PYTT Alumni Feature – 200hr Graduates

Jesica Nkouaga RYT – Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Jesica lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and teaches English as a Second Language at the University of Wisconsin. She also trains teachers to teach English overseas through the International TEFL Academy online.

“From 2008 to 2018, I practiced yoga at home using videos. In the winter of 2018, I was personally experiencing a good deal of stress and health issues, so I started attending yoga classes locally. I found these yoga classes, especially restorative classes, to help me feel centered, calm, and at peace.

I knew that I needed to go deeper into yoga and make it a life-long practice and to potentially teach yoga to others. I searched for a yoga teacher training that would also include an introduction to restorative yoga. I found Prana Yoga Center’s teacher training to be just what I was looking for.
As a student, yoga has brought me into greater balance, both physically and mentally. It has helped me to relieve stress and feel calm and at peace. After each yoga class, I feel relaxed and content, connected to my true self and purpose. This is true as a teacher of yoga too, with the added benefit of bringing the gift of yoga to others. It is fulfilling when students say “thank you” after each class and when they tell you about their own health achievements and how yoga helps them.”

After graduating from Prana’s YTT with in July 2018, Jesica started teaching just a few months after she finished YTT and the Yoga Alliance requirements. For six months, Jesica taught Vinyasa Flow classes at her local YMCA. Currently, she has shifted her teaching to restorative yoga and plans to get certified in teaching yoga to children.

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Ana Hutz RYT – Chula Vista, CA

Ana is the founder and owner of Namaste Fitness in Eastlake/Chula Vista, CA.
Before Ana opened her own studio in 2018, she was a bank manager for 8 years. She graduated from Prana 200-Hour Summer Intensive Training in July 2018 and started teaching Yoga immediately, including Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Gentle and Trauma Conscious Yoga.

“I decided to get certified to be able to teach others yoga and hopefully make them feel as good as I feel when I practice yoga. The other reason is because I was in the process of opening my own yoga studio. I have always been a positive energetic person but as soon as I started practicing Yoga, I felt a sense of calm, peace and release every time I practiced. Yoga brightens up my days even more and allows me to feel like I can do and accomplish anything. As a teacher, I get to see lives changed for the better every day thanks to the practice of yoga and mindfulness. In the difficult days, seeing this evolution of my students gives me great joy to know they are feeling good, it validates what I do.”

“Being a student at Prana was an amazing experience. The instructors were amazing, patient, kind and very experienced in their field. I got to make new friends, learn so much about yoga but so much about myself in those intense weeks. I wasn’t sure if I would be “good” at teaching and sharing the message of yoga with others but the more I stand on my mat and speak in front of others, I feel like I made the right decision.

Some of my students are suffering either emotionally or physically, and to be able to aid even if it’s a minimum amount to their wellness, their healing and personal growth, I fill my heart with gratitude, humility and love. Knowing that yoga is there for me when we I need it helps me feel at ease and knowing that I can bring yoga to others gives me joy.”

Ana plans to continue teaching yoga and possibly enroll in the 300hr Professional Training at Prana in the near future to expand her knowledge and offerings.

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Jennifer Takashi RYT- San Diego, CA
Jennifer is a teacher of many things. She teaches preschool and graduated from Prana’s 200hr training in the spring of 2018. Later that year she opened a studio in Pacific Beach called The Grateful Dandelion where she offers yoga, mindfulness, storytelling and arts to children and adults. She is passionate about offering others skills that can bring calmness and a bit of rejuvenation to their lives.

“I attended Yoga Teacher Training mostly for myself, to deepen my practice and understanding of the Yoga tradition and all its lovely layers. Also, I have taught children’s yoga for years and wanted to build a solid foundation with what I offer and share with the kids. At The Grateful Dandelion I mostly teach children ages 3 ½ -13 years old. My classes include mindfulness, affirmations, visualization and story flows. I have been teaching kids yoga for years, but since getting certified with my 200-hr certification, I opened my own neighborhood studio to support local families and homeschooling families from all over.”

Yoga has helped me to connect to myself and become more aware so that’s I can better listen and modulate the pace I choose for my life. It is also invaluable for my body, as I have a few medical issues that are not a big problem as long as I consistently take care of my body and do the practices it needs. I also feel that yoga has given me to have a framework for sharing with others the valuable choices of mindful living, connecting with yourself and taking time for you in our busy lives.”

Jennifer has continued her yoga education with a Yin Yoga Training with Shauna MacKay at Prana. She sees herself teaching Yin and chair yoga in the future and hopes to continue to grow the number of families she reach through her studio to support the next generation of children and parents to be creative, connected and mindful community members!

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Paty Macias RYT – Porterville, CA
As a full-time elementary teacher living in central California, Paty has a passion to make a difference in the lives of others.

“I started practicing Yoga 18 years ago and I fell in love with it. In the summer of 2018 I graduated from Prana Yoga Teacher Training with my 200-hour certification. I decided to become an instructor because I loved how Yoga provided me with so many physical and emotional benefits and I knew I wanted to offer this to my community. Gerhard and his team are very knowledgeable and strategic they have an effective program designed to get students ready to teach.”

Right after Paty got certified at Prana, she started teaching at a local gym in Porterville. Six months later in January of 2019, she joined Balance By Design CORE Fitness Studio and now teaches at both places. For now, she primarily teaches Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga styles. However, her hope is to keep growing and learn new styles and continue to expand the Yoga community in Porterville.

“Yoga has been a blessing in my life and I love that as an instructor I can make an impact in the lives of others.”

Prana Yoga Center offers the 200-Hour Foundational Teacher Training for aspiring teachers ands interested students in the spring, summer and fall each year. Registration is now open for the upcoming 200-Hour Summer Intensive Training on June 14-30, 2019.