Meet the inspiring Stephanie Acosta

Stephanie is full of life. I love the story of her yogic journey, it is filled with truth and beauty. She radiates and genuinely cares for her practice, those around her and the impact that she is having on the world. 

Her answers are truly inspirational, below!

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1. How long have you been teaching?

    It'll make a year in December.

 

2. What motivated you to start teaching

and what have you learnt from teaching?

    I literally fell in love with yoga instantaneously.I practiced almost everyday and I kept telling myself that I'm not ready, I don't know enough and that I'm too scared to speak to a room full of people. I remember taking a class at YTTP (Yoga to the People) I remember how friendly and real this particular teacher was and I thought to myself: hell yea this could totally be me.They started announcing a teacher training and I finally got the courage to sign up.

      The biggest thing that I've learned from teaching is self care. Its brought such a new found body awareness in me that I never had. As a student, I've always been a, "Push through it" kind of yogi. However, as a teacher I'm just like, "Girl take that childspose now!" It's liberating to be able to take care of yourself in way that simply feels good to you.

 

 

3. What is something that you have learnt from a fellow teacher?

That you don't need to have a certain body to do yoga. If you can breathe then you can do yoga.

 

4. How many times a week do you practice?

    4-5 days in a studio and the rest is a self practice at home.

 

5. Who inspires your practice?

  My 2-year-old daughter. She is the greatest joy of my life. She gives me so much life that it honestly makes me want to bring that energy into a studio.

 

6. Why is it necessary for you to practice?

  It just keeps me level-headed. Its keep me cool, calm and collected. Plus it keeps me from not completely losing my mind when i take the subway 🤣

 

7. What message do you like to spread through teaching?

That the magic comes from within. The asanas don't mean a thing without the spirit and the breath. That just being who you are is always going to be enough.

 

8. Where are you currently teaching?

I teach at Yoga to the People in NY, Sunmoon Yoga in Jersey City, The Shannon Rose (Pints and Poses) 1x a mth(Nj),Yoga at Pelham Bay Park (Bronx), Yoga at Branchbrook Park (Nj) and I also teach privately.

 

9. How has yoga helped your character develop?

  I feel like i have come into my own the past few years. Diminishing all that isn't good for me has made me a calmer more clear-headed person. Which, ultimately leads me to make better decisions in my life.

 

 

10.What has kept you practicing all these years?

    I have such a passion for it . It seriously brings me so much happiness. A happiness that i can't even explain. Theres always something new to learn, always someone new to meet and the community itself is such a joy to be around. I have met some of the best people through yoga.

 

11. What is your Instagram, Twitter and Facebook name

 

@StephanieAcostaYoga