Paola Ceccarini started her yoga journey in 1998 because of—or rather, thanks to—her bad back. She studied Anusara Yoga for six years with John Friend and other senior Anusara teachers, completing both the Willow Street Yoga Center Teacher Training with Suzie Hurley and the Yoga Therapy Training with Jenny Otto. Paola has been continuing her studies with Rod Stryker, founder of Para Yoga, a lineage steeped in the Tantric tradition. The literal meaning of Tantra is "to expand beyond all limitations", and a Para Yoga practice aims at transforming the whole person through a sequential combination of asana, breath work, meditation, chanting, and other practices. Having experienced the deep, transformational effect of these practices in her own body and life, Paola is dedicated to sharing this gift with her students through teaching, with empathy, encouragement, and humor. During the past year she has also been studying Reiki at the Reiki Center of Greater Washington, completing both the Reiki Level I and Level II courses. Back