Mara Chanin

Mara began practicing yoga at the age of 19 at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY- it was love at first breath. As a dancer from a very early age, yoga resonated with Mara on a physical level. With time, yoga inspired her to share the beauty of the practice with others , thereby finding her own deeper awareness. For Mara yoga is a practical application of the Golden Rule - our actions and reactions come back to us in how we view the world, its circumstances and the people involved. By finding physical strength and agility we can more easily understand the idea of mind over matter, by trapping our attention in asana on the mat we can approach situations off the mat with the same focus and awareness.
Nature is the ultimate inspiration for Mara. After completing her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification in Todos Santos Mexico where she experienced such things as morning meditations while grey whales swam by and asana practice on top of mountains surrounded by soaring hawks- she found that fellowship with the natural world was of paramount importance to her growth as a teacher and a practitioner.
Integrating breath with movement, she infuses her classes with a sense of fluidity that allows students to tap into their personal inner and outward grace. With a sense of humor and dedication, Mara challenges her students to find the "sweet spot" in every posture - creating body awareness through the willingness to try new things. She continually looks to further her education through workshops and trainings in different styles of yoga, including multiple workshops with the founder of Universal Yoga, Andrey Lappa. Mara strives to keep a fresh and creative perspective in class sequencing and attitude.