Sonja Rzepski
One of the elements of Yoga Thailand that speaks to me on many levels is the simple beginning each day with a sincere moment of gratitude. I believe on many levels this is a brilliant act of faith and humility at the same time.
There are moments of realization and clarity in life that tend to stick with us. One of my first was when I was about 6 years old and my mother, who works with disabled children, brought me to work with her. That day I met a girl about my age that was completely paralyzed from the neck down and the only way she could communicate was with a pointer stick attached to a hat. My memory was not of fear or distaste, but of utter awe at this girl's ability and dexterity. I can remember looking down at my own working limbs like I'd never noticed them before; a child's awareness of the complexity of life, and at the same time, a moment of gratitude. In a way, I think in that moment, I decided I wanted to make use of what I had, this ability to walk freely in the world, to skip, jump, and be strong. When I was older it took the form of running marathons, and learning to fly on the trapeze. It made sense to express myself physically, to push the envelope. But having a young start at athleticism, by my mid twenties, my body had already worked real hard.
Then when working as a young trainer in New York City, a client of mine encouraged me to go along to a yoga class she was fond of, to help my aches and pains. I had only associated yoga with meditation and didn't know anything about the physical practice and so I went along. Paul Dallaghan was the teacher, and literally by the end of the class I was completely convinced that this was something I needed to study. Paul directed me to a Mysore studio in the neighborhood and I had this feeling of coming home after a long trip, it was just right. And even though I was physically training intensely at the time, the yoga challenged me on much deeper level. The wholeness of the practice made me want to dive into it even further.
Always a lover of movement and physical challenge, at first it took a while to let go of my competitive mindset, even if the only competitor was myself. The journey of yoga began to change my life and perspective in ways I had never ever expected.
Through my work as a trainer I wanted to share this and decided to do my yoga teacher training with Centered Yoga. Since then I have had the opportunity to study with many wonderful teachers of the Ashtanga tradition and fondly with Guruji himself.
Since then I have been working in the field of integrative wellness. Incorporating the sensibilities of exercise physiology and the strong traditions of our yoga practice.
On a practical level I am passionate about the integration of the scientific and the holistic disciplines. I believe that true knowledge, and the pursuit of self-discovery, is the root of our own personal evolution and growth. I have had the honor of working with a broad scope of ages, cultures, and socioeconomic groups. Being a mother I absolutely also enjoy specializing in women's health and especially prenatal yoga. Prenatal yoga is a natural time for cultivating abundance of good health. My intention is to continue to embrace the yogic path, and work with others to cultivate their own sense of harmony and balance.
Whether I am working in a school, yoga studio setting, or on physical rehabilitation, each of my students are an individual with something to contribute to the world, and I strive to help them do that with integrity and joy. And they in turn teach me.
Many thanks to Paul and Jutima at Yoga Thailand for creating a place that is both healing and at the same time illuminating, elevating minds and hearts.
Retreats 
Training
Wellness
