Biography for
Catherine Heriza More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

15 September 1946, USA

Nickname

Nirmala

Height

5' 7½" (1.71 m)

Mini Biography

A long time devotee and spokesperson for Legendary "Woodstock" Guru, H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. Cousin of renowned Shakespearean, award winning stage and film (Tony/BAFTA) nominated actress, Dame Dorothy Tutin. Author, of "Dr. Yoga, Medical Benefits of Yoga".(Penguin/Tarcher)(Foreward by Dean Ornish,M.D.). Received her B.A. degree from Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, Ca. Later completed postgraduate studies in Holistic medicine with an endorsement from the President of the American Academy of Osteopathy. During her studies as a Theatre Arts Major at Immaculate Heart she was cast as one of the 3 "Tommy" leads in the brilliant Obie award-winning writer/director, 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 La Mama Playhouse, NYC. In the early 70s, before and while filming Award winning director, Milos Forman's "Taking Off", she performed at various clubs in NYC's WestVillage, including "The Bitter End" and WestBeth Theatre Group. 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 (Kingston Trio) 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. Their album, "Hearts Together" released as a CD in 2007.In 2003 she signed a 6-figure book deal with PenguinGroup(Tarcher), for'Dr. Yoga, the Medical Benefits of Yoga'(Nautilus Award top 5 finalist) (prepping for second printing), based on the"Integral Yoga" Teachings of world renowned Yoga Master & bestselling Author, Sri Swami Satchidananda, that features Oscar nominated, Award winning actress, director, producer Diane Ladd, legendary Emmy winning TV director/producer Hal Cooper, Authors and Award winning Executive Producers, Amanda and Wendy Goldberg, Oscar nominated Actress Lindsay Crouse, Buffy Stewart, Michael Moisant and Luke Stewart. 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 Santa Monica, California. She and Buffy Stewart are in development on the biopic of their legendary, venerated Guru, H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. Associate producers, famed 60's pop Artist, Peter Max & Oscar nominated actress,Lindsay Crouse, Oscar winning Producer/Director, Oliver Stone is a creative consultant on the project. Other Ananda Production project in development, the "Fixers with Dr. Yoga", Reality Show, a TV series adjunct to her book, 'Dr. Yoga', 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 is the featured patient spokesperson, for the Show that will also star Lindsay Crouse,as a Celebrity co-host. (collaborating Celebrity co-host TBA). 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. 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.

IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous

Trivia

She was introduced to her Guru, the Revered, H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda by Sally Kirkland in NYC. She later had the privilege of introducing 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).

Has served on the PRCC medical staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Cardiac preventive and rehabilitative dept. as consulting Yoga Cardiac Therapist for over 15 years.

Cousin of the venerated English film and stage actress, Dame Dorothy Tutin through her mother, Alice Berry Heriza and her maternal grandmother, Maude Tutin Berry.

First cousin to documentary filmmaker, Tony Heriza

Had the extraordinary privilege of training in Integral Yoga directly with world renowned Yoga Master and eminent Spiritual Guru H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda, Founder of Integral Yoga Institutes, International. She is Director of his Integral Yoga Center in Los Angeles, Ca. And continues to oversee his Spiritual and Yoga Legacy there.

Certified instructor in all levels of Integral Yoga. Created the Yoga Cardiac program that is based on the Integral Yoga Teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda and clinically adapted for her book "Dr.Yoga",(Penguin/Tarcher). She has also implemented her Yoga Cardiac program for Cedars-Sinai Preventive and Rehabilitative Medical Center and for Dr.Dean Ornish, M.D. author of "Program for Reversing Heart Disease", as his Los Angeles Yoga Medical Consultant. Dr. Ornish provided the Foreward for her book.

Completed post graduate studies in Oriental and Holistic medicine.

Has 2 nieces and three nephews, Rosy, Rosie and Stephen Waedelich. Michel and Jean David Moisant.

Milos Forman, Oliver Stone, Jerry Zucker, Martin Scorsese,Clint Eastwood, Louis Malle, Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen and Charlie Chaplin are among her filmmaking heroes.

Had the extreme privilege of collaborating with Award-winning Director/Producer Milos Forman on the title of "Taking Off".

Currently pursuing her doctorate in "Theology and Science".

Godmother of Luke Stewart.

Wrote and performed the signature wedding song "For all Time" at the marriage ceremony of Award winning actress Diane Ladd and film executive Robert Hunter. Their wedding took place at the home of Award winning actress/entertainer Connie Stevens. Della Reese officiated in her capacity as an ordained minister.

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

The distinguished, legendary publishing icon, Jeremy Tarcher, Publisher of her book, "Dr. Yoga", for Penguin/Tarcher books, was the father of her childhood TV icon, "Lambchop"; animated by the Award-winning, legendary TV actress, puppeteer/writer, Shari Lewis.

Co-writing her second book for Penguin/Tarcher books entitled "Talking Muscles", with academy award nominated film/TV actress, Lindsay Crouse, (In development).

Collaborating with her Ananda Productions producing/writing associate Buffy Ford Stewart on developing the biopic of their legendary, venerated Guru, H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. Associate producers, famed 60s pop Artist, Peter Max and Oscar nominated actress Lindsay Crouse. Creative consultants, Legendary Oscar winning Prod/Dir Oliver Stone; Award-winning actress, Sally Kirkland.(In development).

Co-owns property with her friends Diane Ladd and Robert Hunter at Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville,Va. founded by H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. Where they are in the developmental stages of building a vacation home together.

Her early childhood years she lived in Santa Rosa, Ca., Alfred Hitchcock's favorite filming location, where her parents, John and Alice Heriza, owned a home. Santa Rosa is the site of the national landmark, Luther Burbank Botanical Gardens and was also home to "Peanuts" Author, Charles Schultz. Her father co-owned a lumber mill in Sonoma County, where Hitchcock filmed "The Birds".

Was the exclusive Integral Yoga Hatha instructor for the famous "Jane Fonda Workout" in Beverly Hills, Ca, for 5 years.

Was initiated into the Holy Order of Sannyas by her Guru, H.H.Sri Swami Satchidananda twice. Served as a Yoga monk and Swami under his Spiritual Aegis for 9 years.

Considers Jane Fonda one of the great legendary actor/filmmaker's of our time. Believes the films that she and her companies made had the prescient observation, pathos, charm, and wit of Charlie Chaplin. And that they helped to elevate and evolve the social, political and spiritual consciousness of the American culture and the world.

Has the privilege of knowing Candice Bergen. Had the privilege of knowing her beloved first husband, Louis Malle.

Co-created "Ananda Productions" Artists Co-op at a film industry gathering at the home of Lindsay Crouse in honor of H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda. The Co-op was formed at the suggestion and under the Spiritual Aegis of Sri Swamiji to provide a forum for Artists to network diverse independent media projects that, in addition to providing entertainment, would help to increase socio-political awareness and spiritual consciousness. And that would inspire peace. Among those who joined were Lindsay Crouse, Frances Fisher, Jeff Goldblum, Kelly Lynch, Nirmala Heriza, Buffy Stewart.

Her earliest childhood TV role model & hero was The Lone Ranger whose famous shirt replica she purchased with a sponsor's coupon off a box of Cheerios while sitting in the kitchen nook of her family's Santa Rosa, California home on Austin Way, near "Town and Country".

As a young child she was known to re-enact scenes from the classic 50s TV show, Kula Fran and Ollie, portraying each character for her cat, Homo Sica, and others.

Her father, John Heriza, who co-owned a lumbar mill in Sonoma County, California, with his brother Rudy, invented a mechanism for lifting lumber.

Her mother, Alice Berry Heriza, starred in the Sioux Falls, S.D. High School production of Pirates of Penzance. She won rave reviews.

Art Streiber, renowned award winning, celebrity photographer (i.e. Oprah & former President, Bill Clinton and Sec. of State Hillary R Clinton) shot the cover of her book (Dr.Yoga).

Collaborated on the "Harper's Bazaar" photo shoot for their issue featuring world-renowned, famed "Woodstock Guru", H.H. Sri Swami Satchidananda with Producers, Tara (Lynda) and Peter Guber (Mandalay Entertainment). The magazine segment was shot on location at the Gubers' famous "YogaHouse" in Bel Aire, Ca. by award winning, celebrity photographer, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Is a cousin of actors Nick and Amanda Waring, son and daughter of venerated English actress Dame Dorothy Tutin and renowned actor Derek Waring.

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).

Born in La Grande,Oregon. When she was 3 her family moved to Santa Rosa, Ca. close to where her father owned and operated a lumbar mill and logging operation with his brother, Rudy.

Attended Proctor Terrace Kindergarten and grammar school in Santa Rosa, Ca. Her family were members of St.Rose Catholic Diocese. She later attended Immaculate Heart High School in Coeur d'alene, Idaho when her family moved to that area. She attended North Idaho Junior College for a year and half as a Drama student, before transferring to Immaculate College in Los Angeles, where she graduated with a B.A. in Theatre Arts.

When she was 3, she named her first cat, Homo Sica.

Her U.S. Literary agent, Joelle Delbourgo of Delbourgo and associates was former Editor in Chief of Random House and Harper-Collins. Her publisher, Jeremy Tarcher, refers to her as "the Godmother of publishing". Her European (United Kingdom) literary agent is Liz Puttick.

Conducts a private holistic therapy practice "The Dr. Yoga Health and Wellness Center" in Santa Monica, in association with Premiere Oncology Foundation and the Integral Yoga Center of Los Angeles and as a referring therapy facility for Dr. Dean Ornish, M.D.

Her 3rd cousin Dame Dorothy Tutin's father, John Tutin, an accomplished engineer and scientist, designed the rudder for the original "Queen Mary", ocean liner.

Is in current development on a Health related Reality T.V. show spin off of her book, Dr. Yoga entitled "Fixers with Dr. Yoga", as co-creator/co-producer with her producing partner, Buffy Ford Stewart and Natural9 entertainment's award winning Exec. Producer: Carol Sherman, Exec. Producer. Creative consultant: Oscar winning Prod/Dir: Jerry Zucker.

Had the privilege of serving as Jane Fonda's clinical energetic medical consultant and therapist during the shooting of the last of her VHS (Video) Workout series.

Created the Yoga Cardiac program, a clinical adaptation of Swami Satchidananda's Integral Yoga, implemented by the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's (PRCC). Cedars-Sinai is a teaching hospital and her Program has served as a teaching model for Yoga cardiac therapy for visiting physicians to the hospital from around the world, for over 15 years.

When she was Executive Director of Swami Satchidananda's Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco in the late 1970's, she assigned Jane Fonda's "Coming Home" as a tutorial in Peace and Political/Socio awareness to her students.

Has the esteemed privilege of knowing the great Kathy Bates, with whom she was honored to perform in Milos Forman's 70's cult classic "Taking Off", in which Ms. Bates sang her delicately exquisite original song "And only the horses have wings".

Was introduced to the legendary Della Reese by the brilliant Kathy Bates, at the wedding ceremony of Diane Ladd and her husband Robert Hunter, right before being scheduled to follow Ms. Reese in performing an original song.

Art Garfunkel graciously encouraged her as a singer/songwriter during the time she was performing in NYC in her early 20's.

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.