Happy Birthday to Christopher Ray

My intention for writing in this space is very simple.  To show appreciation and gratitude to studios, friends, colleagues and teachers who make up this great yoga community in Montclair.

I recently found out I shared my birthday (June 3^rd) with an Iyengar teacher, Christopher Ray, aka Ray Mankowski. Everyone knows C-ray.  Many, like me, first encountered C-ray at Starseed years ago.  His energized conversations with the late Jyoti Crystal are legendary.  He scared the crap out me the first time I encountered him.  I found my yogic bliss down other paths.

Christopher Ray and I had become re-acquainted this winter at Garden State Yoga in Bloomfield.  He was in residence teaching both the teacher training and classes.  A fellow yoga teacher was blessed with C-ray’s wisdom as a mentor during her TT at Starseed several years ago.  She always has a warm smile at the mention of C-ray’s name.  I was inspired again.  I showed up for class and unrolled my mat.  I discovered something special about this beloved teacher.

Honoring the Iyengar traditions, and adding his Bayonne twist, C-ray’s class was very challenging and fun.  I walked out of class with the Mantra, “Straight arms, straight legs, straight spine.”  My posture was perfect all weekend.

Knowing that I am a yoga teacher, he did not let me phone it in.  He stayed on me with encouragement, effective adjustments and grounded humor.

We discovered our shared birthday and our celebration commenced.  A smile, a warm good morning, or just some good old mutual respect flowed between us.  Then I realized, I am not the only one who holds Christopher Ray with a warm heart.  There is an entire community who loves him.

Here are some of their thoughts and wishes for C-ray’s
Birthday.

CRay CRay what can I say

I wish I might I wish I may

My heart full of gratitude

Expresses the magnitude

Of your presence

And your Light

I wish I May

I wish I might

Celebrate the light

All the way from day to night

CRay CRay shine forever Bright!!!

Happy 70 th many Blessings !!!!xoxo ~ Loryn (Riggolo)

Stay Sexy Babe! Happy Birthday!  ~ Amanda Star Axelrod

I just want to wish happy birthday to the man that consistently worked with me on my fear pose and for telling me what I needed to hear and not what I wanted to hear. I will always be thankful to him for that. Happy Birthday Christopheray!

                                                                            ~ Cristine Joseph

Joseph Andrew’s fav Cray Quote:  "I'm all man baby"

happy birthday, ray-ji. thanks for being a wonderful teacher and friend. wishing you an inspired new year. with love and many blessings,        

                                         ~ ali campbell

At the beginning of one of our six-hour long marathon Teacher Training weekend days, CRay promised us that before the day was over, he would reveal the secret of how to have great sex.  He put us through our usual paces all day long.   (When) Five pm rolled around and we gathered in a circle.   We looked up at him eagerly. CRay crossed his arms in front of his chest, looked around at each one of us in the room with his most serious gaze, then said: 'When you're hot, you're hot.  When you're not, you're not.'  Then he shrugged his shoulders, and said, 'That's it!'  Of course he was right! Happy birthday CRay!!

                                           ~Anne Burt -- GSY Teacher Trainee 2012

Meeting Cray changed my life. To say it nicely, he was the swift kick in the ass that I needed. Not in just teacher training, but in life too. (Melody- you can change my wording on that if you need to) Without having him as a part of my teacher training, I know I would have turned out much differently. I am so appreciative of the universe for bringing him into my life. Truly a great person, friend, and teacher.

                                          ~ Cory Murphy

Christopheray was my very first yoga teacher in NJ, and his voice is always in my head on the mat.  'Stop looking at the other students! They're doing it wrong too!'  'oooh, look at me, I look like the cover of Yoga Journal!'

When Christopheray became one of my mentors in yoga teacher training in 2003, I not only a gifted teacher, but a lifelong mentor and friend. He has taught me so much about what it means to be a yogi living in the regular world. I love that he illustrates how to walk the fine line of being a serious yogi without taking yoga (and yourself!) too seriously.  C-ray is truly one of a kind, a badass yogi,
and one of my favorite people in the world. Happy birthday, Ray!

                                               ~ Jennifer Hondru-Celestin

Christopher, thank you for helping us make our dreams come true.  May your dreams be plentiful and bright.  Happy Birthday.

Namaste.