A Round-Up of our Favorite Yoga Teachers
A Round-Up of our Favorite Yoga Teachers
Moraima
Amy Priya Santos
My teacher and my main source of yoga inspiration and guidance is Amy Priya Santos. Amy was one of the main instructors of both my RYT 200 and 300 Yoga Teacher Trainings at Goodyoga in New York City. She runs the Mysore Ashtanga program in northern Brooklyn. When I arrived to her class, I was recovering from open-heart surgery. My body was weak and stiff. With lots of patience and encouragement, she has guided me through the Ashtanga primary series. Learning with her has taught me how to assess and adapt teaching methods for the student on the mat. She has taught me how to provide the adequate level of encouragement and when to slow it down to ensure a safe learning experience. Amy has also taught me that yoga does not stop outside the studio. I was deeply inspired when certain yoga controversies came to light and she gathered all her students for a hands-on discussion about allegations and what it means in the grand scope of yoga.
The following yoga teachers are inspirational and a must-follow on social media:
Tejal Yoga
I had the pleasure of taking classes with Tejal early on in my yoga practice. I am so proud of the work she does to reconnect and honor the philosophy of Yoga to its Indian roots with the Yoga Is Dead podcast and Desi online community. The podcast is a must-listen to any yoga student and/or aspiring yoga teachers. If you are not honoring the Indian roots of yoga, then you exploit the practice. Her work is unapologetic about this truth.
Deepika Mehta
Yoga in the west is saturated with images of thin white women doing fancy Asanas. Deepika is a breath of fresh air, and as a woman of color, I can relate to her yoga journey, the cultural significance, and the importance of representation.
Laruga Yoga
Her soft smile while practicing the advanced Ashtanga series radiates the essence of yoga: finding ease in the most challenging situations and subsequently finding your true self. There are not a lot of Black women in yoga (soon changing). Her dedication to the practice is evident in her acquired strength and flexibility. I can identity my struggles and my challenges with my body type and background in her practice and teachings.
Stephanie
For one, I give credit to falling in love with yoga to Ruah Bhay. Ruah is a yoga instructor in Brooklyn, NY whom I’ve been doing yoga with since at least 2009. I credit her with really connecting the mind and body of yoga for me. Her easy style and magnetic personality gave me a sense of ease every time I spoke with her, and I could feel my entire body relax every time I finished class with her. She’s so generous with her time and bonds so deeply with her students just by being present. I have taken class with her for a decade, and in that time yoga has become an integral part of my life.
Then I moved from NYC to Cabarete this year. And then came Chrissy Lefavour.
Leaving NYC was a hard transition for me. To calm my nerves, I continued doing yoga. I then considered yoga teacher training to “deepen my practice,” and found Chrissy’s training program at The Yoga Loft. Chrissy was the teacher that really showed me how to live a yogi way of life in a holistic way. She is kind, smart, giving, and gentle, and learning from her has helped me rediscover the happy for myself. I am grateful to have taken my teacher journey with her.
I hope that’s not too much, but both yoga teachers came into my life at profound times and I would not have discovered the practice without either one of them.
Melanie
One of my biggest yoga inspirations is Sadhguru. I haven’t met him in person but have read many of his books while in India, and watched many of his videos. He focuses on spirituality and the Yogic ways of being. He is all about the love, and always puts humour and laughter into his teachings.
Sadhguru is a wonderful teacher who has touched the lives of many, helping people to transform within.
Another yoga inspiration is an old friend, Ameriga Giannone. While mastering herself as a yogi, she embodies the workings of a Yogini. Every year she travels for months on end to practice and learn the teachings of yoga, from the history and philosophy, right down to the postures and energy. She is the real deal when it comes to traditional Eastern yoga mixed with modern-day postures. Ameriga inspires me because her thirst for knowledge not only helps her grow as an individual, but also leads to her unique teachings which people benefit from all around the world.
Last but never least is Miri from Hayati Yoga. Miri is a beautiful inspiration to the world of yoga. She exudes love and kindness and always tries to help others achieve that frequency through her teachings. She is a kind soul whose energy rubs off on you whenever you are in contact with her. Her teachings are mindful and soothing, where one always benefits from the energies at work.
She is an inspiration because she is the perfect example of what we should strive to be from the teachings of yoga.
While there are many beautiful souls who are prime examples of yoga inspiration, these are my three at this very moment
Chrissy
Kathy McNames of Yoga Vermont in Burlington, VT is my YTT teacher. When you meet Kathy, you can’t help but feel joy and love. Her teaching is a perfect combination of humor, challenge, and love. She unites her students not only to each other, but to the planet we inhabit. Kathy is a true inspiration.
