My yoga story.

Stephi Dernek, Yoga Alliance RYT 200 Certified Yoga Teacher

Stephanie came to yoga while in college in 2001 by accident.  Immediately she connected with the physical aspects of the practice.  Stephanie was blessed early on with teachers that helped ground her practice in the foundations of yoga; breath, good alignment and the basics of the yogic practice.

As time passed yoga ebbed and flowed through her life, coming to back to yoga when ailments such as back pain, training for a marathon or stress reared itself.   Whenever she came back to yoga, it felt like coming home, immediate peace, sense of strength, higher purpose, and a communion of herself wholly.

In January 2011 Stephanie traveled to India to immerse herself fully in the yogic lifestyle and completed a yoga teacher training through Tribe Yoga training program.  The teacher training provided a platform to be fully immersed in all aspects of yoga including; Asana (yoga poses), Pranayama (breath exercises), Meditation, Philosophy, Anatomy, Physiology, Teaching skills, Adjustments and Chanting.  The Asana practice and study was based on a Modified Ashtanga Primary Series and Vinyasa Flow but also integrated Yin Yoga and Acro Yoga.  Stephanie has continued her study and practice since returning from India including workshops with Max Strom, Erich Schiffmann and Seane Corn.

As an activist, Stephanie connects her daily yoga practice to her work and sees it as a part of her life as a mission to work toward a just and sustainable world.  “I want my life to reflect the world I am working toward; inclusive, safe, and accessible.” Connecting my activism and yoga helps me to a centered peaceful place and able to continue in struggle for justice.

Using the power of “yuj” coming together, the communities’ positive energy from a class, the light we send out to heal the world, and our own brokenness, pain, suffering.  Yoga is a personal practice that extends out to the community around us, our mother earth, and to all that is beyond our comprehension.  We do not know the impact of our actions so why not make them positive and life giving for our fellow companions on this journey of life.  Stephanie is committed to bringing yoga to as many people as she can and believes that there is a yogic practice out there for us all.  She invites you to join her and let your journey with yoga begin.

My work as an activist/organizer and social change worker.

Stephanie worked in Chicago for over a decade at a multi-issue peace and social justice organization where her work included ranged from international to local around urgent human and environmental justice issues.  Her vision for justice work acknowledges the interconnectedness of all the issues we face in society.  As Martin Luther King Jr. stated an, ” Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

To work for justice means working across issues, connecting and recognizing that the changes needed stem from power over structures and institutions.  She has a B.A. in Political Science and M.A. in Social Justice.

Stephanie moved to Michigan in 2013 to run a non profit focused on public health and environmental issues.  She is excited to be living in Detroit and sharing her passion for yoga, self care, peace and justice.