Sonya Cottle
After earning a BA in psychology from the University of Arizona, Sonya moved to Los Angeles in 1999 to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology. Here she was dragged reluctantly to her first yoga class with Steve Ross that, at the time, turned out to be over her head. Still, she knew immediately that she wanted to learn more about Hatha Yoga. Sonya first began practicing Ashtanga yoga with Chuck Miller in 2000, and then a couple of years later with Maty Ezraty, the founder of Yoga Works.
Since then she has become a dedicated practitioner of the ancient method linking breath with movement though she credits Iyengar teachers such as Lisa Walford and Gabriella Guibilaro as having tremendous influence on her. After taking a desk position at Yoga Works in Santa Monica, Sonya chose to temporarily put aside her plans to pursue Psychology and graduate school and chose instead to take the Yoga Works teacher training with Maty Ezraty and Lisa Walford. In 2006, Sonya received her Yoga Works Teacher Certification. Sonya will be co-teaching her first Yoga Works Teacher Training in Summer 2007 with Annie Carpenter.
Through her daily Ashtanga practice, Sonya has learned to focus her mind as well as tap into an inner strength and peace that no other type of yoga has given her. She believes the practice is the ultimate tool for observation, and feels privileged to be able to share her love of Ashtanga with others. Sonya currently teaches both Ashtanga classes as well as intermediate and advanced flow classes that emphasize the importance of breath, alignment, and finding the challenge and freedom in moving slowly and mindfully.
Sonya has most recently traveled to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga with guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and is already looking forward to returning to India in August.
Sonya's Mysore Style Ashtanga Classes
Monday-Wednesday-Friday (Home Simply Yoga)
10:30am - 12:30pm
Tuesday-Thursday (Home Simply Yoga)
11:30am - 1:30pm
Saturday (Yoga Works Montana)
7:30am-8:55am
Level 2/3
Locations:
Home Simply Yoga
1547 6th Street
Santa Monica, CA
Phone: (310) 899-1930
Yoga Works Montana
1426 Montana ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-393-5150