Christine Yovanovich

Meditation and song writing/music performance and poetry was her main sadhana and continues today. She has several works of poetry published and an album of traditional and original mantras . One of her favorite activities is performing live in the kirtan wala, 'Samahi Loves You'.   Her university studies include a B.A. in Sociology and a partial Master's in Sociology in hospital management. She worked her way through college serving as a QMA./LPN in various hospitals. Upon graduation, she served as Social Services Director at a long-term care facility, Marquette Manor in Indianapolis, Indiana. Counseling the dying and their loved ones proved to be one of the most rewarding aspects of her 12-year service.     Christine began her formal yogic studies in 2003 with Paramahansa Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship located in Los Angeles, California. She is kriyaban eligible. She completed her RYT 200, obtained the E-RYT 200 status & finished the E-RYT 500 coursework in Indianapolis, Indiana by 2008. Her trainings are from the Kriya, Krishnamacharyia, Iyengar, Ashtanga & Anusara traditions respectively.     After completing her 200-hours coursework, she retired from Social Work in 2005 and dedicated her full-time work to passing on the purest form of the ancient teachings of Yoga on to others in various settings such as small and large corporations, long-term care facilities, hospitals, schools and yoga studios. Stress reduction was her emphasis in her community teachings.  She averaged 15 hours of teaching weekly.   Christine developed and began teaching Peace through Yoga's 200-hours Yoga Teacher Training school in 2009. Bringing in the emphasis of wellness through mind-body connection and spiritual nourishment through various forms of meditation, she continues teaching the 200-hours YTT today, and is in her 13th semester of serving as Director and Lead Trainer.   Peace through Yoga will soon embark on it's 3rd semester of their 300-hours Advanced YTT. Christine also created and teaches the 300-hours Advanced Teacher Training course. She is most grateful for all of her teacher trainees past and present that have proven to excel in the practice and teachings of yoga, as well as to her loving teacher training staff members sharing their deep knowledge of teaching and living the yogic life.     Leading bi-annual pilgrimages to Rishikesh, India is one of Christine's favorite teaching and learning endeavors. In addition to bringing in supplies and much needed funding to 2 orphanages and schools located in New Delhi and Rishikesh, Christine loves teaching meditation at Rishikesh's oldest ashram, Parmarth Niketan. Students receive 15 CEU's for this journey into the deeper aspects of meditation.   Through the efforts of Founder of Peace through Yoga, Dr. Sally Brown-Bassett, and Christine, Peace through Yoga's International School for girls was born in 2009 and Peace through Yoga Foundation was created. Located in the district of El Yue, Costa Rica, this school teaching English, life-skills and yoga was developed in order to better serve this under-served population of girls. Christine assists Sally with leading this yoga, adventure and humanitarian trip several times per year.