Hi, I'm Alesha.
Certified 500 hour Yoga Teacher, Mother, and guide to two gorgeous souls, wife, daughter, sister, and entrepreneur.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, I'm Italian by blood (and passport) and spent nearly a decade in Switzerland before making my way to Spain. Aside from all these labels and superficial stories, my passion lies in sharing.
Inspiration sparks daily through the exploration of yoga, wellness, plant essences, and minerals.
For me, it all comes back to connection.
From connecting deeply to our inner landscape through yoga to connecting with people whose journeys intersect, to connecting digitally here and via Bindu Institute.
I hope that you will join me on a path of yoga together,
either here, for online classes, or in-person in Spain, or where our journeys meet.
VALUES
my values as a teacher
PLAYFULNESS
Life is far too serious.
When we step onto the mat, let us step into the realm of curiosity and wonder.
The realm of Play.
"Beginners Mind" to me is more like the art of cultivating your child mind.
Where judgment and competition simply do not exist, and there is an open sense of exploration and awe.
EMPOWERMENT
I am to empower my students. To awaken their inner guru, or teacher.
You alone know what is best for you each moment of each day.
The wisdom is there, it's simply a matter of attuning to it.
When you begin to cultivate an awareness of the body, mind, and spirit through yoga practice, you begin to develop a deep intuitive understanding. You begin to awaken your inner healer, and hone into your desires.
I believe we are each here in this lifetime for a unique purpose.
It is my sincere hope that our classes empower you to discover yours.
VULNERABILITY & SAFETY
I feel like these go hand in hand. In order to open to vulnerability, you must feel safe.
My aim as a teacher is to hold a space of emotional and physical safety,
so that you are able to explore your boundaries.
my journey onto the mat and into sharing the practice
MY STORY
PATH TO YOGA
My passion for yoga began in the late '90s when my first teacher sparked a flame that continues to evolve and grow. Yoga weaves itself in and out of my life presenting itself to me in different forms but always giving me exactly what I need at that time. From enhancing my business travels while immersed in my career in aerospace and industrial controls, to enabling a delicate balance while pursuing an intense MBA in Switzerland, to now igniting a passion that has unfolded in my journey as a yoga teacher.
I have been teaching yoga since 2009, and consider myself a lifelong student.
My yoga journey is perhaps not a typical one... The unlikely window of opportunity opened when faced with the economic crash of 2008. MBA fresh in hand, and little job prospects in sight, the unique gift of time bestowed itself.
I travelled to India to complete my yoga teacher training, which I started nearly 10 years prior, by studying one on one with Swami Dayanand. Swami taught me a more traditional yoga to complement my otherwise western practice, and I am certified 200 hours based on the Principles of the Bihar School of Yoga.
Since, I have continued my training with Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa Krama, and 4 Desires training with Mary Bruce, as well as Sequencing & Therapeutics with Ross Rayburn, Core Strength Vinyasa with Sadie Nardini, Seat of the Teacher Immersion training with Suzanne Faith, and intensives with Nico Luce, Noah Maze, Amir Jaan, Simon Park, and Tiffany Cruikshank. Along with many other notable teachers workshops, classes, and retreats in Europe and the US over the years.
Most recently, I completed my 300YTT with Suzanne Faith, Andrea Boni, and Anatomy of Movement focusing on Non-Dualist Tantra and Anusara in September of 2019.
QUALIFICATIONS
the best teachers are lifelong students
YOGIC STUDIES
YTT 200: Swami Dayanand, based on the Principles of the Bihar School of Yoga | India, 2008
YTT 300: Suzanne Faith Yoga, Anusara | Spain, 2019
Seat of Teacher Training: Suzanne Faith Yoga, Anusara Bridge Program | Spain, 2018
SPECIALTY COURSES
4 Desires: Mary Bruce | Spain
Yoga Sequencing & Therapeutics: Ross Rayburn | Switzerland
Vinyasa Krama: Mary Bruce, Para Yoga | USA
Restorative Yoga: Mary Bruce, Para Yoga | USA
Core Strength Vinyasa | Sadie Nardini
I have had the privilege to practice in intensives with
Nico Luce, Noah Maze, Amir Jaan, Simon Park, and Tiffany Cruikshank.
Along with many other notable teachers workshops, classes, and retreats in Europe and the US over the years.
EXPERIENCE
Over 20 years of experience in yoga & wellness.
I have created and led yoga programs for exclusive resorts and high-end fitness centers.
My journey in Fitness began in High School: teaching a variety of classes like Water Aerobics, kickboxing, step aerobics, and salsa aerobics (pre-Zumba!) at my local YMCA and while studying at University.
This brought me to my first yoga teacher, Jeff Martins, and his yoga teacher training, which I paused while studying abroad in Italy.
I continued to teach family and friends, including my classmates in our MBA, and after my 200-hour certification in India, I taught on and off in parallel, and as a balance, to my demanding career.
My dedication to teaching increased in 2011 when I was expecting my first child
and has incrementally increased in the last decade as my path unfolds.
ADDITIONAL STUDIES & EXPERIENCE
Bachelors of Science and Engineering, Industrial Engineering | Arizona State University, 2003
Masters of Business Administration, International Business and Leadership | IMD, Switzerland, 2008
Over a decade of progressive career development in the high-tech corporate multi-national world.
Primarily working in Aerospace & Industrial Controls Automation.
From Manufacturing and Quality to Program Management and Strategic Development and Implementation.
Creator of GatherYoga.com
From concept to execution of site creation, gathering incredible teachers, film production, editing & hosting, to content creation and marketing. Founding GatherYoga has been a journey of many hats and pivots with invaluable experience along the way. It is an honor to work with talented leaders in the yoga world.
