In the 70’s, when Sylvia first experienced yoga, she immediately connected to a feeling of deep authenticity. This authenticity continues and is a source of inspiration for her personal yoga and meditation practice, as well as for her yoga classes and teacher trainings. Sylvia Smallman is an innovative therapeutic yoga instructor originally trained at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. She studied yoga therapy with Leila Stuart, and in Chennai, India at Yoga Raksanam.
Foundational to Sylvia’s yoga teaching philosophy is kripalu (compassion) and sukha (comfort and ease). She is dedicated to making yoga more accessible to more people. Using the therapeutic and restorative wisdom of yoga as a holistic healing practice, Sylvia provides students of all ages, levels and mobility the opportunity to experience the benefits of yoga – physically, mentally and spiritually. Sylvia teaches yoga that ties ancient wisdom to modern times, reminding us that yoga offers practical tools that can help us ride the waves of life.
Sylvia continues to explore, learn and innovate resulting in original classes, workshops and teacher trainings, some of which include her 'Later Life Yoga' classes and teacher training, Chair Yoga classes and teacher training, her corporate 'Breathing Break' and private yoga therapy sessions. As one of Vancouver's Senior Chair Yoga teachers, she has made a DVD, ' The Joy of Chair Yoga with Sylvia', which is highly acclaimed. Sylvia is also associated with Yoga Outreach bringing yoga to underserved populations. And she is pleased to be an invited teacher at the Yoga Conference in Victoria, BC.
Sylvia is always nourished and inspired by the natural world, science, culture, good friends, laughter and her grandchildren!
For Yoga Therapy International, Sylvia is a Specialist Mentor in Chair and Later Life in the CYT 1000 program.
Contact Sylvia at http://www.joyofgentleyoga.com/contact.html