Chopra Center Staff Spotlight

Teresa Long

Each year more than a thousand individuals from all over the world attend the transformational Seduction of Spirit – which is the first step on the Teacher’s Path – and then are inspired to share the messages of peace, joy, fulfillment, and well-being with others in their lives. Many choose to become Chopra Center Certified Instructors so that they can take their practice to the next level and share the light with their friends, family, and community.

This month Namasté is pleased to feature the Chopra Center’s own Teresa Long, who oversees the Center’s Teacher Trainings and Certifications and is the worldwide liaison to our global network of more than 1000 certified instructors. Teresa is the daily touchpoint along their journey to become certified instructors, and her team is their support system once they have been certified. She is a certified Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health instructor; and each week, she teaches our Perfect Health guests about diet and nutrition – as well as offering the occasional Ayurvedic cooking class.

Please join Namasté as we sit down with Teresa to sip some chai and chat about life.

When did you come to the Center and what drew you here?
I came to the Center about eight years ago. I wanted to learn more about Ayurveda and what I was reading in Deepak’s and David Simon’s books, and I’ve been able to immerse myself in the practices of Primordial Sound Meditation, consciousness-based yoga, the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, and Ayurvedic cooking.

What do you love most about working here?
The best thing about working here is being able to introduce our guests to Ayurvedic principles and help them bring balance into their lives. I also get to work with those who are inspired to take our Teacher’s Path and become a certified instructor of meditation, yoga, Perfect Health, or all three (those who earn all three qualifications are designated Vedic Masters).

I find it very satisfying to talk with teachers and teacher trainees who want to help others along the path to greater health and fulfillment. I like being part of their support system, helping them to prepare for their tests and the various components of the teaching program, seeing them graduate, and assisting them in setting up and marketing their courses. I also love the people I work with . . . they are more like family members than co-workers, and we all share a collective purpose to serve others.

What's your dosha and how do you stay in balance?
My dosha is Vata-Pitta. The major way I stay in balance in by meditating. With a daily practice of meditation comes a desire to live a healthier lifestyle. I work and have a family, and meditation offers me a way to connect with myself and find more calm and stillness in each day. As a Primordial Sound Meditation instructor, I get to share this beautiful practice with others. It’s an honor to be able to teach someone a tool that has given me so much.

What's your favorite quotation?
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion” – by the Dalai Lama.

What are your archetypes?
The Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa. They both embody the highest qualities of kindness, compassion, wisdom, and love.

Do you have any pets?
Yes, quite a few actually . . . I have 2 loving and extraordinary dogs, 1 angelic cat, 2 adorable hamsters, and 10 colorful fish.

What is your favorite food?
Authentic Mexican food . . . and chocolate-covered strawberries. Delicious!

What was your most transcendent moment?
The moment my son, Cody, was born. No words can describe the wonder of that experience.

What are your favorite books and movies?
Cookbooks! Especially ones with delicious, healthy recipes I can build into an Ayurvedic lifestyle. I also love poetry and inspirational books. I am currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

What kinds of movies do you enjoy? Documentaries and wildlife cinematography. I am grateful to the brave people who film ocean life so that the rest of us can experience the deep oceans from above sea level.

What is your favorite Chopra Center product?
Surya Spice blends, which contain all six tastes of sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. One of Ayurveda’s principles is including the six tastes at each meal, which supports balance and actually helps you feel satisfied and energized after eating. There are three different Surya Spice varieties to balance each of the doshas – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Where do you like to visit?
I love living in San Diego because we have the beaches, canyons, mountains, and deserts all close by. Another favorite place is Kihei, Maui.

Who would you most like to invite to a dinner party?
Family and friends. I would love to cook dinner with chefs who inspire me, such as Mollie Katzen, who created the Moosewood Restaurant and has written many cookbooks; the famous chef Bobby Flay, who has opened at least five restaurants and is the host of several television programs on cooking in the United States; and Maya Tiwari, an Ayurvedic expert who has written books about healing, Ayurvedic cooking, and Panchakarma.