Barbara VoinAr

My interest and passion to learn about yoga have provided me with an exciting and fulfilling life journey. I received teaching certifications in the traditions of Siddha, Iyengar, and Anusara Yoga, as well as a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists. My hunger to immerse myself in the practices of yoga drew me to live in a spiritual community at the Shree Muktananda Ashram. Years later arriving in Berkeley, I was introduced to the Buddhist Vipassana tradition of Mindfulness and Loving Kindness practices through the teachings of Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, and later to the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism under the guidance of Rinpoche Anam Thubten. While living in the upstate NY area, I taught in the state and federal prison systems and community classes.

In 1993, a few years after arriving in Berkeley, I co-founded 4th Street Yoga, teaching there for 28 years. Enjoying the experience of teaching multi-level classes and taking great joy in specializing in prenatal yoga. It was a delight to welcome moms and new babies back to their now post-natal class. Out of my desire to respond to cancer’s unwelcome presence in the community, I created a special class called Healing Yoga, a unique class designed specifically for the comfort and mobility of women undergoing treatment for cancer. Healing Yoga became a sanctuary, a place to gather, to feel safe and accepted among a nurturing community of awesome women. An enriching aspect of offering yoga is the opportunity I have had to collaborate in teaching retreats and workshops with many gifted teachers: Ram Dass, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Geoff Gordon, WAH, Sharon Salzberg, Jennifer Berezan, Uma Reed, Silvia Nakkach, Nina Wise and other respected teachers.

“At a loss for not being able to name all the exceptional beings I have practiced yoga within my role as a teacher and their role as a student, I offer my heartfelt gratitude to you for being the finest teachers I could have.”

 What style, tradition, and/or lineage or teachers who have influenced you ?

Initially I trained as a pilates instructor with Nora St. John’s at Turning Point studios (now Balanced Body). After teaching pilates at yogakula and taking anusara yoga classes I decided to study anusara yoga. My teachers were Noah Maze and Sianna Sherman. I continued in the 300 hours training with Noah Maze and am RYT E-500. I also engaged in a pilates’ mentorship program with Madeline Black and am a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher since 2012. More recently I have worked with RAD Roller out of Denver to learn about myofascial release and how that can augment a pilates/yoga practice.

What can I expect from your classes? 

Expect to move and to find your way back to your body. Currently I am teaching Yoga w Core classes. The structure of the class is a yoga class coupled with breath work that invites the body to move in all its planes of motion. Woven into the hour are segments of core work built on the Pilates’ principles. My attempt is to provide a variety of levels of challenge by offering options throughout the practice.

What’s on your mind these days yoga-wise? 

Staying strong and keeping things simple in these complicated times. Routines and consistency seem to be of service now.

What do you like to do outside of yoga?

I adore being out in nature. I love looking at night skies for inspiration: stars, moons, comets and have even had the great fortune to see the Northern Lights. Tilden park has been my refuge this spring/summer. In the winter I get to go to the mountains where I love to play in the snow.