Lisa Odom-Villella

Lisa began practicing yoga over 20 years ago. It all started with an Ashtanga class that set her on the path of regular practice and eventually yoga teacher certification. Lisa received her 200 hour certification through the teacher training school at Raffa Yoga with Christine Raffa in 2018. She started teaching Yin Yoga at Raffa Yoga in 2019.  She found the importance of having a balance of a yin and yang yoga practice. Meditation and mindfulness within the Yin Yoga practice inspired her to learn more. In 2019, she became a member of the Kwan Um School of Zen and practices meditation at the Providence Zen Center. She continued her yoga training with Josh Summers Yin Yoga School in the 300 hour teacher training program, focusing on mindfulness and meditation. She completed that certification in February of 2021 and now holds a 500 hour Yoga Alliance certification. She completed her 95 hr Children’s Yoga Teacher certification and her 200 hr Meditation International Alliance certification as well  

She teaches Children’s Dharma School at the Providence Zen Center in Rhode Island. 

Lisa holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.

One of her favorite teachings, The Second Arrow, is about how we react and respond to difficult situations, feelings, and thoughts.  The Buddha once asked a student, “If a person is struck by an arrow, is it painful?” The student replied , “It is.” The Buddha then asked, “If the person is struck by a second arrow, is that even more painful?” The student replied again, “It is.” The Buddha then explained, “In life, we cannot always control the first arrow. However, the second arrow is our reaction to the first. And with this second arrow comes the possibility of choice.”