Joel Lambdin

At age 15, as a joke that felt like rebellion, I did a book report on The Tao of Pooh. I was surprised that the process uncovered a genuine interest in Taoism, and led to the start of my personal practice in what bacame 15 years of Taiji and Qigong study, including study with lineage holders Jin Taiyang (Chen family Taiji) and Master Yang Fukui (Hsing-i, Wushu, Chen Taiji, Tui-Na massage, and medical Qigong).

Alongside Taoism grew an attraction to Zen Buddhism, which led to my first formal seated practice at the Fire Lotus Temple (Mountains and Rivers Order) in Brooklyn. Here I learned how to grow a daily practice and was able to dive in, going to temple daily and attending retreats with founder Daido Roshi and Abbott Shugen Roshi.

After only a year or two at MRO, my practice began to shift from the beautiful rituals and clean system of Zen to the yogic model of sitting and questioning a teacher. With the guidance of one of his students, I was led to my teacher who is referred to by his western followers by his formal title, Gurudev. Gurudev teaches in the traditional way: through silence, answering direct questions and having general conversations.

 My professional life is as a classically trained violinist, which has led to the various performing, teaching and touring opportunities typical for New York City musicians.

Seeing the overlap in certain techniques used in hypnosis and learning the skill of an instrument, I recently became certified in Hypnosis and coaching through Melissa Tiers at her Center for Integrative Hypnosis.

Photo by Igor Ovsyannykov via Unsplash