Monique Rivera: Fresno, California, USA

I began practicing Bikram yoga years ago – I thrived off the discipline and the challenge. As with all things in life, I changed. I now believe yoga is about so much more than physical exertion. Connecting your body to your mind is where the magic happens. I am privileged to guide yoga sessions and witness each individuals’ unique practice.

I am a combat veteran with 19+ years of military service who surrendered to the trauma I experienced within my life. A complete breakdown gave way to the discovery of my true purpose – to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually so that I could share my passion & path to yoga with others.

My goal of PEACE for each student is based on the ancient Yoga Sutras of Patañjali Maharishi as translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda. One of my favorite Sanskrit sayings is “As the mind, so the person; bondage or liberation are in your own mind.”

What I love about yoga is the connection to people and transformation of self. Initially, I viewed yoga purely as a physical practice until I began walking a more spiritual path – this led me to complete Holistic Yoga Flow teacher training under Travis Eliot and Desiree Heckman.

After completing my RYT 200-hour certification, I truly began to appreciate the benefits of yoga – defined as “the science of the mind.” While each type of asana (physical) practice has its own challenges and benefits, I find the mental growth the most rewarding. I’m known for my adjustments and soothing voice during restorative practice and savasana. However, all the years I’ve served in the military have gifted me with some serious upper body strength, and a little power yoga never hurts anybody. 🙂

I enjoy being a witness to students conquering challenging poses and flows while still staying grounded, mindful, and respectful of their personal practice. I’m passionate about service, and guiding people through their yoga practice allows me to share the joy, healing, and self-love that I have found in yoga. I hope to see you on the mat!

The light within me honors & loves the light within you. Namaste.

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Yoga Styles and Wellness Specialties:

• All Levels Vinyasa Flow
• Buti Yoga
• Hip-Hop Yoga
• Power Yoga
• Restorative Yoga
• Vinyasa Yoga
• Yin Yoga
• Chakra Healing
• Meditation
• Yoga Therapy

Certification Schools and Registries:

• 200HR: Old Town Yoga LLC, Travis Eliot and Desiree Heckman , 2019
• Yoga Alliance: RYT-200

Teaching Availability:

• Local Studio
• Private In-Person Sessions

Additional Locations

• Madera, California, USA
• Bay Area, California, USA

Contact Information: