BACKGROUND

Anne Dellenbaugh loves to learn and to share what she is learning. From the time she could walk she has been exploring the natural world of body and landscape as a sailor, hiker, canoeist, cellist, gardener, qigong student and yogini; from the time she learned about the power of ideas she has thrilled to explore the farthest reaches of the mind. Instead of growing up to be a neurosurgeon or psychiatrist as was her high school dream, she ordained as a Zen priest and became a registered Maine Guide, founding HER WILD SONG to offer wilderness journeys with a spiritual focus for women. Anne was stopped in her tracks by a “terminal” cancer diagnosis in 1996 and went into personal retreat for one year, developing her own radical healing practice when the doctors told her there was nothing conventional medicine had to offer that would prolong her life. Ten years later, she is not only alive and well, but healthier and happier than ever before.

The cancer opened a new area of study for Anne—health, healing and well-being. Her yoga went from an occasional practice to keep her in shape for long hours of sitting meditation to a daily passion. She took up chanting, learning how to use overtones in the style of traditional Mongolian chant and then studying Sanskrit chant. She studied Ayurveda and QiGong, learned to play the frame drum and laugh for no good reason, all the while looking for the crack in the prognosis.

A natural-born teacher, Anne has been finding venues for sharing her passions and teaching others since she was 10 years old and opened a school for the neighborhood children. She has taught in high schools, helped inner city children with their math homework, been on the faculty of Goddard College, instructed for Outward Bound, coached sailing teams, led Buddhist retreats, guided novice canoeists across windy lakes, demystified quantum physics and expounded on the ethical basis for radical feminism.

Anne is the author of numerous articles on the philosophy and practice of healing (See sidebar to download the pdfs).

YOGA

Anne’s first yoga teacher was Jeanie Erlbaum (Green River Yoga). From Jeanie she learned the basics and continued to practice them for many years, taking occasional classes. Following the cancer diagnosis, yoga became an important part of Anne’s regular practice. She studied Iyengar and Kundalini yoga. In 2002, she found Anusara yoga and began to devote herself to formal yoga training. She completed teacher training with Deb Neubauer (Anahata Yoga Center) and went on to study extensively with John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. She continues to train with John Friend and senior Anusara teachers. In 2006, Anne began her study of Tantra with Yogarupa Rod Stryker, founder of Para Yoga, and continues her studies with Paul Muller-Ortega, with whom she has studied continuously since 2007.

Anne has over 700 hours of training in Anusara Yoga, including more than 100 hours of therapeutics training. Anne is known for her deep caring and her patient, gentle encouragement. Her yoga classes are joyful and inspiring.

For the past three years Anne has been studying Yoga Nidra. In 2008 she completed Level 2 Teacher Trainning with Richard Miller, PhD, author Yoga Nidra. Anne is grateful to Richard Miller for on-going mentoring.

Anne is registered with Yoga Alliance E-RYT200 and RYT 500.

COUNSELING

Anne began offering counseling and spiritual direction in 1999, while still in recovery from her own “terminal” cancer. Anne draws from 35 years of meditation practice, primarily in the Buddhist tradition, and the extensive exploration of healing she has done during and since her own diagnosis. Anne studied ChiLel QiGong with Luke Chan, who gave her permission to teach in 1999. She learned frame drumming from Layne Redmond, and was introduced to overtone chanting by Lynette Breton. Anne has also studied and/or trained with Thich Nhat Hanh, who encouraged her to teach meditation, Joan Halifax, Deena Metzger, Alberto Villoldo, and Richard Miller among others.

EDUCATION

Anne graduated magna cum laude from Smith College and received her Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. She completed a certificate program in Outdoor Leadership at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, MA. Anne is currently enrolled in the Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant program at Kripalu Center.