I have lived in West Roxbury for nearly 15 years, and I love the area as well as surrounding neighborhoods. My love for yoga began at a little studio in West Roxbury called, ‘Yoga for You’, a Bikram studio. I loved the classes, the heat, the instructors, and the community it created. Many years later after being introduced to a Vinyasa style of yoga I quickly became interested in this brand new (to me) style of yoga! My certification began as a quest to learn more about the practice as well as to one day teach it.

I received my 200 hour YTT certification through LifeTime Athletic in 2019 after practicing for many years and wanting to deepen my practice. Many people feel they aren’t good at yoga but I believe there is no good or bad way to “do” yoga. It’s not about flexibility or athleticism, although both of those will improve with yoga. It’s about connecting with yourself through breath and movement and calming your mind. The practice is just that, a “practice” and every class is a journey of self discovery and awareness. It all starts with coming to your mat and I hope to see you there!

Raika is an E-RYT and completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2016 with the New School of Yogic Arts at Coolidge Corner Yoga. She also completed Restorative Yoga training in 2019 and Yin Yoga training in 2023. Through teacher training, Raika discovered the power of self-exploration with the support of a gracious and loving community. Yoga has taught her how to explore her perceived physical and mental limitations as well as to appreciate the beauty of being a student. Her teaching encourages her students to discover the power of self-exploration through breath and movement. Raika's classes are shaped by her compassionate touch and are characterized by a balance of restorative poses and mindful vinyasa movement. She encourages a slower pace and longer holds so that students can incorporate attention to alignment and integrity in the asanas. Raika also incorporates restorative or gentle yoga poses to encourage students to relax and renew, as time on the mat is the truest form of self-care.

After years in the pool as a competitive swimmer and miles of endurance running, Colleen practiced yoga as a way to tap into breathwork, stretching, recovery, and  mindset development. Yoga was a way to balance Colleen’s busy routines, which led her to her 200-hour teacher training with LifePower Yoga in 2022 and her Breathwork & Meditation Teacher Training with David Magone. Her focus was to go in deeper, expand her practice, and share yoga with her personal training clients. True surrender to the practice arrived when Colleen was injured with a concussion/ TBI, forcing her to step back from her “normal” routines, social engagements, and activities. During this challenging recovery,  her yoga practice became so much more than a stretch— The practice offered her a sense of safety, trust, stillness, and acceptance of herself, her injury, and the world around her. In pursuit of sharing this peace with others, yoga taught Colleen how to soften, how to listen, and how to love herself and others as they already are.  Yoga is for everyone and every body.

Running and swimming competitively for years, teaching elementary school, and chasing my 3 young kids around led me to my first yoga class about 10 years ago. I was constantly on the go and not very present for myself or those around me.  Something in me kept bringing me back to my mat. I was beginning to become more aware of how yoga was the magic connection of the mind, body, and soul.  Meditative breath work, focusing on strengthening postures, and enjoying the benefits of a restful savasana taught me how to steady myself on and off the mat. I kept going to yoga classes because I felt a shift after each class and I wanted and needed to keep feeling good! I was eager to deepen my practice and knowledge even further, therefore I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2022 and have been teaching all levels vinyasa flow yoga ever since!  In addition to teaching adults yoga, I am also a certified children's yoga instructor.  I love guiding people of all ages on their yoga journeys and meeting them wherever they are at on their mats!

Raika is an E-RYT and completed her 200-hour teacher training in 2016 with the New School of Yogic Arts at Coolidge Corner Yoga. She also completed Restorative Yoga training in 2019 and Yin Yoga training in 2023. Through teacher training, Raika discovered the power of self-exploration with the support of a gracious and loving community. Yoga has taught her how to explore her perceived physical and mental limitations as well as to appreciate the beauty of being a student. Her teaching encourages her students to discover the power of self-exploration through breath and movement. Raika's classes are shaped by her compassionate touch and are characterized by a balance of restorative poses and mindful vinyasa movement. She encourages a slower pace and longer holds so that students can incorporate attention to alignment and integrity in the asanas. Raika also incorporates restorative or gentle yoga poses to encourage students to relax and renew, as time on the mat is the truest form of self-care.

After years in the pool as a competitive swimmer and miles of endurance running, Colleen practiced yoga as a way to tap into breathwork, stretching, recovery, and  mindset development. Yoga was a way to balance Colleen’s busy routines, which led her to her 200-hour teacher training with LifePower Yoga in 2022 and her Breathwork & Meditation Teacher Training with David Magone. Her focus was to go in deeper, expand her practice, and share yoga with her personal training clients. True surrender to the practice arrived when Colleen was injured with a concussion/ TBI, forcing her to step back from her “normal” routines, social engagements, and activities. During this challenging recovery,  her yoga practice became so much more than a stretch— The practice offered her a sense of safety, trust, stillness, and acceptance of herself, her injury, and the world around her. In pursuit of sharing this peace with others, yoga taught Colleen how to soften, how to listen, and how to love herself and others as they already are.  Yoga is for everyone and every body.

I received my 200 hour YTT certification through LifeTime Athletic in 2019 after practicing for many years and wanting to deepen my practice. Many people feel they aren’t good at yoga but I believe there is no good or bad way to “do” yoga. It’s not about flexibility or athleticism, although both of those will improve with yoga. It’s about connecting with yourself through breath and movement and calming your mind. The practice is just that, a “practice” and every class is a journey of self discovery and awareness. It all starts with coming to your mat and I hope to see you there!

I received my 200 hour YTT certification through LifeTime Athletic in 2019 after practicing for many years and wanting to deepen my practice. Many people feel they aren’t good at yoga but I believe there is no good or bad way to “do” yoga. It’s not about flexibility or athleticism, although both of those will improve with yoga. It’s about connecting with yourself through breath and movement and calming your mind. The practice is just that, a “practice” and every class is a journey of self discovery and awareness. It all starts with coming to your mat and I hope to see you there!