Catherine Heriza

Nirmala Catherine Heriza is an Award winning bestselling Author "DrYoga" (PenguinTarcher),and writer, Singer/songwriter & Recording Artist, "Heriza and Ford" (Homecoming/Neon Dreams)Amazon; Actor, and a Senior disciple and Spokesperson for Renowned Ecumenical Leader, Spiritual Master, Legendary "Woodstock" Guru, H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. She is known professionally and personally as Nirmala Heriza. Her maternal cousin is renowned British Shakespearean,Award winning stage and film (Tony/BAFTA)nominated Actress, Dame Dorothy Tutin. She is Author, of the bestselling "Dr. Yoga, Medical Benefits of Yoga". (Penguin/Tarcher) a medical adaptation of legendary Guru and Yoga Master Sri Swami Satchidananda's Traditional Yoga Teachings (Foreward by Dean Ornish,M. D. , Preface by Dr. C Noel Merz,M. D. , Director of the Cedars Sinai Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater and English with honors from Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, Ca. Later she completed postgraduate studies in Holistic medicine with an endorsement from the President of the American Academy of Osteopathy. In the mid-80's she designed a clinical adaptation of Sri Swami Satchidananda's medically verified traditional Integral Yoga Hatha for stress and physical strain exclusive for Legendary Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Academy Award winning Actress, Fitness Icon and Bestselling. Author, Jane Fonda's Beverly Hills,"Workout"Studio and was a Yoga Instructor and stress consultant there for 4 1/2 years. Later, she created and implemented the Yoga Cardiac Program for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center that provided the foundation of her book on the medical benefits of Yoga for Penguin/Tarcher. During her undergraduate studies as a Theatre Arts Major at Immaculate Heart College she was cast as one of the 3 Tommy's in Obie Award winning playwright/director,Bestselling Author, Megan Terry's West Coast theatrical production of "Tommy Allen", and continued to mentor and work with Ms. Terry (who along with Joe Chaikin was a founder of the renowned "Open Theater") in various stage productions in New York City. Studied and performed at the venerated La Mama Playhouse, NYC. In 1970 she was cast in Legendary Award winning (Czech) Director, (Amadeus et al) Milos Forman's "Taking Off" in which she performed an original song "Lessons in Love". During that time she was also performing at various clubs in NYC's WestVillage,including "The Bitter End " and WestBeth Theatre Group. She wrote the theme song, "She's a Woman, and it's Fine", for the first Women's Rights's march in Washington D. C. She signed with Grammy winning (Kingston Trio)folk Legend (the late) John Stewart's label, Homecoming Records, in the late 80s as the recording duo,"Heriza and Ford", with her singing/songwriting partner, Buffy Ford Stewart, wife of John Stewart ("Daydream Believer","Gold") with whom Ford recorded several hit albums including "California Bloodlines", before releasing her own solo CD, "Same Old Heart". (Amazon).

Had the wonderful opportunity of getting to know and treat George and Olivia Harrison, both inspiring Yoga and Meditation practitioners, when she was a Myofascial, medical acupressure and clinical Integral Yoga specialist on staff at David Kearney OMD's Acupuncture clinic in Santa Monica, Ca, circa mid 1990's.

She was introduced to her Guru, the Revered, H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda by Award winning Actress, Sally Kirkland in NYC. She later had the privilege of introducing Film Industry Dignitaries and Award winners Oliver Stone, Lindsay Crouse, Lynn Redgrave, Goldie Hawn, Billy Bob Thornton, Jeff Goldblum, Frances Fisher, Kelly Lynch, Sandy Gallin, Doug Wick, and her former ICM agent, Andrew Steinberg and his mother to Sri Swamiji at the home of Tara and Peter Guber, (Mandalay Productions, in Bel Aire, California. (circa 1998).

(Amazon) In 2003 at the invitation of venerated Publisher, Jeremy Tarcher, (Ram Dass, Timothy Leary; "Aquarian Conspiracy"; "Women Who Love Too Much") Heriza signed a 6-figure book deal with PenguinGroup(Tarcher), for "Dr. Yoga", the Medical Benefits of Yoga'(Nautilus Award top 5 finalist and recipient with Bestselling Author, Deepak Chopra) (prepping for second printing), featuring Legendary Oscar nominated, Award winning actress, director, producer and Bestselling Author, Diane Ladd, Legendary Emmy winning TV director/producer Hal Cooper, Bestselling Authors and Award winning Executive Producers, Amanda and WendyGoldberg, Oscar nominated Actress Lindsay Crouse, Buffy Stewart,Michael Moisant and Luke Stewart. In addition to conducting a Licensed Holistic medical practice in Santa Monica Ca She co-develops and writes film and television projects with her creative partner, Buffy Ford Stewart,Lindsay Crouse, and other Industry associates for the Ananda Productions Artists' Co-op in Los Angeles, California. She and Buffy Stewart are in development on the biopic of their legendary, venerated Guru, H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. with co-executive producer, famed 60's pop Artist, Peter Max. OscarWinning Producer/Director,Jerry Zucker and Golden Globe winning Actress Sally Kirkland are a creative consultants on the project. Legendary Oscar Win Producer Director Oliver Stone is an unofficial Consultant. Other Ananda Production projects in development, the "Fixers with Dr. Yoga", Reality Show, for Discovery Channel a TV series adjunct to her book "DrYoga" focused on Integrative Medicine and affordable HealthCare options. , that she co-created with Buffy Ford Stewart and PBS' award winning Producer Jim Boyd; and is co-producing with Buffy Ford Stewart in association with Natural9 Entertainment's award winning Executive Producer, Carol Sherman. Nirmala Heriza is featured expert Yoga Consultant/spokesperson and Buffy Stewart, Cancer survivor and recovering benign brain tumor patient , is the featured patient spokesperson, for the Show that will also star Lindsay Crouse,as a Celebrity co-host. (collaborating Celebrity co-host TBA). Human rights attorney Trudie Scott recovering from Lyme disease is a featured patient contributor Dean Ornish, MD, Bestselling Author and former White House physician for President Bill Clinton, featured in CNN's Sanjay Gupta's "The Last Heart Attack", has signed on as a featured medical guest expert. Premiere Oncology Foundation has signed on as primary Medical Consultants. Award winning Producer/Director Jerry Zucker is creative consultant for the show. The Yoga elements of the "Fixers with Dr Yoga" are a clinical adaptation of Swami Satchidananda's Integral Yoga (tm). Also In development with Ananda Productions and Coltrane Music a Tribute Centennial compilation CD for Verve Records and MCA Music in honor of Legendary "Woodstock Guru" H.

Her book, Dr. Yoga (Penguin/Tarcher was included among the top five finalists, for the prestigious "Nautilus Award" (2005), along with Deepak Chopra.

In 2007, Heriza and Ford's album, "Hearts Together" released as a CD also on Stewart's Neon Dreams Records.

A part of the singing duo "Heriza and Ford", who recorded their first album/CD for "Homecoming Records." Producer, award winning, legendary singer/songwriter, John Stewart of "Kingston Trio" fame, (2011 Lifetime Achievement Award).