MY ART + YOGA BACKSTORY

I’ve been creative in all cases, while art making for as long as I can remember.

Originally an Architecture major at The Cooper Union, I transferred to the School of Art, graduating from with a BFA in painting. Stretching the boundaries of my art practice, I combined breath work in a gestural drawing exercise that I created for a Creative Arts Therapies thesis, (at The New School) which unexpectedly inspired a career in yoga. Today, as a professional yoga instructor, (500-RYT), I lead group and private sessions. Beyond my personal experience with breast cancer in 2016, I certified with yoga4cancer to teach oncology yoga to other survivors. In 2019, former client, Robin Roberts, featured my yoga4cancer class on Good Morning America. As the final owner of Park Slope Yoga Center, founded in 1999—I’m proud to have begun nurturing the yoga community there in 2010. As a result of Covid-19, I closed the studio in 2021. I continue to teach group classes, private individual and corporate group Vinyasa classes in Brooklyn and have begun teaching an oncology yoga class at Maimonides Cancer Center for survivors.

Also, as a recent addition to the faculty at Playwrights Horizons Theater School, Tisch, NYU, I’m thrilled to be teaching Yoga + Somatics within such a rich collective of creatives. With strong attention on systems of alignment, structure and body, the core of my process incorporates the architecture of the 8-Limbs of Yoga philosophy as an outline to instill the tenets of connection to self and others for a valuable, and grounded foundation for moving into adulthood and facing life’s challenges. As a result, students come to celebrate themselves and benefit from the strengths, and resources that they already are.

Teri Gandy-Richardson, artist | 500YTT | certified senior oncology yoga teacher @yoga4cancer + TT mentor | lives + works in Brooklyn, NY

As an African America woman, I do create some work that is moderately political, though most simply celebrates people who work. Because denim is THE iconic, and common thread throughout the history of American labor and more, I 'paint' with denim in 2- and 3-dimensions. I’m moved by the essence, and the miracle that IS the tenacity that spurs people to push beyond struggle. Considering records from slavery, fieldwork, factories, current day labor and cubicle farms, denim literally tells our work, (and play) stories while dressing our culture, our movements, rebellions and attitudes. Denim is all of us— and it’s binding.

me in denim @teri.artwork Art CV, and current details.

me in denim Art CV
IG @teri.artwork

MY WHY | HOW + MINDSET

back to top