Shayna Silverstein began studying LOTUS under Ajarn Roy Harrington at age 12, while studying classical ballet.  She was able to achieve brown belt upon her graduation from high school, and was/is especially interested in LOTUS kickboxing.  She continued to sporadically attend LOTUS workouts and kickboxing on her visits to Spokane, and was able to workout briefly with Ajarn Precha while visiting Thailand in 2003, [with Ajarn Roy and other American LOTUS students].  Shayna was pleased to be able to test for and receive  her black belt in September 2007 from Ajarn Roy.  She left the next day to live in Damascus, Syria for two years on a Fulbright scholarship to complete her PhD in ethnomusicology from the University of Chicago.  Shayna has also studied some capoeira in Chicago, and has attended Thai boxing gyms in New York City.