Teacher
Biography

Iva Drtina-Hall

Ivafs aim as a yoga teacher is to be able to help initiate the process of transformation within every student. She invites all to participate not only in asana (poses) but also in the practice of pranayama (breath control), and Dhyana (meditation).

Ivafs interests have always been in body movement. From an early age, she explored all facets of body awareness, from ballet to jazz dance, African dance, gymnastics and yoga.

Her interest in health, nutrition and alternative medicine began when she studied Physiology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. It was also at this time that she was introduced to Yoga by her mother 15 years ago.

Iva has traveled extensively throughout Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. These travels previously brought her to Japan, where she lived for 9 years teaching cross-cultural awareness and running a cafe lounge in the Vision Network Complex where YogaJaya is located. Her experiences opened the doors to many new healing modalities such as fasting and cleansing, which she incorporated into her yoga and meditation retreats in Thailand, Australia ,and the US.


 

Iva completed the Yoga Arts teacher training program in Byron Bay, Australia and is certified under the International Yoga Alliance. This course was designed for maximum personal transformation with the guidance of some great teachers including, Louisa Sear, Lance Schuler and Matt James.

Iva continued to explore further her own transformation in a Gestalt Therapy workshop in Sydney, Australia, where she looked with a deeper awareness at her own personal behavioral patterns and acquired techniques to support herself and those around her, challenging herself to live yoga in every moment.

Iva moved to San Francisco, California, 3 and a half years ago, where she worked as the wellness manager of Heaven Day Spa-an urban day spa. She developed their yoga program and conducted public classes.

She continued with her studies the last 3 years in San Francisco, focusing on TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine, Natural Health, and yoga practice. She participated in various yoga workshops, including vinyasa, yin, and power yoga with teachers such as James Higgins, Dina Amsterdam and Rusty Wells. Her greatest gift to herself this year has been completing a Vipassana Silent Meditation retreat in California.

Eva returns to Tokyo with a caring and experienced yoga practice that she hopes as a teacher will encourage all to discover their own self-awareness and find the balance between body, mind and spirit.

Ivafs classes incorporate meditation, yin poses and a flowing sequence with emphasis on increasing the internal heat not only to cleanse the body but also relax the mind and open the spirit.

Iva hosts retreats and workshops internationally as well as facilitating on teacher training programs.

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