ANASTAJA

Aja began her yoga practice in 2012 in an effort to cope with childhood trauma, substance abuse, and undiagnosed ADHD. She has since completed over 600hrs of yoga training with programs through the Zen Den Yoga School, Sacred Paths Yoga, Yoga Behind Bars, Ganja Yoga, and has trained with Bex Tryer and Zoe Nash in their program Yin, Yoga, and the Tao. She is a Level II practitioner of the Usui Reiki lineage and is currently studying in traditional Chinese medicine with Zen Shiatsu Chicago Massage School for her shiatsu massage license. In 2020 she was thrilled to be accepted into the restorative justice movement by joining Prison Yoga Chicago. She is currently the lead teacher for Division 6 of Cook County Jail. Additionally, she is a humble student of the Red Road and has learned from indigenous elders in traditional ceremony.

As a teacher, she considers space-holding to be both an honor and an art, and strives to create a sacred container for others to feel held and supported in their healing journey. Her goal is to encourage students to practice from a place of curiosity and compassion while investigating the power of breath-work, movement, mindfulness, and stillness. She is dedicated to helping others cultivate self-awareness and learn to alchemize life in ways that support personal growth, intentional living, and the continued evolution of our collective consciousness. She strongly believes yoga can help us take radical responsibility for ourselves so we can become more effective agents of positive change in our immediate and global communities. Her classes vary from long restorative meditations and gentle flows to challenging vinyasas, and are introspective, light hearted, and balanced.