In support of a fellow Anusara Yoga Teacher and Friend: Camilla Bergstrom

by Elsie on May 6, 2008

I am in shock

I am speechless and my heart goes out to one of my friends from L.A.

Camilla Bergstrom was on of the reasons that I began my studies at City Yoga in 2000. I used to take her 12:30 Community T/Th class religiously. She was the first female yoga teacher that I tuned it to. In everyclass I found myself immersed in myself and yet deeply connected to the bigger picture. I had no idea this was happening of course 🙂

I remember thanking her once for giving me the opportunity to find my practice in the midst of a public class. Even though I was around a bunch of people I always felt that I was experiencing and enhancing my own personal practice. She has this incredible gift of allowing space, for all, to choose to step into themselves.

So I reach out to you now, all of you to support my teacher and friend, as she needs the help of the Kula. You are many, and even a little may help. This is an email I recieved yesterday. I’m sharing it with you. It speaks for itself:

To the City Yoga community;

We regret to inform you all that our dear friend and colleague Camilla Bergstrom was in an accident yesterday at the Sunset Horse Stables in Hollywood.

Camilla was in the process of buying a horse and was spending some time with it on Sunday when tragedy struck. The horse spooked and her hand got caught in the rope. She has lost parts of 3 fingers of her left hand. The nature of the accident was so severe it does not allow the reattachment of those fingers.
Sadly, they are gone.

She is “ok”, which is to say stable. She is in the hospital and will probably be home tomorrow. Thankfully, there were no other injuries, though she will be very sore from the trauma. She went into surgery late last night and is recovering today.

Rebecca is with her now and she has some of her Swedish friends corresponding with her family in Sweden. Unfortunately, her family is not able to come over to be with her.

Some of us have known Camilla for a long time and others have just come to know her but we all have come to love her tough Swedish shell which encases one of the most compassionate, beautiful souls. In talking with her in her moments of clarity she has spoken of gratitude. Gratitude for the smallest things. Camilla has gone through a lot and she is the first to say that she is grateful for every challenge because it has taught her about herself and made her stronger.

She will need all of our strength and support in the coming weeks and months and I know we will all be grateful to give all we can. At the moment, please just hold her in your hearts and send her love. We will be sending out more information. It will include more specific things we can do to help.

One of the first things she will need is money. Fortunately, she has insurance but as is the case with most Americans, it is only disaster insurance. That means high deductibles and items not covered, not to mention her inability to work for a while. We are planning a fundraiser for her with in the coming days but you may start by sending money instead of flowers to:


Camilla Bergstrom c/o
City Yoga
7904 Santa Monica Blvd
Suite 214
West Hollywood, CA 90046

ANY amount you can give will be extraordinary if we act as a community.
Please DO NOT call her cell phone. She will need time to get settled and in touch with her family since the time difference is so great and I’m sure she will be exhausted.

Thank you all in advance for your love and support of our dear friend.

In her service,
Rebecca and Anthony


Share The Love!
  • Twitter
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

llbbl May 6, 2008 at 8:26 pm

Sorry to hear about your injury.

Reply

Elsie May 6, 2008 at 8:27 pm

Oh, it’s not my injury, but thank you very much 🙁

Reply

jerome May 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm

I’m so sorry about your friend injury,my heart goes out to
her and so does my prayers. Wishing a fast recovery.

Reply

llbbl May 6, 2008 at 11:09 pm

I meant your friends injury. I hope she recovers well.

Reply

breathingisfundamental May 7, 2008 at 2:15 am

I will keep Camilla and her beautiful heart in loving prayer. I will see what I can do to rally up the silicon valley geek collective to ask for financial help.

Love flows through boundless spirit, not the physical or static realm. I AM that I can transcend this physical disaster that surrounds the human element and know that peace is mine, love is mine, the loving spirit is truth and that truth is within my reach – Desmond Tutu

Reply

Brenda May 7, 2008 at 2:40 am

Thank you for sharing this moment of courage. Camilla, her family and her friends will all be in my prayers.

Reply

harmonia May 9, 2008 at 1:22 am

I didn’t hear about this! Thanks for letting us know! I will also be adding her/her family to my prayer list…

Reply

Bob December 9, 2010 at 9:33 pm

We will keep your friend in our prayers. BTW those poses are crazy, must take alot of strength. I love working out and am thinking of incorporating Yoga into my routine.

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

Previous post:

Next post: