YogaVita.org

yogavita.org Vinyasa yoga in Virginia

Who are we?

Rachel Varon is the founder and director of Yogavita.org. A certified yoga instructor who is an American-Peruvian, Ms. Varon began her yoga training over seven years ago with a private instructor; she then received training at the Sivananda Yoga retreat in the Bahamas and at several other yoga studios until she got her Certificate from the Yoga Institute in Houston . She is also a Yogafit for Seniors Certified instructor as well as a Prenatal Yoga certified instructor (Whole Birth® Resources). In adddition, Ms. Varon is also certified by PowerHouse Pilates to teach Pilates Mat & by Stott to teach pilates Ball. Ms. Varon is a member of MAYA (Mid-Atlantic-Yoga Association and writes articles in several publications, both in English and in Spanish.

Rachel combines her yoga with free-lance writing and broadcasting work. She has produced, hosted and written yoga videos in Spanish and English. Apart from teaching at her studio, she has also taught and lectured in several important DC organizations and companies such as the White House, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Monetary Bank (IMF), Intelsat, Global Services, Gannett, USA Today, and at Senior communities. She has also been teaching at Hospitals. She teaches Hatha Yoga (vinyasa style), Power Vinyasa Yoga, Prenatal yoga, Pilates on the Ball & mat; and ComboLates (a fusion of Yoga and Pilates). She also conducts different workshops and lectures (at different locations) such as “The impact of yoga in several ailments”, “Yoga at the workplace”, and “YogaFAcials”, etc.

Rachel received her B.A. in Political Science from Brandeis University and her Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University. She speaks 4 languages fluently and is proficient in a fifth. She has worked as a sports broadcaster for ESPN, CNN and Telemundo, and as a reporter and producer for CBS, the United Nations, Univision, Reuters TV as well as independantly.

Barbara: is a certified yoga instructor as well as an amazing massage expert. She began at the Sivananda school in the Bahamas where she got introduced into what she now calls her "peace of mind". A native of Staten Island, "Barbarella" has also taught for Women's Fitness in Arlington and is a beloved instructor at yogavita.org. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and is fluent in Russian. She currently works for Lockeed Martin as a financial analyst.

Amber came to Yogavita.org as a student five years ago with hip, shoulder and back pain related to a spinal curvature. Under the guidance of Rachel Varon, she experienced so many more benefits from practicing yoga than she ever expected. Yoga has since become a part of her daily life bringing both physical and emotional strength and a new sense of freedom to enjoy life.

Amber is a certified Hatha yoga instructor at the 200 level. She recently completed a ten month teacher training program at the yoga center of Columbia under the mentorship of distinguished Anusara yogis. Anusara yoga, founded by John Friend, is a Hatha yoga method that focuses on leading with the heart and aligning with the Divine. Amber’s teaching also includes Vinyasa yoga and through her yoga, she fosters acceptance, gratitude and joy.
GAYLE: A daily Yoga practitioner (has been practicing it for many years), Gayle brings art to our spiritual trips. She has worked as a dedicated artist-citizen in Los Angeles and through out the world for twenty-five years. She has used art to create more unified local communities, all the while affirming peace and unity among all peoples. She has directed numerous outreach art projects in LA for Sony Pictures, Fox Studios, Hollywood Arts Council, Craft and Folk Art Museum.

Gayle was awarded the 2004 Peacemaker Award Honorable Recognition in the Peace Festival Los Angeles at UCLA and the prestigious 2001 FETE d' EXCELLENCE gold medallion for contributions to YOUTH in Geneva, Switzerland. Her education includes receiving a BFA from the University of Arizona; an MFA from Otis Art Institute/Parsons School of Design in Printmaking and Inter-active Media. In 1995, she founded KIDS FOR PEACE (kidsforpeace.org) a living, growing, International mural and arts project.

Elyse: An ASHTANGA EXPERT! She has been practicing Yoga since 1996. She began exploring with Iyengar Yoga as a means to maintain lifelong physical flexibility, studying under Julie Shulman-Byers at The Yoga Studio of Miami Beach. Her teacher training in Ashtanga Yoga was facilitated by Wayne Kressner at the Shakti Yoga Loft of Miami Beach. She has also studied in workshops with Michael Gannon, Manuoso Manos, Seane Corn, and Dharma Mittra. Elyse has taught yoga at Thunderbird, the American Graduate School of International Management; Lifetime Fitness; Ironworks Gym; and Yoga Grove, among others. Elyse loves yoga for the gifts it has brought to her life, including a clearer focus on what is important, moral and spiritual purity, and enhanced health and well being.

Unyong: She is the adoring mother of a beautiful infant, "Ella", and has been teaching various family related yoga classes for the past several years, including yoga for school-age children and their parents, for infants (ages 0-4) and parents, and pre-natal yoga. She has also taught privately. Her teachings have been through Arlington County, Falls Church City Public schools and Eden Yoga.

Susan: she always collaborates with us in many of our activites, in particular, those which have to do with yoga outside of the mat, philosophy of yoga, metaphysics, etc.

Susan seated in "bliss".

Shirley: has shared her 30-year long yoga experience with yogavita.org by mainly being our advisor and mentor. She has also worked with us as the lead yoga and meditation instructor during our retreats. A former owner of a yoga studio in Chicago, Shirley is truly an expert: she is able to teach yoga to absolutely anyone and make people love it right away! Her experience, creativity, sensitivity and care make her a very very special yogini. She also visits our studios a few times a year to lecture on many subjects, including meditation which she has been teaching for 10 years. Shirley has a psychology degree, is also a painter and lives in Arizona where she is a very popular and highly respected...yes! yoga and meditation instructor!

OUR FAVORITE LINKS:

www.ayurveda-herbs.com : Quality Ayurvedic Alternative Herbal Supplements Since 1986 (English).

www.yogaperu.com : a Peruvian yogini tells us about yoga and its link to the Andean Culture (Spanish).

www.yogadirectory.com : a listing of yoga related links.

www.cod-liver-oil.org : Cod Liver Oil, a rich source of Omega 3, Vitamin A & Vitamin D.

www.ayurvedic-medicines.org : Herbal and Home Remedies.

www.yogakai.com : a Chilean/Argentine with lots of experience and knowledge in the world of yoga. Interesting articles (Spanish).

www.wholebirth.com : a wonderful yoga center for moms and for future teachers.(English).

www.a2zyoga.com : a practical site to promote harmonya & well being in their life with yoga.

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