Niccola Iovino, CYT

Niccola found yoga six years ago after making the big move from New England to Chicago. She came to yoga as a means of checking out of the chaos in her life while attempting to find herself. Yoga has served as a bridge between her mind and body and has become both a lifestyle and personal journey.

Astanga yoga fascinated her immediately, especially the 'just do it' philosophy, '99% practice, 1% theory'. She has studied the astanga yoga system with Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India and with Lino Miele in Kerala, India, and is just finding her niche in the teaching community.

After returning from South India, Niccola wanted to spread the word on the benefits of a daily practice while encouraging others to do so too. She has been fortunate enough to study with Tim Miller, Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, Paul Dallaghan, Kino McGregor, and her daily Mysore teachers, Bill Shapleigh and Lisa Hill.

Niccola expresses the importance of dristis, bandhas and breath as tools for strengthening and focusing both the mind and practice. Forever a student, she encourages her students to explore the practice, repeatedly telling them that all will come 'eventually!'

Niccola completed her teacher training at Moksha Yoga Center in 2005 and has taken Tim Miller's Astanga Teacher Training in Tulum, Mexico. She holds a degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and is a published writer in newspapers and magazines.

March 2008 Teacher Feature