The LONG story and my own perspective of it if you care to indulge…

Hi! I’m Katie Schiffgen and I’ve been teaching yoga for a little over a decade and practicing on and off for over half of my life. I have learned so much as a practitioner and instructor of yoga and am so passionate about sharing it with anyone and everyone who is willing to open their heart to discovering a deeper part of who they are! I love holding space for people to connect to their bodies and their felt-senses in ways they never have before.

When I first started teaching I was more interested in the physical benefits of yoga. I loved studying alignment and made it a goal for myself as a teacher to find clear, concise, and accessible ways to incorporate sound and sustainable alignment principles into every class. I wanted my classes to be physically accessible to a beginner yogi, but still challenging and stimulating for a more seasoned practitioner. In most of my classes, I use many alignment principles I picked up from years of practicing and studying Anusara Yoga… but I also incorporate teachings from many different styles of yoga that have resonated for me over the years. I don’t subscribe to any “one right way” or any dogmatic approach to yoga… but rather try to offer a more “there’s something here for everyone” type of approach. I am inspired by many of the different teachers and styles of yoga and movement-based practices that I have had the opportunity to learn from along the way!

After a few years of teaching different types of POWER yoga classes, I became increasingly interested in the spiritual side of yoga. I began opening up to slower, more restorative and meditative classes as part of my own personal practice and then eventually as part of my teaching as well. In 2018, I had a transformative experience in a Breathwork class in California. After that I became increasingly interested in different breathwork modalities and Pranayama practices. When my husband and I separated for a couple years in 2019, I discovered the power of various somatic practices to release emotions, reconnect with lost parts of myself, process feelings, and even heal old traumas. When my dog was tragically killed in 2020, I realized how powerful somatic modalities can be in helping to process and heal grief. I am now passionate about sharing this type of healing work with others. I have been facilitating various types of “Breathwork Ceremonies” since 2020 and in 2022 I became certified as a Somatic Breathwork™ Facilitator which has helped me expand my Breathwork offerings to a whole new level. In 2023 I co-founded “Breath & Body School” and we are now about to begin our second round of both the Breathwork Facilitator Training and Yoga Teacher Training!

Beyond facilitating classes, my retreats have become a big part of my offerings as well. Since 2016, I have facilitated or co-faclitated over 30 retreats either in the states or abroad. I absolutely LOVE exploring the world and different cultures and sharing it with people who are willing to step out of their comfort zone to explore this great big, beautiful earth with me! Retreats are an excellent way to experience new places; they are expansive, reflective, and transformative; they are a perfect blend of mindfulness, movement, relaxation, play, and adventure!

Over the years, I have become a more intuitive practitioner and facilitator because of my own continuing studies, experiences, and exploration of the many different avenues of these practices. I am often attending various classes, workshops, immersions, and trainings of all different kinds. I am just finishing up with a certification in a modality called TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) and I could not be more excited to share this modality with anyone who is willing to listen!!! More and more, I am realizing how much tension and trauma WE ALL HOLD INSIDE. Finding different tools and ways of processing, expressing, releasing, and EXPANDING back into our most authentic selves — is ultimately what I have become most passionate about.

Ten(+) years after beginning my teaching journey, I now teach from a much more integrated and embodied place than when I first began as an instructor. My yoga classes are authentic, heartfelt, and approachable — with a focus on the breath, physical alignment, and functional mobility. My Breathwork offerings are accessible for all and transformative for many people even after just one class. I believe that alignment in our bodies goes hand in hand with alignment in our lives… the more aware and aligned we become inside, the more that is reflected outwardly; as above, so below.

My sincere hope is that I can provide a safe, loving container for my students/clients to become more curious about their own inner worlds; for them to actually FEEL and connect with their body and the energy that flows through them every moment of every day. I hope that after taking my class, you step back out into the world feeling a bit more aligned, connected, and inspired to walk through life with more playfulness, openness, and surrender— with the capacity to feel it all and embrace it all. Less judgement, more curiosity.

xoxo, bless up!💗