“The greatest joy for me is witnessing the profound healing transforming from the practices of ashtanga yoga therapy and ayurveda bettering lives and mentoring beautiful souls from all walks of life taking charge of their health and wellbeing. I am honored to share my experiences and expertise. The opportunity to mentor one to breathe well and how to integrate living yoga, is known as seva, the highest gift of Yoga and Life. This is my Dharma. ”
Christina Martini, Senior Teacher and Owner of Shala Santosha Ashtanga Yoga & Ayurveda Wellness . A direct student of Manju Jois, the oldest son of K. Pattabhi Jois, recognized worldwide as the foremost authority on Ashtanga yoga.
Christina has devoted her healing journey to trusting the Traditional Lineage of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Ayurveda from her mid 20’s to present as not only a way of living but her medicine for optimal health and healing. She is honored to be part of a special family being Blessed, Certified, Authorized for All Level of Practice by her Great Teacher, Manju Jois which her yearly ongoing lifelong studies and training with him expands her skills and approach to Holistic Ashtanga & Ayurveda Yoga Therapy. In addition, Christina honors the knowledge passed onto her by mentorship, guidance, trainings and teachings of other master teachers, David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Tim Miller, David Swenson, Maty Ezraty, Ken Harukuma and Jo Ichihara.
Christina has a clinical background in health care and is Certified in Ayurveda Wellness, Perfect Health, Total Wellbeing Educator from Deepak Chopra Center “ With deep gratitude I bow before ALL the teachers who have paved the path before us with our devotion and dedication as forever students, devoted practitioner, authorized teachers, the practice of yoga and ayurveda itself is the true teacher and to honor the knowledge, teachings, traditions transmitted from teacher to students is known as Parampara.
Christina has 25+ years of teaching Ashtanga Yoga therapeutic approach to practitioners of all levels, beginners to advance, with acute, chronic illness, pre existing conditions, injuries and post operative recovery. Christina works with conditions from Infertility, Pregnancy, MS, Parkinson, Cancer, Cholesterol, Hypertension, Seizures, Obesity, Insomnia, Cardiovascular, PTSD, Diabetes, Stress Management, Substance and Alcohol cessation and Lifestyle changes. Read some of her Testimonials here. Reviews from her Clients
She continues to hold an active nursing license for 20+ years and a Certified Cancer Patient Health Advocate and Nurse Navigator for Chronic diagnosis through Harold P. Freeman Patient Nurse Navigator Institute. She remains active in advocacy for excellence in care as a member with the Association Oncology of Nurse Navigation, American College of Lifestyle Medicine, American Holistic Nurses Association,Yoga Alliance Registered School and Educator, Donor to Yoga Gives Back Foundation. Seva to Yoga for Veterans and Yoga for Cancer.
My Teaching Mission is a Path of My Seva- Dharma (Service & Calling) to this life : I am an advocate devoted to transforming lives for the better. I have a passion to share, teach and guide my clients and students through the journey I have experienced and believe that impacted my perfect health, to bring me daily joy and purpose in life offering the eastern ancient spiritual practices of Ashtanga Yoga 8 limbs, Ashtanga Vinyasa Physical Yoga Practice, Pranyama- Breathwork, Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda Health & Lifestyle Coaching and Integrative Complementary Wellbeing Practices.
Treat the root cause from the inside out, eastern therapies empowers the practitioner with the art of healing by taking care of the whole ( Mind, Body, Spirit) so that we can create and expand our greatest potential for awareness, consciousness and mindfulness. It is not just about treating the symptoms but rather teaching how to create a lifestyle that could or would eliminate the problem or conditions.
For me personally, Yoga and Ayurveda takes care of Total Wellness : Physical, Mental and Spiritual. Ashtanga Yoga ( Ashta - eight ) ( Anga - limbs) Yoga ( to yoke or harness mind, body and soul) and Ayurveda (Ayur - Longevity) Veda ( knowledge) are art of self care and transformation of 5000 + years ago, It worked then and continues to work today. It transforms us from our present state of conditions/disease ( ragi) to a state without conditions/disease (nirogi) finally to a state of health ( yogi-yogini)
I personally believe that you have to place a priority to take care of you. It takes time to build the habits, disciplines, commitments and trust through the process. For Acute conditions you might need both western and eastern medicine, it is important to educate yourself of each disciplines and practices to let it do what it does best. For Chronic conditions adapting a lifestyle for prevention and / or managing for reversal of conditions, begin new lifestyle habits such as; meditation, yoga, breath practice, ayurveda, regular exercise, control of appetite, changing your attitude from negative, anger, resentment to positive acceptance, forgiveness, contentment. This then brings us to Physical, Mental, Spiritual Wellness.
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One my greatest asset as a teacher of this practice is my insightful skills of assessment, being intuitive, interconnected, observant from my years of clinical healthcare knowledge. I understand the need for both allopathic and eastern therapies, adjuvant therapy. I am highly knowledgeable in biology, anatomy and physiology and disease -diagnosis management including pharmacology of prescribed medications. The ages of my students/clients ranges from early teens, 20’s to 90’s. I have worked with many patients, clients, practitioners over the years with conditions from cancer, sports injuries, pre and post surgery ( feet, ankle, hand, knee, hip, shoulder, back) pregnancy ( prenatal and post ) high & low blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, weight management, insomnia, stress management, parkinson’s, recovering from TIA, heart attack, CVA - stroke , chronic bronchitis, allergies, asthma, autoimmune (psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, connective tissue diseases, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hyper / Hypo thyroid, Hashimoto's, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease) to name a few.
I offer thoughtful guidance within my scope of practice both as a nurse and yoga therapy teacher with deep respect to complement and work together with your health care team of professionals when needed. East and West are necessary when needed.
I encourage challenge, development and creating perfect health and balance as these are attributes that can nourish and support our vitality, longevity, mental and physical wellbeing.
As a Yoga teacher and forever student dedicated to this therapeutic lineage, I am grateful for all the authentic traditions, culture, teachings, years of research, experiments, knowledge and blessings passed onto me for 25+ years by my teachers who lay down solid foundations of Ashtanga Yoga and Ayurveda. I advocate for anyone to develop a ritual- regular - daily practice and to be consistent. My lesson plans is what I refer to as care plan and together we have SMART Goals - homework for improving our lifestyle, health and overall wellbeing.
All adjustments are when necessary. I have a great understanding of the human body, conditions, diagnosis, its biology, anatomy and physiology from my years of health care experience and it’s dynamics to our internal and external wellbeing therefore building a student-teacher relationship helps enhance strength, range of motion, flexibility, conditioning, improves weaknesses, limitations, and create the most appropriate teaching care plan and practice for that particular individual, student/practitioner.