Today we’d like to introduce you to Shayna Hiller.
Shayna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After attending four years of college in Rhode Island, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. At the time, I was dealing with a lot of anxiety and insomnia, and yoga was something that helped me cope. So I chose to begin studying yoga at the ripe age of 20. I took my first Yoga Teacher Training in 2006 and have been teaching yoga and hosting retreats and trainings ever since.
Throughout that time, I’ve received various other certifications in holistic nutrition, coaching, Shamanic Chinese Medicine and women’s healing arts. While my career as a yoga teacher and coach has been a rewarding blessing, I have recently added women’s sensuality/womb wisdom and relationship/intimacy guidance to my offerings. Having cured myself from an eating disorder and ten years without my menstrual cycle, as well as overcoming shame around my sexuality as a woman, I feel beyond guided to share practices, teachings and rituals to support the healing and awakening of the Divine Feminine so women can reclaim their power, pleasure, prosperity and wholeness. I currently reside between Los Angeles and Maui and host virtual courses, 1:1 mentorship programs, womens’ retreats and private couples’ retreats with my fiance.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Has my journey been easy? No way! I struggled with an eating disorder for many years, which is what propelled my desire to learn about nutrition. That being said, all the yoga and nutrition knowledge in the world was not helping me heal. In fact, it sometimes even made it worse because at the time, I was very much a ‘Type A’ personality, so the more rigid and disciplined I could keep my food and my life, the ‘better’ I felt. But I only felt better in my mind. My body was suffering. It wasn’t until I began my exploration of Taoism, Tantra and the Sacred Feminine Arts that I learned how to soften and come back to my body in a gentler way. I finally got to the ‘root’ of it. There have been many other challenges along the way, which would take me forever to write. That being said, I view life’s *inevitable* challenges as growing pains or ‘initiations’. I find that my biggest challenges come at the cusp of a big life shift or an ‘upgrade’ of sorts. Therefore, I have no regrets, for if it weren’t for my struggles, I wouldn’t be here today doing what I do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Professionally, I am a teacher and coach. I offer a modern multidisciplinary approach to healing and well-being for women and couples which draws from the lineages Yoga, Tantra, Tao Healing Arts, leadership/empowerment coaching, and ritual/ceremony. My work involves discussion, teaching, somatic practices, breath work, meditation, energy work and other embodiment practices. All of my work is trauma-sensitive. I also occasionally host virtual Yoga Teacher Trainings and when I’m in LA, I teach several public yoga classes at Shefayoga in Venice Beach. I also teach virtual meditation classes on a weekly basis for Unplug Meditation in Santa Monica.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is playing outside in my backyard, looking for worms and insects and bird nests. I LOVED nature (and still do!) My parents had a little shed which, to me at the time, felt like it was ‘in the forest’ but it was really just nestled amongst a few trees in the backyard. I decorated the entire shed with my toys and even slept in there a times. It’s literally where the lawnmower was. I loved the feeling of having my own little cabin in the woods and a private space all to myself!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shaynahiller.com
- Instagram: @shaynahiller
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaynaBrielle
Image Credits
@beaucampbellphotography @prudence.fontaine Names: Beau Campbell and Prudence Fontaine
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