A History of Tom and Trisha’s Soul of Yoga

~ Everyone is Honored ~

Beginnings

Tom and Trisha met at the Self-Realization Fellowship’s Pasadena Temple in 1982.  Since the age of twenty-four, Tom had been a monk committing to service and meditation for over twenty-five years. Trisha was married and worked as an actress until she experienced a dramatic spiritual awakening, after which she began working at the SRF International Headquarters as a lay disciple. The couple had a memorable first meeting on a pleasant fall morning when Trisha, during her eighth month of pregnancy, waddled up to Tom and offered a correction on something he said during his lecture (a funny memory that still makes them smile).  Little did they know during that unusual initial contact, that circumstances in both their lives would eventually drastically change and they would be married in the year 2000.

The Soul Center and the Beauty of Nature

As newlyweds Tom and Trisha bought a home in Encinitas, California. They took this step knowing they would make it a center for spiritual growth and community, recreating the best aspects of their experience serving the Self-Realization Fellowship. After twenty-five years of living in an ashram, Tom felt that a home should have a greater purpose than just a financial investment.

Buying the home dovetailed with Tom and Trisha’s realization that “environment is stronger than will power” in traversing a spiritual path and seeking spiritual truth. They knew that following the yogic path and a life dedicated to meditation required a supportive and nurturing environment. Their home became The Soul Center.

Both Tom and Trisha wanted the Soul Center to be a place where people could bring their highest selves into being with the support of genuine friendship and a loving community. They thought of their center as a place of inspiration, safety, self-nurturing, and acceptance of all people from every background.

Since the new home had no landscaping at the outset, the newlyweds saw this as an opportunity to create beautiful gardens for everyone to enjoy while practicing yoga, chanting, meditating, or attending workshops. Tom and Trisha’s experience at Paramahansa Yogananda’s Temples and meditations grounds taught them that meticulously cared for gardens with waterfalls and flowers created a healing environment, reminding people of the beauty in life and the earth as our one Divine Mother. With this in mind, the veranda was made into a 550 square foot enclosed yoga space with windows on all sides.  Concurrent with constructing the new space, Tom and Trisha embarked on the path of becoming certified yoga teachers.  While building their own studio, they honed their spiritually-based yoga and meditation practice in various places north San Diego County, including the Chopra Center.

The philosophy was simple; Tom and Trisha recognized each visitor to their classes as a soul and as a being of light, not merely a body. The Soul Center, as it was originally known, became so loved and successful, it was only a matter of time before they had to move to a commercial space. Their neighbors were not comfortable with the number of cars arriving on a regular basis!

2003: The Soul of Yoga on Encinitas Boulevard

Tom and Trisha moved their Soul Center community into a 1200 square foot commercial space and the studio was renamed to what it is currently: The Soul of Yoga. Although Tom and Trisha remained devoted to Yoganandaji’s teachings themselves, their spiritually based center welcomed all points of view – religious, spiritual and metaphysical. In their own words, they “taught universally and intimately, respecting all individuals where they were on their own individual paths.” They were not shy to say that yoga was to support the physical body for depth of meditation as well as for overall health.

In the early days of the “mom and pop” Soul of Yoga studio, a wide variety of classes were offered ranging from prenatal to postnatal yoga, gentle and hatha yoga, crystal bowls, and kundalini yoga.  Soon a 200-hour spiritually based yoga teacher training was created called “Sundara,” which means the majestic beauty of the soul.  Later on, Sunday morning “Sermons on the Mat Yoga” and “Soul Talk” were added, including live music and Sunday school. Tom and Trisha also conducted baby blessings, baptisms, memorial services, and weddings.

As members came in and suggested new programs, Tom and Trisha were open to any and all new ideas from their students.  One of these offerings was brought by Monique Lonner, after she arrived from New York and found the Soul to be her spiritual home. She successfully proposed an advanced training program which eventually became The Soul Institute. The Soul of Yoga in Encinitas and The Soul Institute in Rancho Santa Fe are a powerful combination that continues today.

The Seeds Had Been Planted

Tom and Trisha truly believe that because their yoga centers were founded with the pure intention to honor souls, they have been blessed by the divine. Some of the seeds they planted were: “you cannot make yourself wrong,” “and if I were you, and I am!” Tom and Trisha have always asserted that at the Soul of Yoga, everybody should feel comfortable, loved, and accepted, and not judged.

While creating the Soul of Yoga community over the years, Tom and Trisha’s most cherished result has been their enduring friendships. Fellow members also created long-term friendships through the center. On the road to fulfill the Soul of Yoga’s destiny, dear souls such as Michelle Bollo, Gary Palisch and Neil Mintz, generously offered their time and expertise. In 2017, Ryan and Catrina Stanley stepped forward to successfully carry the torch of the Soul’s mission.

Now that Tom and Trisha have moved to Georgia, they plan to offer continued workshops and meditation classes through Soul of Yoga’s online forum in the covid and post-covid world. Thankfully, their talent and influence can still be felt throughout the studio’s operations.