Sondra

Sondra Jean Adams

Memories of Sondra from her TriYoga teacher, Carrie Gaynor

Sondra, a native of Rochester, New York, was a devoted yoga practitioner and a dear friend. She studied yoga with me for over twenty years. She was an understated woman, yet she knew how to add a splash of color. Whether it was bright red lipstick or a lime green headband, Sondra stood out “just a little.”

Sondra inspired me with the deliberate choices she made, which reflected her lifelong search for unity of mind, body, and spirit. In addition to her yogic practices, she was a dedicated Buddhist practitioner. Despite her limited means, she lived the life she wanted to live. She funded her yoga classes, seminars, and travel with part-time jobs that included teaching water aerobics for seniors and working overnight shifts at a halfway house. She ate organic food and rationed ice cream. She lived in a third-floor apartment without an elevator, so she stayed strong by climbing stairs.

Sondra loved Kaliji. She traveled to TriYoga seminars many times. One particular road trip we took together in 2019, when Sondra was 81, stands out in my memory. Sondra acted as my co-pilot as we drove with two other TriYogis—Stephanie Smart and Carol Williams—from upstate New York to Central Pennsylvania to study with Kaliji. Walking had become difficult for Sondra. Even so, she couldn't be deterred from participating in the asana classes. To do this, she wore her sneakers, which were a size too large, allowing her to insert her orthotics. It was no easy task, but she was grateful to be able to participate. I will always remember how brightly Sondra’s eyes shone that weekend and the joy that radiated from her.

During the lonely COVID years (2020-2023), when my classes moved online, Sondra literally showed up for me: she asked if she could attend in person. I welcomed her presence. Once again, she stood out “just a little,” this time in service of helping me to stay on track: she’d softly count through rounds of kriyas, or breaths in asana, ensuring rhythmic timing. While her Zoom classmates could not see her on the screen, her subtle voice became a source of endearment to them. As we shared the yoga room, Sondra continued to amaze and inspire me and her classmates by attending classes three days a week, regardless of the weather, even while limping severely enough to need a cane.

In time, Sondra shared that she had fallen ill with cancer. Kaliji learned about Sondra’s illness and asked how she was doing. Sondra's response reflected the peace and presence she had cultivated throughout her lifetime, and the depth of her Buddhist practice:

“How thoughtful of her to think of me. I am alive and well, just slower.
I am still doing a little yoga and grateful for all you have both taught me.
I am becoming more serene as time goes on.
Love to you both."

As I’ve reflected on Sondra’s life, I’ve realized that she didn't talk about her yoga and Buddhist practices. Instead, she lived them. She was fully present in her life, which was generously filled with compassion, gratitude, and loving kindness. She also showed her generosity in death by donating her physical body to the local medical school for educational purposes, a choice she had always wanted to make.

May Sondra’s memory be for a blessing.

Carrie Gaynor

JGD