HARRIET L. RUSSELL (BHUMI), RYS, M.S. MT, Director, Bhumi’s Yoga Teacher Trainings, and International Keynote Speaker
A PIONEER OF YOGA in OHIO
Harriet L Russell is known as “Bhumi” in the yoga world. She is a leader of the yoga community in Ohio and has helped demystify and bring yoga to mainstream Northern Ohio without sacrificing the depth of the practice. She launched Cleveland’s first yoga and wellness center open to the public in 1992. She introduced yoga classes to physical education programs in suburban high schools, and mindfulness in businesses. Over the years, she has trained thousands of teachers in the USA, over 300 in Ohio alone.
BACKGROUND
Bhumi’s Yoga and Wellness Center was the first in the Midwest and Ohio to be recognized by the national Yoga Alliance. Bhumi’s Yoga is a nationally Registered Yoga School at the highest level offered by Yoga Alliance. Bhumi is certified/trained in all major styles of Yoga: Kripalu, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Amrit Yoga Nidra, etc. A Bodyworker, and Certified Holistic Health Educator and Lifestyle Coach, she brings holistic and personal growth as well as a clinical view to wellness.
In addition, Bhumi is a Yoga Therapist, Shiatsu (Acupressure) Massage Therapist and uses Energy Balancing, Polarity, and specialized techniques she learned from numerous trainings and certifications in Asia and USA. and from Dr. Kenneth Klak, D.O. In Japan, she studied the martial art of Aikido. She has 40 years of a Macrobiotics foundation and 20 years Ayurveda experience with Dr. Vijay Jain, M.D.
Bhumi was introduced to yoga as a stress management technique while working in international business corporate life in New York City. Successful, yet searching, she changed careers, recognizing her life’s work is to share the deep benefits from yoga that she felt for herself with others. She lived a monastic lifestyle as a spiritual resident at the ashram of Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, the largest holistic health and yoga center in North America. She served as Program Director of Yoga Teacher Training and Bodywork Certification Programs there for 8 years. Her spiritual teacher was Dr. Yogi Amrit Desai, the founder. Afterwards, she studied with BKS and Geeta Iyengar and Rodney Yee, and took trainings in other styles for a complete view of yoga’s applications in her practice and work.
She is Co-creator of the “Moon Salutation”.
GLOBAL RECOGNITION and SERVICE
Harriet has been sponsored to lead workshops around the world on various health issues. She has appeared on TV in the U.S. and abroad, has published many articles, manuals, books, videos and audio yoga routines and relaxations. She has an M.S. in Linguistics, is fluent in Spanish and Japanese, and proficient in several other languages. She even studied Russian.
She loves to teach Sanskrit to Yoga Teachers… so they can pronounce the postures correctly and feel the vibratory impact of this ancient language of yoga.
Long term travel is a part of what makes Harriet a world citizen. In 1975 she went overland from Europe to Asia through the Middle East on Marco Polo’s Silk Route. She lived overseas for many years. She was in India, Nepal, and Tibet in 1975 and 1992 where she visited many spiritual sites.
In 2005 she returned to India where she participated in Rotary International projects and visited medical clinics with doctors practicing specialized yoga therapies. In 2008, she traveled alone to Kyrgyzstan for three months as an independent volunteer. She coached English teachers in methodologies and artisans in small business development. She taught stress management and yoga to social workers, teachers and school children as a part of their physical education curriculum. Harriet ventured to places even the Peace Corps is not allowed to go. You may read more about her trip and projects she started at VentureFromTheHeart
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Harriet L. Russell (Bhumi ) was a dedicated member of Rotary International for over a decade and was named a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among the peoples of the world.” She is an active member the National Speakers Association, Global Speakers Federation, International Coach Federation and ICF-Cleveland Board Member, Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), Formerly, she held memberships in yoga associations including the International Association of Yoga Therapists, Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association, Certified Amrit Yoga Nidra Teachers, and the national Yoga Alliance.
For more about her background apart from yoga see BusinessEaseOverseas
Our Yoga Teachers and Professionals until 2020.
Bhumi could not have served fully without the help of the other teachers, staff, and karma yoga volunteers. We all share a common interest in the well-being of our students. Our yoga teachers, each certified by Bhumi’s Yoga and Wellness Center, are an integral part of the community. These devoted souls taught and took classes with Bhumi, continuing to learn and share what they love.
There are over 350 Bhumi’s Certified Teachers in Ohio alone. Our graduate teachers teach outreach programs at hospitals, recreation centers, and wellness facilities and yoga studios around the Cleveland-Akron area. The more quality yoga, the better! After almost 40 years of Directing Yoga Teacher Trainings (24 programs in Ohio under the Bhumi’s name) , 2020 was our last YTT program.
Bhumi’s Yoga & Teacher Trainings is now focused on community and personal development through Masterminds, Coaching, Intercultural Understanding, and private sessions with Bhumi.