When Naoko started taking yoga as a way to reinforce her dance training she thought yoga practice would be a piece of cake. As a modern dancer since 2003, she was accustomed to long rigorous workouts and preforming in many venues as a way to express her unique self, but she never felt comfortable expressing her voice in English, especially as a teacher. Through yoga, for the first time in her life, she found confidence in her own voice. She overcame the obstacles of being a non-native speaker with the support of her yoga community and the discovery that so many possibilities were inherent in the challenges.
Naoko completed Vinyasa teacher training in 2004 and Anusara teacher training in 2008 at the World Yoga Center. As an Anusara Inspired teacher, Naoko brings her own experiences and practice to her teaching and empowers students to know the rich, innate freedom accessed from within. Now she actively teaches both individual and public classes in English and Japanese, and enjoys sharing her unique voice in classes with a slightly foreign flavor. Her specialties are a strong understanding of body alignment and movement that allow students to deepen one’s level of practice and bring about therapeutic benefits. Naoko is grateful to John Friend, Rudrani Farbman, Jackie Prete, Zhenja la Rosa, Marjorie Nass and all her teachers and students.
