Yoga Workshop: Facilitating Others

Nina characterizes her yoga practice as Tantric Hatha, an orientation which focuses on finding one’s limits, and learning to expand them even while working within them. Her classes are strong, yet playful and healing. Nina is both a yoga teacher and a massage therapist. She brings the two professions together in a yoga practice that emphasizes physical alignment as well as mental and spiritual well-being. Each of her yoga classes is geared towards addressing the specific needs of the students. There is not a set sequence of poses to be followed, so every class is different. Nina continuously reminds students that it is your practice; you are encouraged to take it where you need to go – provided you work safely and watch your breathing. Nina loves inversions – but only if they’re done consciously. For her, they’re not showy ego-poses, but strengthening and grounding poses (but she also knows she has to let your ego get its kicks from time to time). They are one of several ways to sharpen and focus the mind, to bring you back to essence. For the same reason, she also loves mantras – for focusing the mind – as well as core strengthening and energetic work, through bandhas and breathing.