Lara Warren

Lara began practicing yoga at age 14, inspired by the photos in B.K.S. Iyengar’s “Light on Yoga”, and taught her first class while studying Environmental Science at the University of East Anglia in the UK. Her first teacher in New York was Robin Janis, to whom she is deeply grateful for her insight on muscle intelligence and the power of demonstration. The teachers that have shaped Lara most profoundly are Mary Dunn and Geeta Iyengar. She has made seven two-monthvisits to Pune and continues to study online weekly with Prashant, Abhijata and Raya, as well as online classes with Stephanie Quirk, her mentor.

Lara began teaching yoga in her 20s and opened her own studio at age 27, so yoga has been her career. She has also booked jazz groups in clubs, organized adult classes for the Learning Alliance, and has trained young people to create environmental improvement projects through New York’s Environmental Council.

Lara has mentored countless aspiring teachers and serves as an assessor for IYNAUS; she has volunteered for the New York Institute Council; and she has participated in numerous Yogathons over the years. She also serves on her local community board and supports the ACLU and Advocates for Trans Equality. She enjoys playing guitar, ceramics, studying French and being a mother and good friend.

Lara’s teaching style can be described as Supporting, Encouraging, Adaptable, Insightful and Playful. Her advice to a new student is: as soon as you can, begin practicing on your own. The instructions your teacher gives are foundational, but it’s essential to begin listening to yourself just as attentively, so you can cultivate a personal, experiential understanding of the asanas and how they affect your well-being. Oh, and don’t forget to breathe!  Her favorite quote from B.K.S. Iyengar is: “I don't bring yesterday's poses to today's practice. I know yesterday's poses… I don't want yesterday's experience. I want to see what new understanding may come in addition to what I felt up to now.”