Today we’d like to introduce you to Toniann Monaco.
Hi Toniann, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was introduced to yoga at the age of 18 in my hometown, Philadelphia. I decided to enroll in Yoga Teacher Training in 2017 to deepen my practice & received my 200 RYT with zero plans of teaching. Shortly after (just for fun), I started teaching once a week at a gym and fell in love with teaching! Within the same year, I found Sweat Yoga and now specialize in teaching their Chizle format (yoga sculpt). I’ve also received my Yoga Barre certification in 2020 and now teach barre at Shanti Hot Yoga Culver City! Outside of group classes I love to teach private sessions and combine all 3: vinyasa, yoga sculpt & barre!
I also freelance as a hairstylist. I’ve been cutting and coloring hair for 14 years! I went to Jean Madeline Aveda Institute and received my cosmetology license immediately after high school. I’ve always had a natural knack for hair from a young age, styling all my friend’s hair for school dances and eventually cutting my stepfather Bruce’s hair with his boisterous encouragement (you have to start somewhere, right?)! You can schedule a yoga private or a hair consultation with me through my website balancedbytoniann.com.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Hah! Absolutely not, but that’s the bittersweet beauty of life & your own personal journey. Between freelancing as a hairstylist and teaching yoga some of my struggles consisted of getting the teaching time slots that worked with the rest of my schedule by working my way up, learning when to say no & hold space for what serves me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For yoga, I specialize in Yoga Sculpt (Chizle at Sweat Yoga Playa Vista). I teach to the highest level student and offer modifications for those who aren’t as experienced so everyone gets the best workout for them without feeling discouraged. I’m most proud of the community I’ve grown and how students who have moved out of state or out of the country still make time to come to my class if they’re in Los Angeles visiting!
For hair, I specialize in balayage! I love the creative freedom to “paint” on hair and the finished result ends in a diffused root with pops and splashes of brightness throughout the ends, beautiful grow out and natural glow! I’ve been a hairstylist for 14 years and taken countless courses, but I’m most proud of my time learning in Mayfair, London at Vidal Sassoon.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
David J Witchell Salon in Newtown, PA taught me everything I know in the hair industry. The education he offered and the amount of hard work it took to get a chair on the floor at his salon shaped the rest of my career! I will forever be grateful for David and the rest of the educational team at DJW!
Dana Claire from Sweat Yoga pushed me to learn the Chizle format and she also certified me in yoga barre. She gave me the positive encouragement & feedback to succeed in the yoga profession!
Contact Info:
- Website: Balancedbytoniann.com
- Instagram: Toniannmonaco
