(Photo above provided by Tara Mala White)
Tara Mala White was sitting on the porch of her 12-acre farm in Kauai watching her young, curly-haired son play amongst the banana trees contemplating his future on the garden isle. Sounds like paradise, right? But something was bothering her and her Oregon-born husband – will we ever be able to afford a house here and is this the best place for our son to get a good education?
Tara contemplated her yoga life there. A studio in her yard, classes in Hanalei, and most of all, a celebrity private clientele cultivated over a decade of increasing expertise, studying and hard work.
With a degree in dance (BFA) from the University of Arizona, an E-RYT 500 hour teaching certificate, studies under many yoga masters in India, Tara had been in Hawaii most of her adult life, when she fell in love and married Philly White, whom she had known for many years.
But the change to married life, and being a mom, changed her priorities, and the Bend Yoga community has been the lucky recipient of her many talents as she has integrated herself into classes here at many of Bend’s best studios – ACB, BackBend and The Yoga Lab.
But something was missing. She missed the teaching of teachers and the private clientele that had been mainstays of her previous life.
2015 is bringing a change to all of that. Spurred on by workshops she taught last fall in Kauai, Tara realized she needed to bring her enthusiasm, therapeutic style and expertise to the Central Oregon community and their many visitors. Starting in January, with a workshop at The Yoga Lab, Tara returned to teaching and reaching out to both the yoga and non-yoga community to bring the benefits of this ancient form of wellness to wider audiences in Central Oregon.
She recently began a 4-week session on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali at the Yoga Lab – www.theyogalabbend.com. Each week is an in-depth look at five Sutras, chanting them and exploring their meanings. Tara says her approach to teaching is accessible and fun. She teaches these complex subjects in a very authentic and relatable way, making her classes among the most sought after by all levels of Yoga devotees.
Tara says, “my next chapter is going to be bringing yoga to Central Oregon’s many sports devotees – whether biking, golfing, running or kayaking is your passion, you need Yoga, and I love teaching athletes and helping them get ready for the upcoming season.”
Look for her at athletic clubs, golf clubs and resorts bringing her own brand of preparation to your game. If your business would like to sponsor a class, she can do that too – and, as a bonus, your insurance may pick up the tab too.
With the energy that only a Yoga master can bring, Central Oregon has a new face that will bring wellness, an increased vibration, and new energy to our community.
Tara can be reached at 808-635-9288 or taramalawhite@gmail.com.
