Blue Lotus Buddhist Meditation Center

“My biggest joy in life is sharing the teachings with others. It is such a beautiful path

Jillaurie Crane became a Buddhist student after meeting her primary teacher, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1979. This led to her training to become a Buddhist chaplain. She also holds an advanced degree in psychology. After moving to Venice, she established the Venice Holistic Community Center, which she owned for 15 years. The Center was known for its guest teachers, yoga classes, and its integrated approach to spirituality.

Today Jillaurie also follows the practices of the Tibetan Tegar meditation community. Her discussion classes that feature Pema Chodron’s books are popular with BLBMC students.

John Fiely was introduced to Buddhism with the Vipassana group at the Yellow Springs Dharma Center in Ohio. He facilitates the Thursday evening meditation and has also taught an introduction to Buddhism class. John believes that through the practice of Meditation in the sangha (our community) all people can begin to relieve their suffering.

John is twice retired from the YMCA and from teaching science in public education. He and his partner Robin moved to Venice in 2016 and live near the community house. They have attended retreats in the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition at Blue Cliff and Magnolia Grove.

Jim Piekarski, a retired psychotherapist, currently leads meditation and discussion classes at BLBMC. As a board member, he organizes classes for new meditators throughout the community.

Jim’s 30-year counseling career was as a licensed marriage and family therapist and as the Clinical Director of the nonprofit Phoenix of Santa Barbara. He is the author of the book, Mastering Your Emotions with Your Spouse and Others.

Jim says he began his spiritual path by exploring Transcendental Meditation. More recently his focus is in non-dualistic Buddhist teachings such as meditations of the Dzogchen, Mahamudra, and Advaita Vedanta traditions.

Yoga found me nearly two decades ago, first as a way to support my fitness goals. What began as a physical practice quickly became something deeper. My body felt the benefits, but it was my mind that truly craved this practice. At its essence, Yoga is the practice of discipline and connection of mind, body, spirit, and of our shared humanity with one another. My journey just like so many has been shaped by both light and shadow. In times of strength and in seasons of struggle, I have returned to my practice, whereby God’s grace I found healing, grounding, and renewal.

Yoga became a constant presence for me, whether I wanted a space to move and be free or needed stillness and to just be....... It was always available. All I had to do was show up. My first teachers gifted me the understanding that the mat is a sacred space not for perfect answers, but for honest questions. A place to learn, a space to grow within and is not all about the movement but the messages that you receive by giving yourself this space. Now I hold that space for others to do the same. I remain, always, both teacher and student.

Infinity Yoga SRQ was created as an extension of this calling. I hold the vision of sharing yoga with infinite love and light, reaching as many people as possible on the journey. Driven by a mission to create a supportive community where yoga is accessible to all, no matter age, background, or experience. Yoga is unique to each and every one of us; and there are as many reasons to practice yoga as there are people on this earth. My intention as a teacher is to guide students back to themselves and discover presence, peace, and connection both on and off the mat.

“Show up just as you are and know that wherever you are at is exactly where you should be.”

See you on the mat – Christal