Shannon Thomas

When I was in my mid-twenties I was living in a primitive shelter 6 miles on foot from the nearest town. Curious about yoga, I bought an Ashtanga book out of the discount bin at the bookstore. I took it out onto a sand firebreak and did the yoga poses right on the ground. Eventually, I moved back into a more mainstream life and began taking classes in a studio. Working with teachers added depth to my practice as they helped me correct the bad habits I’d developed on my own. Over the past 20 years I’ve practiced many forms of yoga. My teaching incorporates this breadth of experience - a class with me is likely to include kundalini-style spinal work, a healthy focus on the pelvic floor and flow-style yoga mixed in with a few yin-style long holds. I only teach what I know through my own body. This embodiment helps me translate theory into practice and create meaningful classroom experiences for students. I’m an experienced yoga teacher with over 2000 teaching hours and I’m certified as a health coach from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. I am owner of Open Way Yoga where I teach classes, lead workshops and co-facilitate our teacher training program. In 2014 I was on The Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid episode set in Belize. My yoga and mindfulness practices contributed to my being able to successfully complete the 21 day challenge. I focus on wellness and self-care like it’s a full time job and I love helping others dissolve the illusive barrier between mind and body and discover the wealth of knowledge inherent in their own bodies. I seem to have inexhaustible enthusiasm for wellness, yoga, wilderness skills, plants... and about 50 other things. I love being a part of Open Way Yoga... It’s a beautiful space, centered around yoga, wellness, art, and community.