The first time I spoke with Terra Gold, my immediate impression was of the kindness and warmth in her voice. This was several years ago, when one Monday evening I was greeted by a heartfelt email that she had sent out to over 20 yoga instructors requesting a sub for her 7am class the next morning in West LA because she had a cold. I immediately hit reply, if by 11pm no one came through, I would teach. Terra picked up the phone to call and to let me know that no one could fill in and she appreciated me stepping up to the plate. Her speaking voice transmitted the warmth and kindness, even through her head cold. Even though initially I had thought I was offering support to Terra, since she needed a class sub, it was actually me who receive the support. I would open up to her that night about an event that almost took my life and changed my yoga practice forever. Terra’s wisdom and solid advice based on her own challenging experiences, helped me to make some sense of what had occurred and was one of the miracles that facilitated a pathway to my healing.
Months went by and I attended her class to bear witness to her singing, (since I had heard others speak of it with meaning). I can recall how her voice touched my heart and evoked feelings of gratitude and love for the life I have had. I’m not the only one whose heart cracked open. Terra Gold is one of those rare individuals whom you always remember after meeting her. With eyes like Aphrodite—the Greek goddess—and an aura emulating the peace of Buddha. She’s a scholar with a singing voice so heartfelt and powerful that when she intones the Gayatri mantra, a cappella, at the beginning of every class, her voice dissolves the walls that block our own inner voices and Kundalini is subtly awakened in a profound way, like a mother awakening a child.
Terra’s teaching combines the influence of a deep family lineage with an immersion into a community of cutting-edge teachers and colleagues. Born in Scotland’s holistically-minded Findhorn Commune, and raised between California’s Marin County and Maui, Terra was introduced to many healing modalities early in life. Yoga therapy, acupuncture, healing through nutrition, and sharing sacred music emerged as a few of her favorites, and have become her primary modalities for sharing health and healing in the world.
At nine years old, Terra was introduced to Iyengar Yoga, as well as Tibetan Buddhism by her parents’ friend—a yogi and Buddhist who studied under Kalu Rinpoche. “Hatha yoga and aspects of Tantra were becoming very popular amongst my parents and friends,” Gold reflected. “By the time I was 12, I was inspired to learn all that I could about yoga.” Her dedication continued when she attended UCLA and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in World Arts and Cultures. At the same time, another well-known person in the yoga world was earning her master’s degree: Shiva Rea. As Shiva says, “As a student in my UCLA yoga class in the World Arts and Cultures Program, Terra was open in her cellular intelligence, heart, and awareness to the depths of yoga—and it is wonderful to see her flower as a yoga teacher, mother, artist, and a healer.”
After graduation, Terra chose to stay in LA for many reasons. She was already teaching yoga to some high-profile people in the entertainment industry and Terra felt that LA would challenge her spiritually in ways that living in a place that was gentler, quieter, or less populated might not. LA was a place where she could fully experience yoga practice and community, as yoga proved to be the steady stream that brought joy and equanimity, and helped curb her anxieties while living in a big city.
Terra’s interest in the distinction between yoga and yoga therapy began early on. Her body was yearning for the balancing principles of sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease).” Terra says, “When I started focusing on yoga for the sake of specific therapeutic healing -finding ways to specifically address my nervous system, endocrine system, and digestives issues, my body chemistry balanced in ways that were practical and useful for experiencing more ease in my life.” It was at this point that Gold states, “yoga became yoga for me.”
After a serious car accident left her unable to practice or teach in the same ways, she delved even more deeply into exploring healing modalities. To gain a different perspective on how to understand the human body, she would fly to Hawaii and spend focused time doing human dissections. This was a certificate course developed by Beverly Hills chiropractor Dr. Marc Pick, in partnership with the University of Hawaii. Back in California, Terra returned to school to study acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and somatic-oriented psychotherapy, until ultimately her life’s focus led her to Yoga Therapy in private practice.
With the mentorship of yoga therapist Larry Payne, Terra has gone on to co-create the curriculum and co-lead the Yoga and Healing Sciences Teacher Training program at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) with chiropractor and yoga therapist Eden Goldman. The program is now in its fifth year. She is also a faculty member of Larry Payne’s Yoga Therapy Rx Teacher Training Program, which celebrates 10 years at LMU in September, 2014. Terra fondly refers to Larry as the “Godfather of Yoga Therapy in the West.” Larry says of his colleague, “Terra is an old soul in a young body. Talented and gifted in many ways that help her serve humanity.”
Throughout her continued commitment to the practice and teaching of yoga, Terra remained dedicated to one of her early loves: music. In late 2012, Terra released Sun & Moon: Yoga and Bhakti Groove Sessions. At the celebratory release party, Terra shared that the inspiration for the title track, “Sun & Moon,” was born from a pure stream of consciousness emerging from the rawest, real place within her at the time. Terra explained, “it was the theme of my life at the time of making this album, for its longing, its beauty and its complete expression of the cycles of birth, death and rebirth.” Gold says, “Chanting remains one of the purest pathways for ananda (bliss) that I know.”
After nearly two decades of living and working in LA, Terra, her husband Josh, and their 17-month-old son, River, have recently moved to Washington State. Terra taught her final weekly yoga class in LA on Father’s Day, 2014. After almost 20 years of teaching the Sunday evening yoga and meditation class at the Equinox Sports Club West LA, the attendees were unable to hold back tears of love expressed for the woman they had shared a yogic journey with for so long. Terra both entered and exited to a touching standing ovation. “This room used to be carpeted and yoga was just an add-in,” she shared with the men and women who filled the studio to capacity. “To see this transformation—how this space is now used exclusively for yoga—is truly amazing” Terra later shared with me that she found herself in a complete state of awe. “I was overwhelmed by the opportunity to share that ritual with so many,” she reflected. “After years in that room, I am grateful. Without it, life will definitely be different for a long time.” Along with her students, the city’s teachers have been impacted by her. Lisa Walford says, “Terra Gold is one of the most tenacious, vibrant and gracious students/teachers I have ever worked with. I wish Terra a smooth transition, and know that she will be missed.”
Los Angeles will still be a significant part of Terra’s life and her presence here in the city remains strong. “I love LA but knew I would know when it was time to leave,” she offered. Regardless of what lies ahead, Terra explained “I’ve always trusted the divine order of life’s journey and part of my yoga is embracing the changes it brings with acceptance and an open heart.” With her frequent travels to LA to continue teaching, she will not be a stranger. This Fall will see the release of the result of four years of dedicated focus by Larry, Eden and Terra to compile a textbook: Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine: Where Ancient Science Meets Modern Medicine.
Terra’s commitment to practice, her genuine smile, and calm soul embody that place where gratitude and authenticity collide and unite with humility and happiness; where the sun sets into the horizon, meeting the rising moon. Terra Gold is, and always will be a sun and moon of the LA Yoga community.
Mark Devenpeck, with Co- Founder Newton Campbell opened Triad Yoga & Pilates in Newport Beach 12 years ago. While in West LA on the weekends, Mark teaches for Equinox Fitness. He has worked with the integrative Medicine Department at USC and held the first kickoff event for CHOC’s complimentary alternative medicine department in Orange County. He looks forward to teaching at Bhakti Fest West for the second year in a row with Newton.
