Get to Know Lauren

I come from a family of educators and business owners and consider myself an educator at heart. I believe an educator is someone who guides a student to their own discoveries and inspires them to be passionate about themselves and learning. I was raised to be organized and people-focused by a family that values high quality and customer experience equally. The skills and values instilled in me since childhood have allowed me to create training programs that operate in an organized and professional way while still ensuring that the educational experience for the students is impactful and delivers what they need to be successful teachers and yoga practitioners.

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I was first introduced to yoga practice through a dance teacher and through early YouTube teachers. I was able to deepen my practice during my university years, gaining a more intimate understanding of the mental and emotional benefits of yoga practice as my life became more stressful and complex. I began working for Yoga Yoga in 2012 and started by first yoga training that year. Within that school and organization, I had many opportunities for growth, guided by some highly intelligent and skilled teachers who acted as mentors and helped me to progress towards my goal of being a yoga teacher trainer much more quickly than I would have been able to do on my own. Through my years with Yoga Yoga, I honed in on my specialties as a teacher: reproductive health and teacher mentorship.

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Almost as soon as I began teaching in 200-hour programs, I realized what a hugely impactful and transformative experience those trainings are for people. I loved being a mentor and guiding people on their training journey, but realized I need more skills and experience if I was going to be able to hold space for these students during their training. I chose to pursue my yoga therapy certification mainly to support the work I was doing as a teacher trainer. I am grateful for what I learned in that program and continue to learn from the IAYT. Practicing yoga therapy inside and outside of yoga training allows me to impact people in a wonderful way. My primary goal as a teacher and therapist is to be a guide that leads people during a time of need, supporting them with the tools they need to find self understanding and empowerment.

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Over the years, I have taken what I learned during these formative experiences to create and lead multiple yoga teacher trainings, including 200-hour, 300-hour, Prenatal, and Continuing Education programs. I worked with Yoga Yoga until they closed in 2019, at which point I started my own school. Though I have often benefitted from collaboration with other teachers, my experience in co-owning a school taught me that I am fully capable of leading an excellent team of teachers and staff as a sole owner, which is what led me to found Elevate Wellness Institute in 2023. Through all of these training experiences and working with a wide variety of teachers, I have learned that being a good yoga teacher is not all that is needed to create and run a successful training program or yoga school. I have been able to draw on my diverse education and experience to run unique programs that students and trainers alike regard as exceptional. I know that I am exactly where I need to be and am living a life that allows others to reach their dreams and grow into their full potential. I am continually humbled and grateful that I am able to call this work I love a career and look forward to continuing to share all that I can with others.