Author: Us

“I can’t even reach my toes.”

by Us

17361961_1476616159046947_4581503570016061115_n“I can’t do Yoga, can’t even reach my toes.” I often hear this or a similar reactions to my mentioning our yoga classes for all abilities and ages. The answer can come from 32, 65 or 85 year olds alike.
Hearing this is troubling because yoga seems to have a reputation to be only for the already fit, limber, slim and healthy. This is absolutely not the case. Yoga is an exercise routine that makes everyone feel better, as long as it is done with a good warm up and within your abilities.
Weight or inflexibility is not a problem, nor is it a problem if one can’t balance on one leg very well or even not at all. We have students in our classes with a variety of ailments, young, old and very old. Yoga makes them feel stronger, better and yoga lessens their pain.
When you come to a class, introduce yourself to the teacher, share your concerns, hear their feedback and enjoy the experience.

 

Introducing our teachers – Katja

by Us

17426091_1476599569048606_6598822406186010826_nBefore moving to the US, Katja had enjoyed successful career in Sales and Marketing in Europe. For the past decade, Katja has owned her own business as an event and wedding vendor.

After enjoying Yoga for several years Katja became a certified Yoga Teacher and she truly enjoys teaching and practicing Yoga. Her beach yoga classes are based on Hatha yoga and designed for all abilities and all ages. She makes it fun and social but, most of all, relaxing and strengthening.

Katja finds it challenging and rewarding to teach a group of Yoga students who are in different stages of their lives, on divergent paths in their journeys into Yoga and with a wide variety of fitness levels.

To see the will and effort of these students to improve and accomplish their goals, each in their own way, is extremely humbling yet gratifying.

Katja is available for yoga classes and pool yoga in local communities.

Besides Yoga, Katja enjoys Stand Up Paddle Boarding. She assists, her mentor and friend, Elin Larsen with group Paddle Board lessons on Venice Beach.

photo credit to Sharron Bourget

Introducing our teachers: Toby

by Us
toby-yoga-art-photo
Toby volunteering at the Venice Chalk festival

Toby has a strong compassion for others and a passion for helping.

Her yoga story begins with her putting on far too many pounds in the late 80’s and early 90’s. The point of change came in 1992 when she joined a “Weight Watchers” program. As one of her physical activities, she chose to practice Yoga. In 1996 Toby studied and became certified as Yoga instructor. She also became a successful “Weight Watchers” Leader.

Years later in 2007, Toby came to Venice and discovered “Yoga With Elin” on Venice Beach. Yoga became part of her daily routine ever sense.

In 2013 Toby suffered the most severe loss a mother can imagine, the loss of her son to type 2 diabetes. One never gets over such a loss but family and friends were there and Toby says her yoga practice helps her every day.In 2015, Toby studied with Elin, received a new certification and started teaching.

Toby now lives full time in Venice. She enjoys dancing, creating her art and working for Weight Watchers. Whenever she has a chance, she loves to travel back to Cleveland to visit with her daughter and her grandchildren.