JUSTINE FANAROF, J.D., M.P.H., Forrest Yoga Teacher

Blessed by being born into a hereditary lineage of healers, adventurers, freedom fighters, perogen makers, and kindness, Justine’s formal hatha yoga studies began with Heather Onori at the Forrest Yoga Circle in Santa Monica, CA.

Upon the recommendation of one of her dearest friends, Justine started out with an Introduction to Forrest Yoga class. There she first delighted in active feet, ujayi breathing and long pose holds. She also first tasted the spark of internal creativity that yoga fostered in her and those with whom she had the honour to practice. From that sweet and sweaty place, a karmic seed ripened and Justine spent the next few years studying and breathing Forrest Yoga under the tutelage of Heather and other senior Forrest Yoga instructors including Julian Walker, Stephanie Snyder and the venerable Ana Forrest.

In 2004 Justine returned home to Houston, TX for the purpose of attending the University of Texas School of Public Health, from where she earned a Masters in Public Health. During that time she sent an email to Robert Boustany, who ended up becoming a dear friend, teacher and mentor. Justine completed Robert’s year long training, focusing on exhaling and surrendering to eternity, subtle energetics, and strategic strengthening.

In October of 2004, Justine spent a month commuting between the Marina and Berkeley, where she completed Ana Forrest’s Teacher Training Program. During that time Justine had the opportunity to connect with dear friends, a special kirtan circle and other magical joys only to be found in the Bay Area.

Time in Austin, spent practicing the yoga of compassion and patience, at the Texas Legislature led Justine to Eftalu, Greece in June 2006. There she spent a quiet month studying with Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten. Angela and Victor taught Justine, inter alia, about Ganesh, olive trees, yogic cats, deeper subtle body practices, yoga props (to Iyengar), hot springs in the sea and the joy of international sangha (community).

In December of 2009, while completing her 3L year of law school, Justine hung up Tibetan Prayer Flags on her home as a way to celebrate the joys of the season. (The prayer flags were given to her by the same friend who recommended the Forrest Yoga Circle many years before.) In March of 2010, she met Lama Christie McNally at Robert’s studio. Justine believes you call your teachers to you, and the meeting with Lama Christie lit a spiritual fire inside her that had been dulled by years of inactivity. Since then, Justine has been a student of both Lama Christie McNally and Geshe Michael Roach, and sends them both humble prayers of gratitude, love and peace.

Today Justine practices and teaches yoga and dharma in a beautiful, sacred space on Blossom St. in Houston, Texas. She is GRATEFUL to her students, parents, teachers, neighbors and friends for allowing this opportunity to exist. When not on her mat, Justine feels blessed to have a job she loves working for an international civil rights organization, bike the trails along the bayou, joyously officiate weddings for friends, and learn how to really feel the stretch from Molly the Wheaten terrier.