Hello! I am Patrice Carlisle known to many as Ping. Ping is a combination of Ming and Patricia, friends of my mother who wanted me to be named after them. I have always gone by Ping until I moved to Big Bear. I decided I needed to grow up and use Patrice instead of Ping as my name in Big Bear. That was until the first day in Big Bear I heard someone shout “Hey Ping” it was a friend who I had attended high school with. The person I was shopping with said I didn’t know your name was Ping. That was the end of me growing up!

I call myself a volunteer junky. When I see a need I can solve, I am all in. A few of my volunteer positions have been hospice worker, creator of the Big Bear Moms Club, founder of Simple Suppers, a Meals on Wheels delivery person, Board member of Habitat for Humanity and the Leafs Foundation. I was born into a family of activists and lived in Arlington Virginia as a child. Peace is my passion. A friend asked me a few years ago if I realized Ping meant peace in Chinese ( he’ Ping). I was born to be a peace activist!

I discovered yoga when I was 14 living in Laguna Beach. There is nothing more soothing then the sound of the ocean and doing yoga on the sand! Life got busy for me and I rediscovered Yoga again in Big Bear. I must say, doing yoga in the mountains is pretty awesome!

I met my husband Robert in Big Bear. We have an adventuresome 30 year old son Preston who lives part time in Bellingham Washington and Bethel Alaska. I was forced retired from 22 years of being the director at North Shore Christian Preschool due to the Covid pandemic. I truly miss the energy and excitement of the little ones but I am glad not to have to deal with the issues that the pandemic has presented to the schools. Retirement and the pandemic have opened the door of hiking for me.” The mountains are calling and I need my endorphin rush” is my new life motto.

I look forward to the next Big Bear Yoga Festival where I get to meet the nicest people on the mountain!