Deva's Bio

Deva has taught at a wide range of venues - sports clubs, YWCA, corporations and organizations. She has taught at New York Sports Clubs (NYSC) since 1997. Her class formats range from Yoga, Pilates and Yogilates (an integration of Yoga and Pilates), to Stretch and NIA (non-impact aerobics/creative movement classes).

In 2008 she began her involvement in the Silver Sneakers program for Seniors, and is certified to teach MS-ROM - Silver Sneakers Muscular Strength and Range-of-Motion, as well as Cardio Circuit and Yoga Stretch 1 and II. Deva plans to continue to expand her list of class formats in the Silver Sneakers program, and is enjoying being part of it. She's soon going to train in Silver Splash as well.

In addition she'll be doing a training in Zumba, and is currently re-deepening her involvement in YogaDance (formerly Danskinetics).

Deva has extensive experience with ‘Special Yoga’ – yoga geared to a wide range of populations and special needs. She has taught classes to both non and developmentally-disabled children; pregnant women; and Gentle and Chair Yoga to both active seniors as well as to those in nursing homes. She has also taught classes to those with cancer and those dealing with mental health issues. For 7 years at The Addiction Institute at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in NYC, as Exercise Therapist Deva led sessions which included Gentle and Chair Yoga, dance and Stress Management - modalities that were very beneficial to those in the in-house addiction recovery program.

Deva assisted at a week-long Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis retreat in England in 2001, and subsequently wrote an article about her experiences there: Assisting at the Yoga for Health Foundation in England.

Deva has always been on a path of learning and exploration. During the Summer of 2008 she participated in a 5-day yoga retreat with the 'Queen of Backbending' - master teacher Paddy McGrath. The retreat was held on Clare Island, an island off the West coast of Ireland. In the past she has taken part in a wide range of workshops and trainings, and explored a wide range of modalities - all of which have contributed to the understanding of her craft and the development of a great deal of insight in how to help people through the practice of Yoga.

Deva has developed 3 unique workshops - Goddess Yoga, Journey through the Chakras, and Intro to the Yoga Swing:

Goddess Yoga and Journey through the Chakras were conceived of in 1998, created and birthed in 1999, and have been evolving since. Both workshops incorporate Yoga, Danskinetics and creative activity. Goddess Yoga integrates her explorations in women’s spirituality with yoga and dance. Both workshops have been presented at various centers in New Yock City. Goddess Yoga has been presented at the New York Yoga Expo and the Long Island Yoga Association, as well as in Richmond, Virginia and New Orleans. Journey through the Chakras is a rich exploration of the 7 Chakras with practical application to one’s life, and will next be offered in Spring 2009.

The Intro to the Yoga Swing workshop is offered in Forest Hills, Queens in NYC. The Yoga Swing is a wonderful apparatus used for assisted stretching, backbends, side bends and inversions as well as.. Aerial Yoga.

To be on Deva’s workshop mailing list or to contact her please email: goddessYoga@verizon.net