yogi) & Amanda Giacomini (10,000 Buddhas).
As I helped Charisse with her artificial skeleton assistant friend, (sweetly dubbed 'Bone-ita') :-) from her car to class .. I already was falling in love with her. She was (and is still .. so much so), cute, sweet, smart, approachable, .. used words to subtly let me know she was 'getting' me, .. and gorgeous. It's ridiculous to mention her appearance twice, .. but really, .. it's no wonder she was selected as the model throughout and on the cover of this new awesome yoga book that was just published.
S/o to : "Yoga Myths: What You Need to Learn and Unlearn for a Safe and Healthy Yoga Practice", by Judith Hanson Lasater, Ph.D.
(I have no affiliation)
Speaking of yoga - she practices it, teaches it, .. and lives it.
AND, she integrates her years of education, skill, and professional and personal life INTO it, .. beautifully and interestingly intertwined with physiotherapy.
A month.ish later, while still hanging out in the Bay Area, CA (I'm a current Nomad, .. from Chicago), .. the chronic pain I've experienced for decades (I've been diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease, .. and all the sh*t that goes along with that, throughout the body), .. took a turn toward the super wtf acute version pain. So I contacted Charisse to schedule a phone consultation. I texted with her, while I was at Stanford Hospital, .. but then spoke with her when out.
Talking with her was like doing so with a good Friend, .. the smart, reassuring, helpful kind.
She incorporated an individualized holistic approach .. sort of augmenting the treatment suggested by the hospital and doctors, .. and addressed my body, mind and spirit. As a woman, mother, yogini, *and* physiotherapist, - she was able to share these offerings with an understanding of the science of movement, biomechanics, kinesiology and anatomy. She seemed to have a respect for the entirety of my person - not just the diagnosis. She was sensitive to the fact that other factors may have contributed to my physical and emotional challenges (shout out to trauma, .. *&* fascia which is likely sort of storing it - my words). And then offered ways to incorporate various tools to work with that - including the suggestion that I look into other teachers and practitioners (very cool), .. and do my own independent research.
I love Charisse. And appreciate her dearly - especially for her calming, assuring demeanor, .. during my time of need.
And would recommend her for Yoga, Yoga Instruction, or Holistic Health / Physiotherapy Consulting .. anyday.