Andrea Kwapien

(she/her)

From her first tap dance lesson as a young child, Andrea has long enjoyed physical movement in ways that are not only fun, but energize and lighten the heart. Her love of yoga evolved over a very long time. Early on she found that practicing yoga was a pleasant and interesting way to feel better physically. What began as just a smattering of yoga classes here and there over the years, eventually transformed as she became more motivated by her desire to feel strong, healthy, capable and grounded. Along the way, Andrea came to appreciate how a more consistent, thoughtful yoga practice not only promotes general feelings of well-being, strength and flexibility, it can also open doorways to a deeper mind-body awareness, a positive sense-of-self, clarity, creativity and open heartedness.

Although a music teacher for many years who adored working with students of all ages, exploring the learning process and the discipline of practice, Andrea signed up for a RYT-200 yoga teacher training course taught by Lisa Leizman and Sara Rose without the intention of becoming a yoga teacher herself. Despite this fact, she has been enjoying the seat of the teacher at Sanctuary ever since completing her 200-hour training in 2017. From the beginning she has been inspired by her students, as well as her yoga teaching colleagues.

Andrea loves to teach yoga and delights in designing classes that will help students connect to their inner resources and feel empowered, present and joyful. (What could be better?) Her asana sequences often incorporate themes inspired by everyday life, the human experience and yoga philosophy. Though yoga came to her from a culture different than the one she was born into, Andrea finds that the rich tapestry of yoga philosophy provides us with an amazing bounty of universal concepts that transcend time, place, nationality, religion and culture. Her classes offer a balance of both movement and stillness, blending time-honored asana with variations on the classics, often incorporating creative transitions, Mudra, mindful breathing and the occasional dash of humor.

Andrea encourages an engaged practice within an inclusive, supportive setting so all students have an opportunity to tune in to their bodies and minds, find harmony on and off the mat, and above all, appreciate their fabulous selves. Andrea would like students to know: Every body is different. Practice is not performance. There is more than one path to get from here to there.

Credentials:

• RYT 200