Sheila

Originally from New Jersey, Sheila spent many years in the Northeast before relocating to Austin, where she enjoys being outdoors, kayaking along the lakes, and going on the hike and bike trails with friends and family.

A sports enthusiast, Sheila loves challenging herself both physically and mentally as well as staying healthy, so a regular yoga practice became a natural part of her journey to health.

Initially seeking a physical experience, Sheila was introduced to yoga through Bikram. After two years of a regular Bikram practice, she discovered Ashtanga Yoga. She immediately enjoyed the depth and consistency of the practice. It worked on more subtle levels and brought a meditative quality to her practice, and so became a meditation in motion for her. “I began to cultivate an awareness beyond the physical asana practice and drew that awareness to my breath and my mind. Ultimately I have enjoyed the subtler aspects of the practice more.”

Sheila completed Yoga Yoga's 200-hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program. She has also taken David Swenson’s 40-hour Ashtanga Teacher Training workshop and studied with Shelley Washington and David Williams. These teachers, along with Matt Borer, are Sheila’s biggest influences.

Since graduating from teacher training, Sheila has taught a variety of classes, including Hatha Flow, Vinyasa, Children’s Yoga, and Ashtanga. Students can expect a practice with a fluid and meditative quality to it. Sheila encourages students to follow their breath and to respect their bodies. She offers modifications on most postures so students can ease off or go deeper depending on their intention for that practice. “I like to offer a space for students to explore the subtle connection between the mind, body, and breath and for them to leave class feeling spiritually uplifted and grounded.”

Sheila loves that yoga is truly a philosophy on how to lead your life with a greater sense of awareness and intention. It goes far beyond the physical practice and really helps to guide practitioners in every aspect of life.

For Sheila, every day is different in her yoga practice because her body and mind are in different states every day, so each day is the chance to learn something new about how to achieve a sense of balance and union of mind, body, and spirit. “My most inspiring practices have been the ones where I have actually been healing an injury and have had to modify my practice. Those practices brought me even closer to my breath and to my spirit.”

When she is not practicing or teaching yoga, Sheila loves spending time with her two girls and her husband.

Click here to see when Sheila teaches.

Sheila recommends:
Heart of Yoga by TKV Desikachar
Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual by David Swenson

Favorite quotes:
“As we think and act, so our world becomes.” – The Dhammapada
“It’s nice to have an end to journey toward; but it’s the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ursula K. LeGuin