HI! I am Alissia.

I have been practicing yoga off and on for close to ten years. At first it was very sporadic.  I went to a class whenever I had the urge and was never really committed.  After my daughter was born in 2004, I developed a substantial blood clot in my left leg.  It was a huge ordeal and a turning point in my life.  Not only was I a mother for the first time, but I had just figured out that I am not invincible.  It was scary.  To regain mobility in my leg I began to practice some yoga DVD's I had just gotten for Christmas.  At first, I had to pick up my leg and bring it to the front of the mat...gradually over time, I gained more and more movement and flexibility.  All the while, I was noticing other changes in myself as well, mental and emotional changes.  Amazing!

In 2009 I decided that I wanted to teach and researched yoga teacher trainings all over.  At the time I thought I wanted an intensive training so I could just do it and be done.  Voila...I am a yoga teacher. In the end I chose a year long program at YogaLife Institute in Devon, PA. I am sooo glad I did.  It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life (next to becoming a mom.)  I learned so much about myself, about yoga, and about how to teach it to others. My yoga practice changed too.  It became part of my lifestyle.  I found ways to practice yoga even off the mat...although I still love being on the mat!!  Yoga has become home to me...I find comfort there when life becomes uncomfortable.

After completing the teacher training, I decided I wanted to bring yoga to kids too.  I took the ChildLight Yoga teacher training with Lisa Flynn and then finished with the community classes required to become certified.  It is so much fun!! Kids help you stretch yourself and move beyond your comfort zone.  There is a level of creativity, patience, and play that is not usually explored in adult yoga.  I love teaching both adults and kids!  I am forever a student of yoga and forever a student of life. I live to learn and grow!

MY YOGA TEACHING STYLE

Classical.  My roots are in Classical yoga.  I happily maintain those Classical roots and rise to the challenge of teaching various class styles.

Flexible. This has a two-fold meaning.  1) I strive to attain more and more physical flexibility for myself and my students. 2) I maintain flexibility in my teaching style, adapting to the class style and the needs of students.

Strengthening.  While remaining aware of students' physical capabilities, I hope to guide them to build strength.

Spirit Centered and Growth Oriented. I am mindful of all that yoga has to offer and am forever fascinated by the connection between mind, body, and spirit.  I teach each class with the intention of stimulating balanced growth in the practice, which inevitably, will then carry over into daily life.  I teach to cultivate my own personal growth and the growth of my students.

EDUCATION

♥ YogaLife Institute (Devon, PA) 200 hour certification in May 2010

♥ ChildLight Yoga with Lisa Flynn, founder (Devon, PA) certified in August 2010

♥ BS Psychology, University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) 1996

GOOD TO KNOW

♥ Registered with the Yoga Alliance

♥ Fully Insured

♥ Hold the 3 Child Abuse Clearances necessary to work with children in PA.