Alison Bernasco

Because teaching yoga is my passion and my primary source of work, I am always on the look-out for new venues within which to share my talent and knowledgeability of the subject. I am a self-motivated and hard-working individual, certain to approach any given task with vigor. I wish above all to convey the benefits and importance of Hatha Yoga (the physical practice of Yoga) to all those who inquire and are willing to explore. I am certified at the 200-hour level, as recognized by the Yoga Alliance, having received my certification through the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Kripalu Yoga, a unique style of Hatha yoga, encourages self-discovery and self-inquiry.

            I have a vast experiential knowledge of the subject, having taught classes in a variety of settings, from studios catering strictly to yoga, to fitness centers and YMCAs. I have worked with a wide variety of people, from those with a regular and relatively advanced practice to those who have never unrolled a sticky mat in their lives. I have had the pleasure of teaching children, the elderly, and every age in-between. Not to mention the humbling experience of working with those suffering from ailments from blindness to Multiple Sclerosis. From my vast range of clientele, I have become very competent at teaching classes from a therapeutic perspective, while simultaneously offering a challenging but accessible, sweet and sweaty practice to all.

            In my teaching, I strongly advocate the benefits of following the breath, in addition to sustaining postures and surrendering to sensation, as a means of attuning to one’s own body. Though trained in the Kripalu style of Yoga, I tend to incorporate many different elements and styles of yoga into both my instruction and my own personal practice. I regularly attend and teach classes at studios which cater to Anusara, Iyengar, Bikram, Vinyasa and power flow, and may other prevalent traditions and forms of hatha yoga. My strong background in meditation, which I have obtained through annual weeklong Vipassana meditation retreats at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, adds an extra element of internalization and an introspective approach to my instruction.

            I hold degrees from Ithaca College in both Art History and the Fine Arts, allowing me to bring elements of creativity and room for individual expression to my practice and teaching.

            Selectively composing my posture sequences, I am able to create a form of yoga all my own, one which is accessible to individuals at any level of experience. From my varied interests and pursuits, I weave influence from all corners of my experience together to create an intricate web of ideas and flowing, comprehensive sequencing.