Patricia A. Dunning, Ph.D., RYT

Certification Information and Biographical Background

Patricia A. Dunning, a classical Iyengar Yoga teacher, has been teaching and practicing yoga (part-time) for more than 25 years, and Pilates for more than three years. Currently, Dr. Dunning is pursuing her Yoga Therapist certification from YAMA Studio in Baltimore. This will enable her to work in hospitals and other health facilities. Patricia has received many certifications in Yoga, Pilates and CPR: 1) Integrative Yoga Therapy Certified, June, 2006; 2) Yoga Fitness, Level II, February 2006, Member #54216 and Pilates Fitness, Level I, Member #54840, both from the American Fitness Professional Association (AFPA); Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Registry ID:26661; member of the Association of International Yoga Therapists; and Adult CPR and AED certified by the American Heart Association, August 6, 2005.

Patricia studied yoga under the tutelage of Professor Risvodkar, an Indian guru and disciple of B.K.S. Iyengar, while also pursuing her Ph.D. in intercultural communication at the University of Pittsburgh. Her doctoral studies included Eastern philosophy, e.g., Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and other yoga philosophies.

In studying yoga philosophies, Patricia relates to such yoga concepts as “wei wu wei”(literally “doing, not-doing”) to her philosophy of the creative process as it works through her when she is painting. She describes this in her art website www.patdunningart.com as “the painting paints itself” – she is just the medium by which this is accomplished. “Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.” Such is the philosophy behind the Direct path (or non-path) of Advaita yoga.

Dr. Dunning also has a B. S. in Psychology and trained under psychologists and psychotherapists who taught Jacobson’s Progressive Relaxation and Schultz’ Autogenic Training, which she also teaches as part of the yoga class. She became widely known as a yoga instructor in Pittsburgh, where she introduced yoga as a course in the physical education course at the University of Pittsburgh, she was written up in The Pittsburgh Press, and provided instruction at other universities, fitness centers, & health clubs.

In addition to many years of teaching yoga in the Pittsburgh area, Dr. Dunning has also established her reputation as a Yoga teacher in the greater Washington area. During her career as an academic administrator and intercultural communications professor at various major universities in the area (George Washington University, University of Maryland, Goucher College, Southeastern University), and at the USIA, she taught yoga to the faculty, students, and government personnel.

Dr. Dunning has taught/teaching/will teach various Yoga (and Pilates) classes, including:

Dr. Dunning has taught/is teaching Yoga and/or Pilates) at the following Greater Washington locations:*

*Names, addresses and telephone numbers of above references and copies of certifications available upon request.