April Warrior of the Month: Ted
🌟 Meet Ted 🌟
In every community, there are people who help shape the experience in quiet but meaningful ways. This month, we’re honored to celebrate Ted, our April Warrior.
Ted reminds us that presence itself is a practice. It looks like consistency over time. It looks like curiosity, patience, and a willingness to keep learning. It looks like meeting each moment with awareness, and allowing the practice to unfold in its own way. Learn more about Ted below…
How long have you been coming to Zen?
I’ve practiced a Tibetan version of Zen since the early 1970s, so when Zen Yoga began offering classes at Orchard Hills, the name immediately resonated with me. I was drawn to the emphasis on slow, mindful, Yin-style practice within what was largely a more Yang environment at the time. When the Zen studio opened, I appreciated the warmer space, the variety of classes, and the experienced instructors who thoughtfully paired music with their teaching.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the studio?
Over time, I became very comfortable practicing in the space with different teachers. When Zen Yoga took over, I really valued the full schedule and the energy of the instructors. Everything felt well organized, from registration to class coverage, and there was a welcoming, supportive atmosphere among both teachers and students.
The environment felt both accessible and appropriately challenging as I worked my way back into more active classes with a body that needed careful attention. It’s also clear that Zen gives generously to the community through offerings like community classes and support of the Orchard Hills program. There’s a saying in Eastern traditions that you have to give in order to receive, and I believe Zen embodies that - and continues to grow because of it.
Have you noticed any benefits from classes or events?
Yes. Over time, I’ve seen my strength, flexibility, and awareness within movement return. These benefits have also carried over into my Taijiquan practice, which now feels more fluid and energized. Like yoga, progress in Taiji is gradual, and the consistency of cross-training has been incredibly valuable.
Favorite pose or movement, and why?
Mountain Pose, and its variations, is foundational for me. It’s where I explore rooting and flow. My first yoga teacher used to say that even a small adjustment in the body can shift energy entirely. In practices like Taiji, even a few inches is significant.
We begin by settling into the body and often return to Mountain at the end of practice, but it’s never the same place we started. Standing, feeling, and listening - there’s a constant process of subtle adjustment and awareness. Breath shifts, alignment refines, and the body transforms in small and large ways. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing experience, which is what makes it so meaningful to me.
Any advice for someone just starting out?
The deeper benefits of yoga come from more than just the physical postures. They come from attention, patience, breath, and a willingness to be present. There’s something powerful in simply allowing yourself to be fully where you are, without needing to push or perform.
One of Zen’s instructors once said to me, “just doing the postures is not really what it’s about,” and that stayed with me. There’s a depth to the practice that unfolds over time.
So onward we go. I’ll meet you on the studio floor. We’ll breathe, move, give what we can to the practice, and receive what the body offers in return.
We’re so grateful for the depth, presence, and perspective you bring into the space, Ted. Thank you for being exactly who you are and for sharing your practice with our community.
