Ali Reina’s yoga journey first began in 2014 when she took a class at West End Yoga to help prepare her body physically for a half marathon. She soon realized that yoga offered more than just physical benefits. Yoga provided her the mind-body-soul connection that alleviated any worries and anxieties that she brought to the mat. She was amazed at how present and mindful she could be during a yoga practice.
A chronic health diagnosis a year later limited her physically as she was unable to exercise in the same way… level 1 and gentle yoga classes were the only types of exercise that she was able to do. The use of props and modifications of traditional poses provided her the physical support she needed to reap the same mental and emotional benefits from yoga. For her, yoga became a critical part of her healing journey and lifestyle change.
A classroom teacher for 11 years, Ali decided to follow a new path in teaching others about the mind-body connection yoga has to offer. She instills patience, creativity, and empathy into her yoga instruction. By providing a variety of differentiation and support in her classes, she hopes to individualize her instruction to make yoga accessible for all participants. She received her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at West End Yoga (2021) and is also certified in Yin Yoga (2020), Chair Yoga (2021), and Yoga Nidra (2023). Her website is www.gentlewavesyoga.com.
