While learning sign language as a teen, Lila was diagnosed with epilepsy. She became interested in yoga as a way to help keep symptoms away, and has now been practicing for more than ten years. Five years ago, Lila decided to combine her two interests and started teaching yoga to the deaf. In 2007, she founded the DeafYoga Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing yoga with the deaf community.

Lila says that a deaf yoga class is primarily a visual experience for the students. Lila uses lights, fans, and an embryonic form of sign language to translate ancient Indian yogic words and poses. “There is no sign language in the United States for most of the words or terms needed in a regular yoga class,” Lila says. “Yoga began in India thousands of years ago using Sanskrit, and we haven’t been quite able to find existing signs to convey that language.” Lila and her colleagues at the DeafYoga Foundation are working on developing a visual dictionary of yoga terminology. Much of it currently consists of mudras, or hand gestures used in Indian traditional dancing. Lila is planning a trip to India to speak with yogis to see if sign relating to yoga exists there. She plans on creating a DVD and website of yoga signs to help train both students and teachers.

Teacher training, in fact, has been a major focus of the DeafYoga Foundation. From her base in New York City, Lila travels extensively to teach other yoga teachers, and deaf and hard of hearing people about deaf yoga. She provides workshops, lectures and classes across the United States. “Because there are currently so few deaf yoga teachers, I’m hoping to spread this concept through teaching other teachers,” Lila says. “I get calls all the time from people in other cities wanting to learn more about deaf yoga, and its so great to be able to provide this service.”