Stephanie was born and raised in New York. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Education. She taught at a public school in NYC for four years before deciding to come to Japan in 2006. She wanted to immerse herself in a foreign culture. She lived and taught English in Kagoshima Prefecture for a year.
Stephanie’s journey through Yoga began one afternoon when her friend suggested that she go and take a Yoga class. She was trying to quit smoking. After just one Yoga class she learned that the focus and strength she needed was already there, it was just deep within her, a flow of energy just waiting to be opened and unlocked through Yoga.
Stephanie began to peel away her layers when she found yoga. She learned how to find pleasure from within, how to spend time with herself and simply accept her thoughts, and feelings without passing judgment upon them. Stephanie spent many years trying to understand and seek out answers that she learned, through Yoga, to find within. Yoga changed her life; she found focus, clarity and calmness.
Stephanie believes that through her breath and movement in Yoga she can deepen her understand of herself and how she chooses to live her life. She deems Yoga continues to help her reach her true potential, to unlearn and clear her mind to perceive the truth and react in ways which she chooses with a much clearer mind.
Stephanie has attended and completed the YogaJaya International Teacher Training. She is certified as a YogaJaya Accredited Teacher (YJAT) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance.
Through the course, she found her inner voice, learned how to listen to her own body and how to better live in harmony with nature. The Teacher Training significantly changed her life and deepened her Yoga practice and entire understanding of Yoga. She learned more than expected. Stephanie continues to work to cease the secessions of her mind and link her daily life to the stillness she finds in her practice, to slow it all down even more. She enjoys the challenge of watching herself react to what she is presented with on a daily basis.
Stephanie also currently teaches Kindergarten at a local International School where she enjoys sharing motivational methods of finding inner happiness.