More than 22 years ago, I wandered into my first yoga class and felt something shift. That spark has kept stepping back to my mat to come home, connect, and dive deeply into the abys of my soul.
In 2005, I discovered the Nia Technique and quickly fell in love with its blend of music, movement, and mindfulness. Not long after, I began weaving the sacred athlete practice of Nia with the deep inner work of yoga. By 2007, I completed my Nia Technique Certification, earned my 200-hour YTT in 2009, and by 2011, my E-RYT 500.
Adventure has always guided me. It once led me to the beaches of Ecuador, where I opened a yoga retreat center. To bring more dimension to my classes, I became a certified personal trainer in 2016, specializing in wellness coaching. This allowed me to keep yoga rooted in self-exploration, while also helping students build fitness and create sustainable movement practices for life. As a surfer and outdoor adventurer, I know the desire to optimize energy on every level—and movement has always been my way of doing so.
Now, I’m grateful to call Bend home, where I live with my husband and son and soak up the beauty of the mountains and rivers. I’m trained in power yoga, yin, vinyasa flow, ashtanga, yoga nidra, and of course, the Nia Technique. I love blending these approaches to meet students where they are—creating classes that are deep but accessible, sweaty yet playful, and always rooted in discovery.
For me, teaching is a practice of receptivity—listening to my students, to the body, and to the breath we share. That listening becomes the most fluid tool for orchestrating the dance of a class. My journey with yoga and movement is still unfolding, but sharing it continues to carry me through inquiry, through the moments when peace feels just out of reach, and into those sacred moments of pure joy.
Whitney Bennett Yoga 