About

 

 

 

Aloha, I am Sophia Dondero.  I am a long time vegan, animal lover, and avid student of yoga. Together with my daily practice of yoga and meditation I am living life with more intention, expanded awareness, joy and love.  

 I was first introduced to yoga on the North Shore of Oahu in 2004.  I began practicing yoga to increase flexibility and prevent injury due to an active lifestyle of horseback riding, snowboarding, surfing and mountain biking.  As I gained increased flexibility and strength I also recognized that I was experiencing a deeper sense of calm and a greater clarity of my thoughts and intentions. The more I practiced the more I experienced happiness and vibrancy in my life. I was not only hooked- I was in love.

 In 2014 I began my yoga teacher training journey with Wanderlust on Oahu. Diving deeper in 2015 I completed Steve Ross’s yoga teacher training at Maha Yoga in Los Angeles followed in 2016 with Yoga Six teacher training in San Diego. In 2018 I went on to take Bryan Kest’s Online yoga teacher training and then to Yandara in Mexico. And the list continues to expand as the deeper I go into the yoga the more alive I feel. 

 My favorite styles are vinyasa and yin yoga. I enjoy teaching a strong, power class with many opportunities to increase challenge or create more support.  I also enjoy teaching sweet and gentle flows and Yin, Restore classes or recovery and reset. No matter what the style of class all my classes are designed to melt away tension, stress and increase flexibility, strength, happiness and empowerment. Classes are taught in a flow style with options for modifications so all students can individualize their practice based on their needs.  Linking breath with movement, intention, visualization, mediation and music are incorporated to create a blissful feeling and enhance overall well being.

 Before I began guiding yoga, I studied psychology at the University of Chaminade Honolulu earning a Masters of Science Counseling Psychology (MSCP) and then, went on to become a licensed psychotherapist. I have an online and private practice in Hawaii primarily working with people to actualize specific goals, using a combination of psychotherapy and yoga to help align the body, mind and spirit.

 My work takes me around the world and I enjoy sharing the practice of yoga everywhere I go.

 Lots of light,

 Sophia