Patricia Gottlieb Shapiro

I specialize in writing and speaking on women’s issues with a special interest in the midlife years and beyond, women’s friendships and yoga. Initially my interest in these subjects grew out of my social work education and my ten years in the field. When I turned my attention to writing, my social work background served as the foundation for my work.

My three books on women’s midlife issues grew out of my own personal experience: YOGA FOR WOMEN AT MIDLIFE & BEYOND: A Home Companion (Sunstone Press); HEART TO HEART: Deepening Women's Friendships at Midlife (Berkley Books); and My Turn: Women’s Search for Self After the Children Leave (Peterson’s: hardback, 1996; paperback, 1997), which was inspired by the many emotions and changes I experienced after my son and daughter left home. The idea for Heart to Heart: Deepening Friendships Between Women at Midlife (Berkley Books), actually developed as I was researching My Turn. As I interviewed women about the changes in their lives since they launched their children, many talked about how their friendships had deepened. They had more time and energy for friends and realized, from their midlife perspective, how precious true friends are--something I emphasize when I’m a speaker on women’s friendships.

My earlier three books focused on subjects that interested me professionally but did not develop out of my personal experience. They are A Parent's Guide to Childhood and Adolescent Depression (Dell, 1994); Women, Mentors and Success (with coauthor) (Fawcett Columbine, 1992) and Caring for the Mentally Ill (Franklin Watts, 1982). My feature articles have appeared in New Woman, New Choices, First for Women, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Inquirer, Inside, Baltimore Sun Magazine and many other publications.

I am a writing instructor and coach andwork one-on-one with individuals who want private editorial consultations about their writing.

Besides writing and teaching, my other passion is yoga. I began taking classes in the early 1990s and have been teaching since 1999. I specialize in yoga for older women in my classes in Santa Fe. I’ve also done an intensive yoga study at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. Through my teaching I share my love of yoga with others. A daily practice centers and grounds me while studying with a wise teacher keeps me humble and reminds me how much I have to learn.

Both yoga and writing offer ways to deepen my self-understanding, continue growing, live consciously, and share what I've learned with others.