Shanti Baby Yoga

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Contact:646-823-7261

Michelle was first introduced to yoga as a child. Her mother influenced her with yoga, naturopathy and a healthy diet. She has been a committed vegetarian for over 20 years, adhering to Ahimsa, one of the yogi principles, meaning non-violence. She rediscovered yoga in an acting course in college many years ago. Though her Voice and Movement instructor never mentioned the word "yoga," Michelle was establishing a strong foundation as a yogi through asanas and meditation. She kept up the practice intermittently until she met her yoga mentor, Raj Kota-Shtrom. It was Raj's influence that helped Michelle commit to taking on a serious, uninterrupted practice and become a teacher herself.

Michelle earned 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification through Yoga Teacher Training Institute while she was pregnant with her first child. She eagerly and quite naturally learned to adapt yoga to the various stages of pregnancy as she was learning how to teach, giving her a unique perspective and compassion to the pregnant yoga student.

Though her practice, preparation and intentions were to have a natural, drug-free birth in a birthing center, her daughter and the universe had other plans. After 27 hours of using yoga in labor and a much needed C-section birth, she then learned how to adapt poses for the post-natal and post-surgical mom through her own work and training with other experts in the field. Though pre- and post-natal are areas Michelle specializes in, she is skilled at instructing diverse individuals from very young children to seniors of all stages and physical abilities.

 

Michelle is an E-RYT, Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (Specialist) and Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (Specialist) with the National Yoga Alliance. Shanti Baby Yoga & Wellness is also a 200-hour Registered Yoga School. Michelle's advanced certifications include Yoga Mom, Buddha Baby; Children's Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, Restorative Yoga; Yoga for Scoliosis, Deaf Yoga, Laughter Yoga and of course CPR. She has taught advanced training in Prenatal Yoga to fellow teachers at the Yoga Teacher Training Institute (an accredited National Yoga Alliance school). She will be leading a 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Certification Training program starting this fall. She is also a Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher.

Her training, mentors and influences include: Raj Kota-Shtrom, Mokshapriya Shakti, Anita D'Onofrio, Dharma Mittra, Mukunda Stiles, Jyothi Larson, Janet Balaskas, Jillian Pransky, Elise Browning Miller, Marianne Mitsinikos, and the Yoga Teacher Training Institute.