Carleena Lara Yoga
About
It's been a few years in the making, but I can happily say that for the first time in my life I LOVE MY JOB! I am doing what I love, surrounded by an awesome community. Every time I walk into the doors of my yoga studio I not only look forward to the minute I can enter that yoga room and see all the smiling faces - but my heart sings! - my body already feels lighter.
There is something magical about being in community, where strangers become friends, the music gets us through and the breath in unison is what inspires me. My name is Carleena and I am a yoga teacher at SHINE Power Yoga. I am on our leadership team facilitating teacher trainings, writing programs as well as one of our Studio Managers. I feel blessed & honored to be working at a yoga studio, a vision and goal I set for myself wayyyy back in the summer of 2013 when I was a confused, frazzled young one.
You enter this world pure and good but with your life traumas and experiences, you can easily become distracted by your truest light. Through yoga, meditation and ample self-inquiry I have been able to strip away these stories and get closer to my essence of being joyful, excitable & whole as is.
My teaching style blends traditional yogic philosophy with Western yoga style to make my classes fun, engaging, steeped in tradition and educational. My passion is to really teach yoga, more than just the physical postures, but going deeper into the layers of what embodying a yogi means. I have a 500 hour certification in Hatha and Ashtanga as well as continuing education credits in Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Baptiste/Power Yoga, Tantrik Shivaism, Contemplative Buddhist Psychotherapy & Yogic Philosophy.
I once had a teacher share that Namaste means many things, one of them being: Not me, but you. I try to incorporate this simple thought into everything I do, especially when I show up to teach. I know my path is to be of service.
I am here - listening, loving & breathing with my students. It's been a pleasure getting to know so many students, seeing their transformations, their smiles and their accomplishments. I am overjoyed each day to continually meet yogis who inspire me, uplift me and encourage me to always move from love.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I think it is very important to understand a student's goals prior to starting practice. Are you looking to just get exercise? Are you looking for more spiritual work? A mixture of both? Either answer is perfect, but deciding goals from the start is important.
I work with students to be very specific with their goals and determine which style of yoga is best for them to achieve it. Maybe we create a blend or fusion of different techniques, all catered to YOU. No worries on needing to know all the answers just yet, that is what I am here for~
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Carleena is a 500 Hour E-RYT (Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher) certified by Shiva Yoga Peeth in Rishikesh India.
Her studies during her time in India included Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kriyas (cleansing), Pranayama (breathing), Pratyahara (Yoga Nidra), and Meditation.
In addition to her 500 Hour training certification she has also attending:
- Level One with Baron Baptiste in the lineage of Baptiste Power Yoga (100 Hours)
- Yoga Nidra Meditation Training with Jennifer Reis (45 Hours)
- Yoga Philosophy Training with various teachers through Emobided Philosophy (45 Hours)
She also has over 8 years of self-practice which adds to her teaching expertise. She is continuously a student, experimenting with trying new styles continuously.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Class prices are determined after a pre-interview with clients to asses their goals, meeting location and intentions with their practice. Rates vary anywhere from $49 - $125.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching after having some profound healing in my personal yoga practices. I had influential teachers that seemed to say just the right thing at just the right time. Yoga came to me when i was ready and needed it most.
I decided that I had to save and go to the source - India - to learn as much as I could.
5 years later I am here, teaching, loving all the moments I share with my students & have been blessed to make yoga my primary profession.
What types of students have you worked with?
- elderly
- pregnancy
- kids
- beginners
- intermediate/advanced
- students / team building
- women
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Chat with your prospected teacher. Do their ethics line up to yours? Could you see them as a source of inspiration? Do you feel they are really here for you?
Your yoga practice, in the end, will always be about YOU. Second, comes the connection. Can you see yourself with this person to build a strong connection and achieve your goals? If so, go for it. If you ever feel truly uncomfortable try reflecting and reevaluate your yogic relationship.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
How do you see yoga benefitting you? Recognizing what changes you would like to see (physically, spiritually, and emotionally) can really help drive your practice to new heights.