Gayle Temkin, Founding Director

Gayle Temkin graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL with a degree in American Culture and Civilization, and attended master courses at the Institute for East-West Studies in San Francisco, CA. She has traveled and worked around the world for many years as a teacher and an international freelance journalist.

Gayle became a massage therapist after experiencing the benefits of massage on her injured neck in 1978. She developed successful practices in Illinois and Florida before moving to Austin in 1985. In 1987, in addition to her writing and teaching careers, she opened Austin Massage Associates and developed a strong private clientele, as well as a physician referral practice. She currently runs Oceana Bodywork, a private practice in Austin, TX. Ms. Temkin and her work have been featured in the Austin American-Statesman, the Austin Business Journal, and medical journals, as well as TV and radio programs.

Ms. Temkin began meditating 36 years ago in Chicago, Illinois. Since then, she has logged many miles in different yoga and pilates systems, dance, exercise, and meditation programs around the world.

"The wonderful thing about living in the U.S. is that we have so much to choose from. We can develop practices that fulfill the whole person. Being relaxed and mindful isn't a yoga thing, or a Zen thing, or a religious thing. It is any normal person's right to be aware and happy. Participants report feeling a oneness with themselves and others as soon as their bodies, minds, emotions and goals become congruent. They define this as a spiritual feeling without any religious overtones -- and, a feeling that gives them confidence, comfort and fulfillment." -- Gayle Temkin

In 1989, an accident damaged her wrists so much that it took five years to recover. She asked "What's next?" At that time a severely abused dog, who she later named Girl Ann, came into her life. Girl Ann, who needed lots of positive attention and touch, became the stimulus for developing education programs that simultaneously taught kindness, emotional intelligence and academic subjects. These programs have been utilized in elementary, middle, and secondary schools in Austin, TX.

The Vermont Studio Center in 2005 awarded Ms. Temkin a fellowship to complete the Girl Ann Workbook for students, teachers, counselors, and parents. Whataburger, the Texas Veterinarian Medical Association, the City of Austin, and others have funded this project, as well.

Board of Directors

Founding Director: Gayle Temkin, B.A., RMT
Acting Chair: Andy Weary, M.D.
Treasurer: Rita Brantner, M.S., CPA
Secretary & Development: Donna Lawson

CEL is currently expanding the board and increasing its community profile.