Hello! I am Sharon! I’ve been teaching yoga in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2008. I moved to Italy in September 2019. I love sharing yoga with anyone who is interested in learning more about this beautiful and strong practice. Since 2002, my yoga practice is the single thing in my life that has brought me joy, grounding, challenge, strength, growth and constant learning.
My mat plays many roles: it is my gym, my laboratory, my therapist, my escape, my way to connect to something bigger than myself. The practice of yoga has helped me find my life purpose – to share yoga with as many people as I can during my lifetime so they can feel connected, empowered, accepted and strong both on their mats and in their everyday lives.
I am a 500-hour certified registered yoga teacher (ERYT 500). I am also a certified personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (CPT). I love to blend these modalities in a vigorous and well balanced power vinyasa yoga classes guided by the power of breath, intelligent sequencing, the elements of our environment and music. I integrate meditation and various strength training techniques into my yoga classes to serve all the needs of your body, mind, heart and soul.
Between 2014 and 2019, I led more than 20 trainings: 8, 200 hour teacher trainings; 4, 50 hour yoga sculpt teacher trainings; 3, 50 hour advanced continuing education teacher trainings; and numerous mentorships with teachers looking to expand their knowledge of intelligent sequencing, physical adjustments and class theming. I love working with and training other teachers – whether you are a new teacher-in-training or a seasoned teacher who has been teaching for many years – I love being a part of a teacher’s learning and growing as they find their authentic voice and teaching style.
I have completed the following teacher trainings:
- Yoga Tree’s 200-hour RYT Teacher Training with Darren Main & Janet Stone in 2007 – 2008
- Shiva Rea’s Prana Flow Teacher Training in 2008
- CorePower Yoga 200-hour Power Yoga Teacher Training, Level 2 Teacher Training, Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training, Hot Power Fusion Teacher Training, and Restorative Teacher Training in 2012 -2013
- Jason Crandell 500 hour advanced yoga teacher training in 2019
- Matsya Yoga Academy 32 hour continuing education Chakra Workshop in January 2023
I am super grateful for my teachers of the past and present as they have inspired my dedication to my own practice and have encouraged me to share the gift of yoga with others. Special shout outs to: Jason Crandell, Les Leventhal, Elise Lorimer, Karl Erb, Darren Main, Janet Stone, Dharma Mittra, Tim Thompson, Laura Camp, Heather Peterson, Pete Guinosso, and every student who has trusted me to guide them through their yoga practice.
In September 2019 I moved to Catania – a lively city on the island of Sicily in the southern most part of Italy. Since moving to Catania, and after venues reopened from pandemic closures, I spent a year as the Yoga Director designing and leading yoga classes at a Vegan Hotel in the Dolomites – located in a breathtaking World UNESCO Heritage Site in Alto Adige, one of Italy’s northern most regions, where I had the opportunity to meet students from all around the world and share the practice of yoga. I currently teach public and private yoga, movement + meditation classes in Sicily and am a cohost of a yoga podcast called Peace, Planks + Prana – dedicated to the yoga experience and ALL things social, spiritual + spicy. My main passion is creating and hosting weeklong experiences that combine yoga, culture, nature + community connection.
I loves how sharing the gift of yoga naturally builds community. In particular, I am drawn to crafting and hosting full immersive experiences for all levels of yogis and humans who are interested in combining a culturally immersive travel and/or retreat experience with the practice of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. These experiences include international weeklong retreats, long weekend get-aways or daylong workshops and community events that bridge yoga + mindfulness practices with the culture, nature and community that surrounds us all.
I aim to create a safe space that encourages students to get into their body in order to calm their systems with movement-based yoga practices, pranayama, meditation, and other mindfulness techniques.
I also enjoy exploring the cultural nooks and crannies of Sicily while sampling all the yummy treats – I fancy local specialties like granita + brioche,seltz e limone, caponata, arancini and pasta alla Norma – just to name a few!
