Deanna

Deanna celebrates Yoga’s power in cultivating self-realization and nourishing the mind-body-spirit.  She’s been teaching and mentoring since 2007 and is the founder of Dhyana Yoga Arts in Chester NJ. 

Deanna specializes in Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis, and also teaches Vinyasa, Yoga Rope Wall, & Restorative Yoga.  She’s known as a teacher who shares Yoga with depth, clarity & heart - creating space that’s conducive for students to learn, step-by-progressive-step, to empower themselves in their practice.

Her clear, compassionate teaching style is informed by over 25 years of experience in movement and creative arts as well as experience overcoming chronic back and sciatic pain associated with scoliosis.

After directing her energy to writing, literature, and theater arts at Rutgers University, Deanna studied acting and movement in NYC, where she first recognized the effects that chronic back and sciatic pain were having on her body and mind.  She explored many Eastern & Western modalities - it was when she found Yoga and Meditation that she realized her innate capacity for healing and transformation (scroll down for more on her backcare journey). 

Deanna emphasizes the power of practice with high quality attention to cultivate equanimity, clarity, compassion, and peace.  Her classes weave Yoga philosophy, conscious alignment, breath, and movement into a meditative practice.  She guides students to attune to their unique needs, build focus and strength, and calm the mind. 

Deanna has trained with a range teachers, most notably: Vinyasa with Ali Cramer, Deborah Bagg & Stacey Brass;  Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis with Alison West, Rachel Jesien, Kaitlyn Hipple, and Deborah Wolk;  Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater; Aerial Yoga with Chris Harrison; Buddhism and Fourth Way with Michael Hewett. She’s also a certified Ayurvedic Health Coach by Dinacharya Institute & AVP in India. Her experience teaching, training & assisting at Yoga Union Backcare & Scoliosis Center and Samamkaya in NYC have inspired her backcare work. She is eternally grateful for her meditation teacher, Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi, and for the presence of all of her teachers.

Deanna creates wellness programs tailored to each individual’s unique needs including holistic health “tools” for daily life and self-awareness. She looks forward to supporting you in your Yoga and Wellness journey!

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Want to know a little more?

The Roots of my Backcare Journey

I am a lover of learning and deep inquiry. As a child, I’ve always been an empath and felt connected to what I now call unconditional love, the divine and Self-awareness. 

In my early 20s when I graduated from Rutgers and continued on to Acting school in NYC, I was having chronic back and sciatic pain associated with scoliosis. It often felt debilitating. It impacted my work, study and daily activities. I experienced fear, blockage and confusion that commonly comes with spinal issues. It was difficult to sit or stand for even short periods of time. I regularly wanted to find places to lay down and rest so I didn’t have to hold my spine up. 

I tried many Eastern & Western avenues of treatment, but none that created lasting change for me… until I found Yoga and Meditation. I realized I could empower myself to take an active role in my own healing and transformation. 

After meeting my meditation teacher, a true Yogi and Swami from India, I dedicated myself to Yogic study, meditation, and self-exploration. I traveled and lived in Costa Rica for a few months in a meditation village to focus totally on these things without distraction, had many realizations and healing experiences, and eventually returned to NYC to become a yoga teacher. 

I discovered a deepening of purpose, presence, self-love, and ability to tune into my inner teacher and Source.

At first I did the training with the intention to let it be an investment in myself that would support me throughout my life. I didn’t know yet that I wanted to teach.  

Pronoia (the universe conspiring for you) set in, and I began to teach all over New York and New Jersey, gaining experience teaching in all types of venues and with all types of people, privately and in group settings. 

My yogic training originally began in a devotional community full of creativity, joy and rebel mystic yogi tradition. I was fascinated by yogic study and went on to train in ayurveda, restorative yoga, aerial yoga, Tibetan buddhism, and other spiritual traditions.

Eventually I realized I needed more support in the physical realm. I realized no yoga teachers in my circles really knew how to work with my unique back issues… they didn’t know how to answer my questions about scoliosis and asymmetry or help me to address persistent physical discomfort in certain poses or everyday activities.

I went on to train with and assist world-renowned Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis specialists and teach at the two main Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis centers in New York City. I discovered I could work with own back challenges and scoliosis in a conscious way and change the habitual patterns that were not serving me, and I loved being able to share this specialized knowledge tailored to each individual’s unique needs. 

Since then, I’ve worked with thousands of students with all types of back issues, including scoliosis, herniation, stenosis, spondilolysthesis, spinal fusions, and general back pain.

I feel blessed to have worked with dedicated students in NY, NJ and across the US & Europe throughout many years of teaching (since 2007) and over 25 years in movement and creative arts. I adore my community at Dhyana Yoga Arts yoga studio in Chester, NJ, where I offer online and in-person group and 1:1 sessions and teacher trainings.

Along with my amazing team, we’ve cultivated a kind-hearted, welcoming community of people who appreciate our well-rounded approach to Yoga. Our students learn that Yoga is so much more than poses, and that Yoga is vast. Students often say they’re drawn here because it’s a place for true Yoga. 

I’m happy to be doing what I love, teaching, mentoring, specializing in Yoga for Backcare & Scoliosis and leading Yoga Teacher Trainings in Alignment Vinyasa, Restorative Yoga, Rope Wall, Yoga Philosophy and more. One of my gifts is making Yoga accessible for people of all levels, ages, and abilities. My students love to share with me how their lives have transformed with this work and that it helps them do the things they love to do with joy and ease.

If you’ve read this far, thank you - I hope this is the beginning of our relationship and connection. I’m here to serve and am committed to sharing the best of my experience and what I’m living and learning. And I want to learn more about you too.

The best way to share and stay connected is to become a DYA Insider. I usually share things weekly and am dedicated to providing content that nourishes and inspires - just click the button below and add your name and email - and feel free to tell me a little about yourself.

Thank you for taking the time to visit - I know your time and attention are precious resources. I feel honored to walk along the Yoga path with you and to support you in nourishing your body, mind and spirit.

with love,

Deanna

Right now, I’m offering a free online Masterclass available for a limited time - this is focused toward students with scoliosis but it’s also for you if you have other back conditions, such as herniation, stenosis, spondilolysthesis or general back pain.

From a student who completed my most recent Online 5 Month Yoga for Scoliosis course:

Dear Deanna,

This is not a good-bye thank you note as I am quite certain you will be in my life for a good long time. But the end of the class seems like a good time to reflect back to you what a difference you have made in my life.

When I first came to work with you I was, well, broken. I had lived with pain for so long and was completely demoralized. Backcare yoga seemed like a last straw, but I have always been willing to try anything to be able to manage my pain.

My goodness. After a few short months I am virtually pain free, and when I do feel discomfort I know exactly what to do. You have given me so many tools to deploy and taught me so much about my own body.

And while I’m at it you are a great teacher. Clear, fun, non-intimidating. Your instructions are so precise but as you like to say “just an inch can make a big difference.” Other Deanna-isms that will stay with me “it’s not fair to call it practice if you don’t do it more than once;” “be curious;” “invitation to go to bus stop two…”

Thank you, thank you, thank you. See you in the Zoom room.

Fond regards, Michele