WEST WIND YOGA
About West Wind Yoga
A Practice Rooted in Experience, Depth, and Lived Study
West Wind Yoga was created as a natural continuation of a long teaching life rooted in daily practice, community leadership, and decades of guiding students beyond the surface of yoga.
After many years of teaching, training teachers, and founding and operating a successful yoga studio, the call emerged to offer something different: a space devoted to depth rather than frequency, integration rather than accumulation, and practice that unfolds over time.
West Wind Yoga exists to support experienced practitioners and teachers who are seeking study, perspective, and lived practice beyond regular studio classes. Here, yoga is approached as a living discipline that evolves through time, relationship, and the realities of modern life.
Our Approach
West Wind Yoga offerings are shaped by decades of hands-on teaching, long-term relationships with students, and years of leading immersive programs both locally and internationally.
Our work draws from:
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Classical Yoga and Tantric philosophy
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Ghosh Yoga Lineage
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Taoist Five Element wisdom
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Qigong and Tao Yin Yoga
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Meditation and contemplative practices
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Contemporary teaching methodology
Tradition is honored through thoughtful translation, not rigid preservation, so that time-tested teachings remain relevant, embodied, and applicable in everyday life.
Whether gathering through retreats, seasonal immersions, teacher trainings, or mentorship, the intention is consistent: to support a practice that deepens over time and can be carried forward into daily living.
Founder & Director: Lara Alexiou
West Wind Yoga is founded and directed by Lara Alexiou, a senior yoga teacher, educator, and mentor with over two decades of experience guiding students and training teachers.
Lara’s teaching integrates classical yoga, Tantric and Taoist philosophy, qigong, and meditation, with a steady emphasis on accessibility, relevance, and lived application. She is known for her ability to translate expansive philosophical teachings into forms that feel grounded, engaging, and practical, without diluting their depth.
Her work is shaped by long-term study, daily practice, and sustained relationships with students over many years. Rather than focusing on trends or techniques, Lara’s teaching emphasizes discernment, integration, and the development of a practice that matures with time.
Credentials & Professional Recognition
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E-RYT 500, YACEP (Yoga Alliance)
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Senior Teacher, Yoga Alliance Professionals
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10,000-hour Taoist Yoga, Qigong, and Meditation Master Teacher Recognition (Zen Wellness)
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Founder of a Yoga Alliance Registered School (RYS 200)
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Bikram Yoga: Teacher Certification 2003
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Barkan Hot Vinyasa Level 2/3: Teacher Certification 2008, 2014
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Zen Wellness: 500 Hour Zen Yoga and Medical Qigong Instructor Certification 2014
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500 Hour Barkan Method Hot Vinyasa: Teacher Certification and Head Teacher 2020
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SUP Yoga Center: Instructor Certification 2021
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YogaRenew: Yin Yoga Certification 2023
Lara has trained and certified hundreds of yoga teachers through 200-hour teacher trainings and continuing education programs. She continues to mentor teachers, studio owners, and long-term practitioners through seasonal immersions, modular programs, and apprenticeship-style learning.
Her work has been featured at professional conferences, festivals, and educational platforms, including Yoga Alliance programs, national and regional wellness events, and published wellness media. She has served as a workshop leader, conference presenter, TEDx speaker, and internationally published author.
From 2007–2022, Lara founded and operated Steamtown Hot Yoga, later passing the studio to new leadership so the community and lineage could continue.
Co-Founder & Program Support: John “Yanni” Alexiou
West Wind Yoga is co-founded by John “Yanni” Alexiou, whose role centers on program support, cultural stewardship, and retreat facilitation.
Yanni is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with additional certifications in Barkan Method Vinyasa, Qigong, Tao Yin Yoga, and Reiki Level 1. Fluent in both Greek and English, he brings deep cultural knowledge and lived experience to West Wind Yoga’s international retreats.
Having lived and worked in both Greece and the United States, Yanni supports retreats with care, logistical expertise, and cultural respect, helping programs unfold with ease, authenticity, and connection to place.
Together, Lara and Yanni have been leading international retreats since 2012, creating experiences that honor lineage while remaining responsive to modern lives.
A Shared Commitment
At its heart, West Wind Yoga is a long-term relationship with practice, with place, and with people.
We gather seasonally, intentionally, and with care. Offerings arise as they are ready, shaped by the rhythm of the year and the needs of the community.
If you feel drawn to depth, continuity, and a yoga practice that grows with you over time, you are warmly welcome here.
Contact
📍 Scranton, Pennsylvania
In this TEDx Talk, Lara shares reflections on yoga as a lived practice.
Reflections from long-term students and peers
Lara is someone I hold up as an industry example. She's bright, generous, professional, and her attention to detail is exceptional. She is an absolute pleasure to work with."
- Lilley Harvey, Owner, Peacock Tree Yoga
Lara Alexiou was my first yoga teacher and over the years has played many roles in my life: teacher, mentor, boss, friend. Working with Lara has always supported my growth. Her ability to read the energy of the room has allowed her to deliver exactly what's needed, while always keeping practice fun and engaging."
- Giselle Meagher, YTT Graduate & Retreat Participant
"Lara is an incredible instructor, who helps YTT's find their inner fire and passions."
- Dyl Round, YTT Graduate