ABOUT MYOGA
Amy Stephanik
Kripalu E-RYT 500, Prankriya E-RYT 500, YACEP, Svaroopa
Yoga® Foundations Teacher.
I started my yoga journey when I was 13. My neighbor Rose gave me my first yoga book. She knew I suffered from back pain from a car accident I was when I was 10 years old. Little did I know it would chart the course that led me on this amazing journey of self-study, filled with an abundance of personal growth and many opportunities to meet some of the most amazing beings who taught and guided me. As a young child I enjoyed cheer leading, acrobatics and I was a ferocious competitive swimmer, always in the top 3 of my events. My nickname at the pool was “little fish”. Through my teens and into my 30s I explored many more activities. I continued as a competitive swimmer, runner, martial artist, body builder and I was an avid inline skater. I was able to weave the yoga practices into my active life. I experienced many wonderful benefits from my yoga practice especially my recovery time from my intense workouts.
In 1988 I began my studies of Shiatsu Massage. I wanted to study with the best and I found my way to New York City and the Ohashiatsu Institute where I completed my certification with Wataru Ohashi. That experience motivated me to learn more, and as time went on I became Certified in Swedish Massage, Myofascial Release & Thai Massage. I also dove deeply into macrobiotics expanding my understanding of the energy of cooking and a healing lifestyle. All of my studies were expanding my understanding of anatomy and movement and I was weaving this into my yoga practices. I discovered how this knowledge was a perfect fit for my massage clients. I began to teach them poses that would help them hold on to the benefits of their massage sessions. By 1992 I had developed a full time massage practice.
In 1989 my practice of Asana, Meditation and Bhakti yoga drew me to the Kripalu Center in Lenox Ma. I fell in love with the practices rooted in the lineage of Swami Kriplau. I continued to share these practices with massage clients and friends and was inspired to open a yoga studio. The idea of opening a yoga studio led me to further my education of yoga. I made the commitment to what would be my first of many Yoga Teacher Trainings.
My first studio, Comfort Zone opened in Ventnor, NJ in September of 1999 and in 2002 I opened Comfort Zone #2 in Ocean City NJ. I continued my studies and completed the 500 hour Kripalu YTT in 2006. In 2008 I opened Myoga Studio in Ventnor, NJ. I dove deeper into my yoga studies with my primary yoga Teacher Yoganand, Michael Carroll, in the Pranakriya Yoga style and completed the 500 hour Pranakriya YTT in 2014. MYOGA Studio operated through 2015. During that time I assisted several 200 (YTT) Yoga Teacher Trainings and hosted many advanced (YTT) Yoga Teacher Trainings at
the MYOGA location. Some of my offerings inspired by Kripalu & Pranakriya are Meditation, Pranayama, Yin, Restorative, Yoga on the Ball and Yoga in a chair. I am also Certified and licensed to teach Svaroopa® Yoga Foundations and am deepening my study of Svaroopa® Yoga under the guidance of Swami Nirmalananda. I am currently free-lancing and teaching in the Southern New Jersey area and I am available for workshops, and private individual and group sessions.
As a certified professional level Yoga Teacher I am recognized for my ability to work with all levels of students, from those looking for a gentle therapeutic experience to individuals working at a more intense athletic level. I have passion for teaching the deeper practices of Hatha Yoga: Asana, Pranayama & meditation. The inner experiences from my yoga journey move through my teaching. My intention is to guide you through experiences that allow you to move into the awareness of your Self. To connect with your breath, to learn how to relax your mind & body, to strengthen your ability to observe rather than react to the stresses of life and to allow yourself to be open to the universe within you and all it has to offer you. I look forward to sharing my love of yoga with you.
Namaste!
With love and light,
Amy