DISCOVER YOUR
INNER STAR.

In today's fast-paced world where overwhelm and dissatisfaction abound, I support my clients to taproot their innate vitality, joy and purpose. With two masters degrees in Asian studies and over twenty years of experience as a practitioner of yoga and meditation, I complement these wisdom practices with a deep understanding of interpersonal neurobiology and the science of happiness. As a teacher and coach I provide tailored guidance and resources to fit the needs and aspirations of my clients.

About

This life you must know as the tiny splash of a raindrop—a thing of beauty that disappears even as it comes into being. Therefore recall your inspiration and your aspiration: resolve to make use of every day and every night to realize them.

- TSONGKAPA, 14TH CENTURY TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONK

INNER STAR YOGA

WHAT IS INNER STAR YOGA?

‘Yoga’ means to connect. Many people today feel disconnected--disconnected from their bodies, disconnected from each other, disconnected from nature and disconnected from a larger sense of meaning in life beyond the daily grind. The wisdom traditions of Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism and Ayurveda provide frameworks and practices through which we can cultivate ease, presence and purpose in our personal and interpersonal lives. For the past twenty-five years I have immersed myself in these traditions as a scholar and practitioner. I bring you Inner Star Yoga as a synthesis of these ancient practices tailored to the individual needs of the modern practitioner. It is my belief that our collective well-being depends on each of us feeling connected to our moment-to-moment experience in the body.

WHAT DOES A SESSION LOOK LIKE?

Inner Star Yoga includes practices to nourish and support the body, mind and heart. These practices include mind training (meditation), movement, and inner practices for the heart drawn from both Chinese meridian theory and the most current understanding of neuroscience and the science of happiness.I work with individuals, couples, groups, corporate teams and families. Each session has an arc: arriving and grounding attention in the body and moment-to-moment awareness --> gentle movements to stimulate the flow of energy in the body--> returning to the ground and a space of contemplation and integration. After a session clients report feeling more calm, revitalized, balanced and clear.

Inner Star Yoga

MY BACKGROUND

TRAINING

Insight Yoga Institute 500-hour Teacher Training
Spirit Rock Yoga & Dharma 200-hour Teacher Training

SCHOLARSHIP

Brown University, M.A. in Chinese art history
Harvard University, M.A. in East Asian Studies
Dartmouth College, B.A. in History

PRACTICE

Buddha Dharma training at Cambridge Insight Meditation Center in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center, California
23 years of yoga practice in a full range of styles including: Iyengar, Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Yin and Prajna Yoga

CONTACT

TESTIMONIALS

"Somatic awareness is underrated in our culture. Vanessa's time with us, the morning of an important strategy conversation, gave us a chance to inhabit our bodies consciously, to breath and stretch together and enter our meeting time centered. While difficult to prove, I believe we were more resourceful and creative because of the foundation she created for us. Musicians always tune their instruments before performing, athletes practice before the game, time with Vanessa fine tunes and elevates your teams capacity.“

- CORPORATE CLIENT