Hanna
I joined my first yoga class around the same time the Internet took off. As an individual predisposed towards laziness, I thought yoga would be the ideal ‘fitness’ for me, because I’d heard that next to swimming and making love, it targets all the muscles, and mostly you just lie down. Suited me perfectly.
What I didn’t expect to discover in a yoga class attended by mostly 60-plus-year-olds, was a connection to my body that it had been yearning for.
As a teenager, I developed an eating disorder and had a horrendous relationship with Self. Through yoga, I found an appreciation of my body as a vessel that can do all sorts of awesome things, and more importantly, I started chipping away at the false narratives that I’d been housing, to discern who I confidently am!
Over time, my practice ebbed and flowed, but after discovering Jess’ classes (yes, the Movement Wisdom Jess) online in 2016, I decided to commit to yoga as my medicine of choice and started to hit the mat daily.
I became qualified to teach in 2018 through another training program, and left Australia to start a new and exciting life in Berlin, Germany. That new life included the job title of yoga teacher, where I established an incredible tribe of students who responded to my style of teaching, which was basically to encourage authenticity both on and off the mat.
When the pandemic hit, Jess told me she’d be moving her 200-hour training online; and asked me if I would like to be a part of it. I leapt on board. What an incredible moment in my life that became, looking back.
Being a part of Movement Wisdom Yoga is a dream come true for me! My personal knowledge of yoga in all its forms has developed exponentially since joining, and I love having the opportunity to guide new yoga teachers like yourself through their journeys both as mentor and also as community manager.
My teaching style can be summed up in three Nirvana songs; Come As You Are, Smells Like Team Spirit (ok, I changed that one a bit), and Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam. And that third one basically sums up feelings I had for a long time about not being ‘yogi enough’ to become a yoga teacher, because I didn’t fit the mould I believed was required to help people uncover the incredible relationship between body and breath, and the profound learnings of this philosophical and spiritual practice. But the deeper I dove into yoga, I realised the mould doesn’t exist. I can be my own kind of sunbeam – and I am ☀️
The world is a greater place because yoga exists in it, and I am forever humbled and grateful that my spirit found yoga.
I'm a vegetarian, a movie buff, an ally, and a moon-lover who only wears stretchy pants.
My favorite yoga pose is Pigeon.
I know…
Amanda
I embarked on my yoga journey during a pivotal moment of transition, both personally and professionally. While navigating toxic relationships and preparing for significant shifts in my career and location, my first encounter with yoga in a Yin class left me feeling uncomfortably shaken. Despite this initial discomfort, it sparked a profound curiosity within me – what made these sensations so challenging to sit with?
Experimenting with various yoga styles over the following months, from Bikram to Vinyasa, I found myself drawn to the practices that challenged me physically and mentally, igniting a newfound passion and discipline within me. Yoga soon became an integral part of my life, accompanying me through relocations across the Northeastern US, the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and even the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Each new environment introduced me to inspiring teachers who offered unique perspectives on the practice, from tribal stomping to the soothing vibrations of crystal singing bowls.
For years, the idea of undergoing teacher training lingered in my mind, envisioning a transformative experience in exotic locations like Costa Rica. Serendipitously, after 13 years since my first Yin class, I found myself on Maui, nearing the end of a contract and facing another significant move with my partner. Seeking solace in my practice, I stumbled upon Movement Wisdom- a holistic training program that felt tailor-made for my journey.
By Chapter 6 of the training, my possessions dwindled to nothing but a yoga mat, my guitar, and our cherished cats. The experience delved me into my practice at a depth previously unexplored, revealing the profound unity underlying yogic philosophy - a revelation that now permeates every aspect of my life. As a transdisciplinary designer and educator, I am impassioned to craft experiences that inspire, rejuvenate, and transform. Yoga serves as a foundational tool in this pursuit, offering avenues for healing, compassion cultivation, creative expression, and the realization of more sustainable futures.
Today, I share the profound healing benefits with students in Upstate New York, focusing on fostering mental agility and physical mobility with beginner-friendly hatha, vinyasa, and yin classes. As I continue to unearth the depths of this ancient practice, I am dedicated to guiding others toward their own transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
As a part of the Movement Wisdom team, I am honored to help support this amazing network of aspiring yoga teachers.
Jon
Hey, I’m Jon!
Ever since early childhood I've been very active. During high school, I was deep into martial arts and that's all I could imagine doing. I also love biking, especially mountain biking.
At the same time, I've also gravitated towards eastern spirituality and philosophy, getting into Buddhism and Hinduism since my early twenties.
But my journey with yoga began "only" 10 years ago. I came to yoga for the physical benefits, mostly as a way to restore myself. I came to appreciate it as one of the healthiest activities you can do.
But I never considered teaching yoga until in 2023 I got laid off from a 14-year career in accounting that I always knew I didn't belong in. I saw this moment as an opportunity to change my life — so I did. I decided to pursue my yoga teacher training with Movement Wisdom and to turn my passions into new professional pathways. The training helped give me the courage to face such uncertainty and make hard choices to have an easier life.
In retrospect, it makes a ton of sense that I would land on becoming a yoga teacher. Because in yoga, I've found where I belong — seeing it as the union of the physicality of modern asana and the depth of eastern philosophy.
Besides being a mentor at Movement Wisdom I teach at a yoga studio in my home town Pittsburgh, PA.