Longtime yoga instructor Becky Gelatt of Covington died on October 30 at the age of 84 years. For the past 45 years she became involved in a number of community improvement campaigns, and she was well-known for her work in Playmakers, the chamber of commerce auxiliary, and local health initiatives.
Over the years, she taught hundreds of students the practice of yoga, and more recently taught students how to become yoga teachers themselves. Through those efforts thousands of people throughout the region learned the benefits of yoga.
According to her obituary information, Becky was born on September 11, 1939, to Rosemary and A. Martin Bernard in New Iberia, Louisiana. She graduated from New Iberia High in 1957 and went on to study Home Economics (Clothing Design) at the University of Southwestern LA. She became an accomplished seamstress, making all her own clothes growing up.
She and her husband Richard moved to Covington, La in 1977. In the early 1990's, the St. Tammany Farmer newspaper ran an article about Gelatt, telling about her work in organizing a local clean city initiative in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful. It also described her home which she had turned into a peaceful haven. Here is the text from the article.
Lady Fights For Conservation of Area
By Judi Berry
Covington resident Becky Gelatt is a conservationist. Preserving the natural environment takes top priority in her own lifestyle as well as in the various projects she undertakes.
This attitude is most evident in her home and its surroundings. Becky and her husband Dick have created informal gardens through wich paths gracefully meander, native foliage flourishes, and feeders attact an abundance of birds.
A path crosses the small lagoon which is home to goldfish and frogs, and several seating areas provide a cool reprieve from a scorcing sun.
Becky plans a different project each season to enhance the gardens, and her strategic cultivation has resulted in "something blooming," she says, during each season of the year.
Every window of her home overlooks a section of the garden in order to bring the colors of the outdoors into the master bedroom, which faces bare trees in winter.
Becky Gelatt in 2015
Becky has installed stained glass landscapes to replace the clear plate glass of the room's four large windows, each of which depicts a portion of the garden in one season.
Home and Garden Tour
Their home is over 30 years old, and Becky's expertise as an interior design student is reflected in the additions and renovations they've made. In fact, this Flower Estates home has been placed on the Greater Covingto Chamber of Commerce Auxiliary's spring home and garden tour. Becky has since served as Vice President and President of the group.
Her involvement in the Auxiliary led to her current enthusiasm for Keep America Beautiful, a familiar national program whose goal is to reduce litter. The local project began when several interested organizations combined their forces and sought support from the Covington City Council concerning the litter problem.
Clean Community Work
Covington and Abita Springs have now become part of the Clean Community System, a national campaign to increase public awareness which, Becky says, "goes beyond just picking up litter."
It consists of a president and board of directors who represent schools, churches, civic groups, the media and business and industry.
The group has just become incorporated, and the stringent requirements for certification will hopefully be met by the fall. Having recently attended a three-day training session in Baton Rouge along with two other members. Becky projects a rippling effect throughout the entire community. Citing statistics, she notes that successful implementation of the program can reduce the amount of litter up to 80 percent in five years.
Hunting Dog Training
Rastus, Becky's black retriever also benefits from her wish to see plants and animals nourished in their natural environment. Becky and Rastus have joined the newly-formed Pontchartrain Hunting and Retrieving Club which works the dogs on a regular basis by participation in field trial competition.
Through these exercises, the animals are able to perform for the purpose for which they were bred.
Theater Work
Becky's energies have also been directed within the theater. As a child in New Iberia, her interest in the stage originated with her enjoyment of weekend movies and increased as an uncle and aunt became active in Broadway plays such as "Mame," "Once Upon A Mattress," and "Damn Yankees" as producers and set and costume designers.
Becky lived in New York for about three years. From there, a visit to London became a six-month stay, during which her knowledge of sets and props, gained at the New York School of Interior Design, was helpful in her position as Assistant State Manager for a production company.
"Then," she says,"I was hooked (on the theater)."
Her skills were revived for the Playmaker's recent "Thriller of the Year," which she directed. "It was one of the most growing experiences," she says. "Because of the internalization. You learn many new things."
End of article
Yoga Training Center
Founded by Becky in 1991, the Yoga School came to be one of the most established schools of yoga thought and practice of yoga training in the Gulf Coast area. Its focus was on quality, excellence and integrity in providing a complete education in the art, science and philosophy of yoga. It was located on Tyler Street in the building constructed in the 1970's by Art Lemane for his photography studio.
Since a local community center for yoga teaching was a relatively new concept at the time, Becky traveled around the country studying with the major yoga practitioners of the 20th century. She was found to be a gifted teacher in her own right.
on Healthy Lifestyles
After Hurricane Katrina, Becky began to focus on Yoga Teacher Training to bring the healing nature of yoga to even more people. One of her students described her as the kindest, most empathetic, caring individual. "She's someone who could speak to your heart and be completely present when she's with you. It was such a gift to be in a place where I could learn from Becky," she said.
Early Accomplishments
Her early life included gaining skills in sewing and design, and she became a seamstress. After college she moved to New York City where she managed and sold her own designs at a boutique in Greenwich Village. She also lived in London and worked at several theaters as a set designer.
Upon moving to Covington, she became involved in a number of civic activities, among them helping launch the "Keep Covington Beautiful" campaign and the Tree Board. She served as president of the Covington Chamber of Commerce Auxiliary and was president of the board of directors of Playmakers Theatre.
She also helped organize the first Olde Towne Festival in Covington. She was a board member of The Council on Aging St. Tammany (COAST), and a recent effort included launching the Mayor's Council on Healthy Lifestyles.
She was featured as well in an article in the March, 2021, issue of Inside Northside magazine.
A Celebration of Life was held on the campus of the Northshore Community Foundation at 807 N Columbia St. in Covington.
For more information about the Labyrinth project visit
https://www.northshorefoundation.org/covington-labyrinth-fund
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