Martin’s Words

‘‘I first met Anya in 2019; she was my very first yoga teacher, and yoga has been my main practice ever since. By then I had meditated for 15 years, held a PhD in psychology and neuroscience, and listened to hundreds of gifted instructors. Only a handful truly stand out as teachers I feel compelled to revisit; Anya is one of them.

It is not that the others were inadequate; I have simply forgotten more teachers than I can recall. Anya, however, is unforgettable. She introduced me to yoga in a way that makes me doubt I would have continued had I begun with anyone else.

One of her greatest strengths is conveying the core of yogic and meditative traditions without insisting on any belief system. Clear wisdom; no faith required. Concepts that often feel abstract, such as presence or impermanence, become tangible under her guidance. Her deep grasp of yoga’s physical and philosophical dimensions is evident, yet she never lectures. Instead, she invites students to uncover these principles through direct experience.

When Anya leads meditation, every word matters. There is no filler or drifting; each phrase is precise. Her language invites focus rather than confusion, openness rather than resistance. This calm clarity keeps every session fresh, as though the practice is unfolding effortlessly for everyone in the room. After a class with Anya, I leave calmer, more centered, and quietly energized.

Her yoga sessions were equally transformative. I arrived with a long‑standing meditation practice and a tendency to privilege the cerebral, perhaps even with a touch of intellectual superiority. Anya’s lessons broadened my perspective by showing how essential the body is to contemplative work. Whether it is the flow of breath, toes pressing into the mat, or the tremor of a held posture, these physical anchors ground awareness more vividly than thought alone.

Many instructors reference yogic philosophy without translating it into experience; the ideas never quite land. Anya does the opposite. She weaves insight into movement so seamlessly that you feel it first in your breath and muscles, and only later recognize it in your mind. She avoids jargon and dogma, conveying the essence of the tradition in an accessible, natural, and living way, while always leaving space for deeper philosophical discussion if you wish.

Simply put, she is one of my very favorite teachers. I am profoundly grateful our paths crossed; my life is richer for it. If you want to experience yoga as a fully integrated mind‑body discipline, step into her class. I suspect you will remember that choice long after the final savasana.’’