Episode 103- Gopi Om: On Teaching Yoga as a Complete System

Gopi Om (Nicole Sopko) first discovered yoga by chance and was instantly intrigued. She attended her first teacher training with the sole intention of learning more about the practice, but, despite being a lifelong introvert, found the teachings of yoga to be so transformational that she couldn't keep them to herself and began teaching in 2005. Shortly after, her practice grew immensely when she met her beloved Guru, Sri Dharma Mittra, who gave her the name Gopi.Gopi practices and teaches yoga with a firm but gentle insistence on respect for the fullness of this indigenous tradition. Her classes are for anyone who wants to learn about yoga as a complete, traditional system. She welcomes people from all backgrounds to learn how these time tested practices and their philosophy can be integrated into a modern life.Gopi has completed the advanced level (500, 800, & 1000 hour) Life of a Yogi teacher trainings at the Dharma Yoga Center in New York with Sri Dharma Mittra. She feels blessed to have received and to carry on the teachings of his lineage. She is also a newly-enrolled student at the Hindu University of America where she plans to pursue Hindu Studies and Sanskrit. She strives to live every moment as an offering to the divine and to pass on the teachings of yoga as they have been generously shared with her.A vegan of over 20 years, Gopi works alongside her life partner, Dan, as Vice President of natural foods company, Upton's Naturals. She is the President of the Board of Directors at the Plant Based Foods Association and serves on the Associate Board for One Tail At a Time. Gopi was previously the owner of Nature Sanctuary and Yoga Trek Center in Chicago and Oak Park, IL. She shares her home (and her yoga mat) with a rescue dog named Greta and several aquatic pets including fish, snails, and shrimp.In this episode Yoga is Vegan's Holly Skodis and Gopi Om (Nicole Sopko) discuss the following:Punk Rock bank Earth CrisisThe Journey of Self Discovery by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaThe Yoga AllianceSri Dharma MittraUpton's NaturalsThe Hindi University of America The Colonization of IndiaConnect with Gopi Om:Website: gopiom.comInstagram: @gopiom