Stephanie Konat

Stephanie grew up in New York spending much of her childhood in ballet and music classes. After a few years in California, Stephanie found her way to the Seattle area 13 years ago. Introduced to Bikram yoga in 2006, her first power class was at The Ashram in 2007. Finding it challenging and intimidating, Gary encouraged Stephanie to persist in her practice, correctly predicting that yoga would become an important part of her life.

Stephanie’s perspective as a yoga instructor is shaped by the humbling, sometimes hilarious, and always gratifying motherhood experiences and teaching in an elementary environment. She delights in witnessing the honesty, clarity, focus and resilience of children, and believes that yoga helps us find our inner compass.

In Stephanie’s classes, her goal is to help students feel tuned in, strong, healthy and happy, both on and off the mat. She will encourage you: to work hard ( but to be gentle with yourself); see challenges as opportunities to hang out, explore, breathe, and grow; to recognize your body’s history and needs; to embrace who you are and where you are. Stephanie also enjoys reading to her classes, selecting what resonates with her in the hope that it will resonate with you. In her classes you will listen to good music, focus on alignment to avoid injury, learn a little anatomy, and have some fun.

Stephanie has been extensively trained by Gary Olson in both power yoga and Transcendental Meditation (TM). In addition, she has studied under several master teachers, including Ashtanga-based power instructor Bryan Kest and Iyengar-based Vinyasa instructor Jason Crandell, who emphasizes alignment in a flow sequence. She has also completed the Shakti Teacher Assisting Program (TAP), and will complete a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification in 2011.

With regards to her practice and training, Stephanie states: “I enjoy experiencing other types of yoga, and believe that these experiences help both my teaching and my practice grow. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share the transformational benefits of yoga with others.”