Cyndi Lee founded OM yoga center in New York City in 1998. Her first yoga class was in college in 1972. After completing her graduate thesis on Women, Spirituality and Indian Dance at UC, Irvine, Cyndi arrived in New York as a recipient of an Art History Fellowship to the Whitney Museum of American Art. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn but not enough cash so Cyndi began teaching yoga in Greenwich Village.

Soon she became a fixture in NYC’s downtown modern dance scene, choreographing and performing primarily in XXY Dance/Music and Cyndi Lee Dance Company/Big Moves, Inc. Cyndi also choreographed over 20 music videos for Rick James, Simple Minds, Appolonia, the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, and many more including Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” which won the 1983 MTV Best Female Video of the Year award. 

After meeting her root guru, Gelek Rinpoche, in the late 1980s, Cyndi’s practice of yoga and Buddhism merged with her choreography. In 1994, “Dharma Dances” was her last concert, which featured Allen Ginsberg singing his own songs and accompanying himself on harmonium. 

Cyndi teaches classes, teacher training and special workshops at both OM studios as well as leading retreats worldwide – everywhere from Moscow to Memphis, Costa Rica to Cleveland, London to Las Vegas. 

Cyndi is the author and artist of Yoga Body, Buddha Mind; OM yoga Today; OM yoga, A Guide to Daily Practice; OM at Home, A Yoga Journal; and the OM yoga in a Box series. Cyndi is a contributing author to Will Meditation and Yoga Change My Life?; Joyful Mind; Joyful Wedding; and The Idiot’s Guide to Fitness. She has written for Tricycle, Dance Magazine, BalletTanz, Cooking Light, Spa Finder, Natural Health, Breathe. She authored the yoga column in the Shambhala Sun magazine from 2000-2003 and originated Yoga Journal’s Vinyasa/Home Practice column from 2004-2005.

Cyndi has been frequently featured on TV and in print including CBS’ The Early Show, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, ABC’s Good Morning America and Evening News, Vogue, InStyle, WWD, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Newsweek. 

Cyndi lives in New York City with her husband, David Nichtern and puppy, Leroy Brown.