MY STORY

Growing up the son of a Spirit Rock meditation teacher (James Baraz) I wanted to be like my father. From a young age I felt a great deal of pressure to one day have a “big impact” on people. Nonetheless, I was FAR from being a Zen-prodigy. My best friend Miles can attest that I was a tall, gawky, awkward kid, with a runny nose, crooked glasses, and a good-natured smile. More often than not, I looked lost. I never quite knew where I fit in. I played sports like the cool kids, and tried my best to “just be normal”.

My years at Berkeley High were stressful and my nervous system got overloaded.  I tried my hardest to look cool, but on the inside I could hardly breathe. My diaphragm was not working properly and my nervous system was in a constant state of “red alert”. I was 6’4, slumped over, stuck in my head, and mostly numb from the neck down. It was not a fun physical reality to inhabit.

My personal transformation really started at age of 19, when I spent a college semester in a monastery studying Buddhism, in Bodh Gaya, India. There, I met meditation master Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche.  His eyes emanated pure light.  His presence filled me with warmth, ease, and confidence. On a special day, Rinpoche offered us students the “Bodhisattva-Vow ceremony” underneath the Bodhi Tree, where Buddha was enlightened. In the ceremony, we each made a commitment to actualize our human potential, and dedicate our lives to service.  That day I dedicated my life to the path of healing arts and the practice of meditation.

Fast-forward, age 25, I met a Soviet trained master-healer in the cliff-side hot tubs of Esalen Institute. He auspiciously decided to gift me session. His method was nothing like I had experienced before. The way he would touch was not really "massage". Rather, he was teaching my body to “remember” it’s natural capacities.  After this experience, I requested him to become my Embodiment-Coach. I said, “I would like you to help me fully inhabit my body, and teach me your craft along the way”. Our apprenticeship consisted of: weekly 3-4 hour sessions, that included: bodywork, sparring, weight training, and frequent large consumption raw milk and honey?!

My coach helped me to heal my nervous system, build my muscles, and transform my posture. His work empowered my energy-body at core level. During this process, my inner experience transformed. At the beginning, I had a victim mentality- helpless, at the mercy of life.  But as my body opened, so too did my mentality!  I found myself to be the privileged author of this incredible, page-turning novel, known as        MY LIFE.  

In a practical sense, there is no way I can repay the kindness of my healing teacher. His energy and support offered me priceless gift of physical ease, grounded happiness, and authentic confidence. From this place, I offer Samadhi Bodywork in part to pay forward the kindness that was shown to me. I am honored, inspired, and humbled to see lives of many clients transform in powerful, wonderful ways.

Thank you for reading!