Luz Gozalez
Yoga Studio Schedule:
Chair Yoga Thursdays 2:00 pm - Starts Sept 7th, 2023!
Luz's Yoga FB Page
Bio: The "Journey"
I was always a very big girl. At 325 pounds and 5'1", when I entered a yoga class, I heard the snickering. I tried many (many) gyms and yoga studios but always felt uncomfortable. So even though back then, I could do headstands, I felt humiliated and often never returned to classes.
While working at the Eastern District, I began to feel extremely tired and listless, totally uncharacteristic for me. I also had a loss of appetite yet my stomach was expanding. When I spoke to my doctor, he pooh poohed me and said, I would be just fine if I just lost weight. I was even told that a pap smear was a waste of time because I was too obese for a proper exam. Fast forward to an emergency situation where it was assumed I was having a heart attack (I wasn't...it was gallstones). I was introduced to an incredible doctor who found the cause of my ailment. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Stage 1. It was aggressively treated with chemo and radiation and I just celebrated my 11th year cancer free in 2023.
I was introduced to the power of meditation in helping with pain management at Memorial Sloan Kettering. When I returned to work, I found that swimming and spin class helped me feel back in control but I remembered the feeling of power during meditation while undergoing chemo. I still swim four times a week and try to log in a minimum of 1.5 miles each time.
The effects of chemo and radiation took a toll on my knees and they both enjoy bone on bone. Thus, traditional yoga was uncomfortable and very often painful. Thankfully, I was introduced to chair yoga right here at Boundless along with other restorative practices and the rest is history. I am always striving to make yoga accessible to everyone and can usually modify poses to be done on a chair (or two). I also love to incorporate some cardio into our chair practice and the one thing I can always guarantee is that you will be amazed that yup, it is possible to work up a sweat and feel good.
I am presently working with a local church in a trauma-related yoga program and am humbled by the release they experience at each session. More importantly, I appreciate their allowing me into their sphere of safety. My most favorite part of teaching is seeing the look of accomplishment when students get the pose, the fact that they actually laugh at themselves and, more importantly the look they get when they realize how far they've come from when they first walked in.
My work as a lawyer and advocate has informed my yoga journey. Here are some highlights:
The interesting (and most gratifying) part: Pro Bono work:
Chair Yoga Thursdays 2:00 pm - Starts Sept 7th, 2023!
Luz's Yoga FB Page
Bio: The "Journey"
I was always a very big girl. At 325 pounds and 5'1", when I entered a yoga class, I heard the snickering. I tried many (many) gyms and yoga studios but always felt uncomfortable. So even though back then, I could do headstands, I felt humiliated and often never returned to classes.
While working at the Eastern District, I began to feel extremely tired and listless, totally uncharacteristic for me. I also had a loss of appetite yet my stomach was expanding. When I spoke to my doctor, he pooh poohed me and said, I would be just fine if I just lost weight. I was even told that a pap smear was a waste of time because I was too obese for a proper exam. Fast forward to an emergency situation where it was assumed I was having a heart attack (I wasn't...it was gallstones). I was introduced to an incredible doctor who found the cause of my ailment. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer Stage 1. It was aggressively treated with chemo and radiation and I just celebrated my 11th year cancer free in 2023.
I was introduced to the power of meditation in helping with pain management at Memorial Sloan Kettering. When I returned to work, I found that swimming and spin class helped me feel back in control but I remembered the feeling of power during meditation while undergoing chemo. I still swim four times a week and try to log in a minimum of 1.5 miles each time.
The effects of chemo and radiation took a toll on my knees and they both enjoy bone on bone. Thus, traditional yoga was uncomfortable and very often painful. Thankfully, I was introduced to chair yoga right here at Boundless along with other restorative practices and the rest is history. I am always striving to make yoga accessible to everyone and can usually modify poses to be done on a chair (or two). I also love to incorporate some cardio into our chair practice and the one thing I can always guarantee is that you will be amazed that yup, it is possible to work up a sweat and feel good.
I am presently working with a local church in a trauma-related yoga program and am humbled by the release they experience at each session. More importantly, I appreciate their allowing me into their sphere of safety. My most favorite part of teaching is seeing the look of accomplishment when students get the pose, the fact that they actually laugh at themselves and, more importantly the look they get when they realize how far they've come from when they first walked in.
My work as a lawyer and advocate has informed my yoga journey. Here are some highlights:
- JD with a concentration in Employment Law and a Masters of Law in Healthcare Law and Advocacy from Hofstra Maurice Dean School of Law.
- B.A. in Criminology and MA in Criminal Forensics with a concentration in Sociology and the Law (from John Jay). My thesis was Females in Gangs and the effects on the family dynamics.
- 6 years Assistant US Attorney, Eastern District under Benton J. Campbell (interim)
- 5 years Litigation Staff Coordinator at Fried Frank, et al.
The interesting (and most gratifying) part: Pro Bono work:
- As a law student, assigned to Justice Judith Kaye, Family Court, Eastern District of NY: established the first and only library for children and teens while they waited for proceedings to be completed with their parents/caretakers and attorneys. (2007-2008)
- Assisted women achieve lawful permanent residence under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) (2007-2010)
- Worked with attorneys at JFK Airport during government ban on entry to Muslims (2017)
- Worked with assisting individuals seeking asylum who identified LGBTQ and were in danger of torture and death in their home countries (2017-2019); worked and successfully secured a win for a young woman fighting her insurance company as she transitioned (2018-2019)
- BYS Chair Yoga
- BYS Restorative Yoga
- BYS Yoga for Anxiety
- BYS Beginner's Mind: How to teach beginner's and students with injuries
- BYS Yin Yoga Basics
- Kundalini Lounge Healing Trauma Program
- Bellatone Barre
- Reiki 1 & 2 w/ Reiki Master Tracy Gross
- Kids & Family Yoga: Mindfulness for Children Certification