A Yoga Inspiration Quick Reference Guide
Inside: Seasonal Recap — 3 Wood element yoga themes to nurture inner spirit year round & why to invite Zephyr, the West Wind, onto your mat!
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WEST WIND YOGA RETREAT
MISSION AND CREDENTIALS
At West Wind Yoga, we honor the sacred wisdom of yoga and its transformative power on the mind, body, and soul.
Our mission is to provide the modern yogi with comprehensive and contemporary yoga experiences, knowledge, and resources to keep practice fresh, fun, engaging, and relevant in daily life.
We draw upon timeless, ancient wisdom to craft tools and opportunities for holistic yoga adventures that encompass not just the physical aspect, but also the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of yoga practice.
Join us on a path of self-discovery to deepen your practice, connect with your true essence, and discover the transformative power of yoga.
Founders:
Lara & John "Yanni" Alexiou
Both Lara and Yanni are certified yoga instructors.
West Wind Yoga is a Yoga Alliance 200 Hour Registered School (RYS 200)
Lara and her yoga teaching credentials are internationally accredited, recognized through Yoga Alliance as a YAECP, E-RYT 500 Hour Teacher and as a Senior Teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals.
She has trained dozens of yoga teachers in 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and Continuing Ed YACEP Programming.
Lara has a 10,000 hour Qigong and Meditation Do Yi Master Certificate through Zen Wellness.
Yanni is an AMGA Certified Rock Climbing Instructor.
Lara's Training Includes:
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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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Do Yi Master's Council: 10,000 Hour Taoist Yoga, Qigong, and Meditation: Master Teacher Recognition, 2018
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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 and Yanni founded, owned and operated a local yoga studio in their hometown, Steamtown Hot Yoga & Barre from 2007-2022. They successfully sold the studio to their lead teacher so that their legacy could live on under new leadership.
They have a decade of experience leading international yoga retreats to the Greek Islands, the Greek Mainland, and Costa Rica.
Lara has a decade of experience mentoring yoga studio owners around the world with Jason Campbell of Zen Business Bootcamp and Zen Wellness.
Past engagements include workshop leader at the Mindbody BOLD Conference, NEPA Yoga Festival Teacher, National Qigong Association Annual Conference workshop presenter, TEDx speaker, Yoga Alliance workshop presenter, Wild Women NEPA Workshop facilitator, and internationally published author.
Lara's book was featured in the Yogi Surprise Subscription Box. She has both written and appeared in multiple articles for wellness journals and women's magazines including First for Women and Scottsdale Health.
Awards Include:
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2005 Gosh Yoga Competition Women's Regional Champion (mid-atlantic region)
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Small Business of the Year
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National Association of Women Business Owners Top 25
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Northeast PA Business Journal's Top 25 Women in Business
She was a featured yoga model in Bill Tipper's Book, The Nature of Yoga, and was the cover model for Mike Brennan's Book, The Art of Yoga.
A Greek American who has lived and worked in both Greece and the US, Yanni is fluent in both languages and cultures, making him uniquely qualified to create a remarkable and authentic Greek experience for all yoga retreat guests.
Lara's TEDx Talk
Lara was an honored TEDx speaker where she was invited to share her yoga story and core values in her talk, Architecture of the Body, Mind, and Soul. Her book, published in both English and Greek is available on Amazon and the Greek version is available through Athenian Science Bookstore.
TESTIMONIALS
Lilley Harvey, Owner, Peacock Tree Yoga
“Lara and I met initially as part of a community of international yoga teachers who strive to excel at serving their community and running a successful business – and I still remember the brilliant marketing seminar she gave in Phoenix in 2016.
I’m so proud to know Lara, she’s someone who I talk about to other teachers, and hold up as an industry example. Lara is an absolute pleasure to work with, she’s bright, generous, passionate, professional and her attention to detail is second to none.”
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