Ellen Aileen curtin

In 1989, through an immigration lottery system, was selected to come to United States. I worked as an elementary teacher for the Kansas City Kansas schools and in 1993 relocated to Texas and taught for Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I earned a master’s degree in education from Texas Wesleyan University in 1996 and a PhD from University of North Texas in 2002. I worked 18 years as a professor including director of Ed.D degree program for Texas Wesleyan University. Yoga transformed my life in 2006 and helped me find my joy again as I recovered from a car accident. The practice so transformed my life that I wanted to delve deeper and decided to learn more. I completed 200 hour yoga teaching training through Life Power Yoga (Lifetime Fitness) in 2012 and 300 hour yoga training with Yoga Forte in 2017. I began my yoga teaching journey in 2013 teaching students, faculty and staff at Texas Wesleyan University and later at Sacred Soul Yoga Studio in Hurst, Texas. I now teach on the beautiful island of Isla del Sol in St Petersburg, Florida at Nava Yoga studio and at First Unity Spiritual Campus in St Petersburg Florida. I am also a Certified Life Coach and an Ordained non-denominational Minister. I provide a variety of workshops and trainings that are uniquely designed for individuals or groups seeking to make positive changes in their lives whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually. I teach a variety of workshops including yoga nidra, chakra energy balancing, mindfulness and meditation. I teach intuitively and always gauge the energy level and needs of my students at the beginning of each class. I like to create a sense of community and remind my students we share each others energies, including oxygen, during our time together. I like to inspire my students each week by planning new sequences that are themed to either chakras, changing seasons of nature and life, and the ebb and flow of moon and tides. I specifically choose inspirational readings and quotes along with soothing and spiritual music to remind students that yoga is a "work-in" as opposed to a "work-out." I help students to connect mind, body and spirit and to release any stresses or tensions so they can leave the studio feeling regenerated, restored and renewed. I especially want each student who comes to my class feel welcome, seen, and nurtured. I ensure that my every student can choose their level of difficulty and can always modify poses. I remind students to be compassionate and gentle with their bodies and to always follow their own inner wisdom and intuition. I am truly grateful for this ancient practice and I am very grateful for the opportunity to share with others.