:: September/October 2003 Volume 2/Number 5

Teacher Profile: Ron Splude

By Laura Faye

 

Ron Splude

It is virtually impossible to imagine Ron Splude ever getting angry enough to "incinerate" anyone, but he claims his nickname used to be "flame thrower," that he would "go for the jugular" and his fury would result, astonishingly, in promotions and raises. Yet when we meet, he is exceedingly gentle and calm, an easy character, vibrant, and healthy.

In his yoga class, he speaks quietly and moves slowly, drawing on his rich and soothing voice to create a relaxing environment. This is not some Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde performance; Splude's shift in temperament is one of the many gradual transformations that he made over the last few years. Through the practice of yoga and Ayurveda, he evolved 180-degrees and his whole life changed.

If I had been unfortunate enough to hustle my way into Splude's frenetic schedule during the mid 1990s, I would have met Mr. Big Deal Director over at Dupont. His job description included being design director, raking in heaps of dough, traveling extensively with an unlimited expense account and an apartment in NYC. He weighed in at over 300 lbs, which was roughly equivalent to the number of days he spent away from home each year. Splude was cranky, worn-out and disoriented, yet the first time he quit his boss followed him to Paris and lured him back by doubling his salary. He calls it "golden handcuffs".

The shift in Splude's life came as a slow evolution rather than a radical transformation. The fact that he could endure an endless succession of grinding work overload and travel chaos, at times leaving him confused enough not to know which city he was in, is a testimony to his level of stamina. But eventually, he snapped; Splude knew he was sick. One night his hotel was overbooked and he had to sleep on a cot in a ballroom with the AC and lights on. He had become so depleted that he had no strength left to be angry. "My core instinct told me I had to leave this job or I was going die."

So Splude dabbled, hung out, read some self-help books and landed the odd epiphany. He went Polarity Therapy Training, which he describes as "hands on healing based on Ayurveda, energy balancing, marma points and massage." This led him to Denver and The Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda, where he was exposed to esteemed teachers such as Patricia Hansen, Vasant Lad and Robert Svoboda. About this time, Splude also attended his first yoga class and was coerced into headstand. At 300-plus lbs, he was completely intimidated, turned off to yoga, and left the class humiliated and angry.

Afterwards, Splude resisted yoga class but it eventually crept into his life when Patricia Hansen reeled him in with a more tolerant approach. She simply said, "Come over here next to me and sit down." Hansen was nurturing and calm; there was no pressure so he felt safe. In all, he spent five years studying with Hansen at the Institute and gained a huge amount of information. Through yoga, change of diet and pancha karma, he lost 100 lbs in eight months.

In 2000, Splude came to Palm Springs to visit friends. He jumped into their swimming pool and immediately knew he'd found his home. A local yoga school asked him to substitute and by the end of the month he had 25 classes. Splude used his past experiences to help him in his new life and parleyed his natural people skills into rewarding yoga teaching and Ayurvedic consulting practices. Using his background in chemistry, he has also developed an Ayurvedic skin care line. But perhaps most importantly, Splude changed his attitude. He realized his habit of living in the future with no basis in reality had deeply affected him. His old edgy point of view was a set up for unhappiness, so he began making the most of his negative experiences and learned to value staying in the moment.

Today, Splude's teaching style reflects these profound lessons. He teaches five gentle classes per week at Urban Yoga Center in Palm Springs and gives private Yoga Therapy Ayurvedic consultations. Getting people to calm down and move consciously is a zillion times more difficult than most might think. Splude speaks softly and deliberately; he welcomes each student and remembers every person's name. Often, the tendency is to get bored if the class is too slow or if the postures aren't challenging, but Splude has a talent for helping people appreciate the fine points of being present. He maintains a non-threatening atmosphere where beginners feel at ease, students with injuries feel cared for, and those with hectic lifestyles get a chance to reap the benefits of a tranquil hour. Splude has truly mastered the rare skill of the soothing approach to yoga, and says, "I enjoy each day and am into the journey."

Ron Splude can be reached at Urban Yoga Center
www.urbanyoga.org or at ronsplude@yahoo.com or at
www.foodforskin.com

Laura Faye holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry, as well as certification to teach yoga according to the Iyengar tradition. She has been teaching and practicing yoga for 18 years.