From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram

Riddled with chronic low back pain and digestive disorders since childhood, Deborah Charnes spent 50 years exploring the world, uncovering secrets to health and happiness. Intent on promoting optimal wellness, she features some of her favorite, easy enjoyable, accessible, and effective tools in “From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram.” For two decades, she managed hundreds of news conferences, editorial board meetings, press briefings, and one-on-one interviews. She worked with security, communications, and advance teams for John McCain, Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, then-Vice President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden, Bernie Sanders, megastar Jennifer Lopez, and the Vice President of El Salvador.To balance the chaotic scales directing major league campaigns, it was essential for her to soothe the stress and 24/7 schedule with body, mind, and soul lifesavers. In 2011, Deborah left the high-pressure demands as an international corporate marketing communications strategist. Moving forward, she dedicated that same energy to positive transformation—of herself and others. She vowed to never stop learning— or sharing. Already a certified yoga teacher, she added training in Ayurvedic massage therapy, nutrition, and cooking. She received certification in multiple holistic modalities and after an additional 800 hours of specialized training became one of the first bilingual (English/Spanish) certified yoga therapists in Texas. Coaching people of all ages, and with many physical or emotional challenges, she seeks to boost the body, mind, and spirit through simple techniques that can be practiced anywhere and anytime. To that end, she has created a dozen signature therapeutic workshops. Among them are Dem Bones, Gutsy Yoga, Chill Out, Breath of Life, Chant and Be Happy, Tummy Bust, and Sugar Drop. All are offered in English and Spanish. Her deep commitment to helping others achieve maximum well-being led her to teach yoga and lead therapeutic workshops in the US, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Italy, and India.Deborah has lived, worked, and studied in the U.S. and Latin America. A travel blogger since the early WordPress days, she has published 500 mind/body and lifestyle articles. She joined AARP’s The Ethel as a contributing writer in 2021. When not writing or traveling, she enjoys hosting guests at her mini-retreat center, The Namaste Getaway in Texas Hill Country. Connect (and learn) with her on her virtual book club, social media, YouTube channel, and deborahcharnes.com.