Ali is the creator of Interval Yoga. A style of yoga that combines ancient yoga practices with cutting-edge physical training techniques; she weaves elements of groove, dance and pilates, weight training and cardio into her classes. Her classes are some of the strongest classes out there but be assured that she will take you from beginner level to intermediate into advanced gracefully and gradually. Her style of yoga is short and condensed yet it is designed to bring relaxation and a sense of wellbeing.
Ali was born in Sofia, Bulgaria on April 19th,
1979. Her birth name is Albena which means pure. She moved to America at the
age of 22 and she discovered yoga there. She randomly read an autobiography
book by Christy Turlington while on a snowboarding vacation and that motivated
her to try her first session at home. Yoga was a love of first sight for her.
After her first class at the age of 23, she immersed herself in the
practice for countless hours a day. A few years later she
was incredibly lucky to be a teacher at Mark Blanchard’s Power Yoga
studios in Los Angeles. Most of her learning happened during these
years of teaching and being a student. She taught at Mark’s studios and various
other locations throughout LA for 7 years before she started her online classes
on Youtube and on her
website.
Her style of classes is unique and powerful yet
meditative and gentle. She focuses on self-awareness, body awareness, getting
out of our own heads, finding the bliss of the present moment. She takes her
students through a strong or a gentle sequence seamlessly and gives attention
to flexibility, strength, cardiovascular capacity, power, breathwork and dance
equally.
Interval Yoga is designed to balance our hormones and
although a physical practice it has a strong spiritual underlying. The short
bursts of interval training interlaced into the yoga classes are designed to
boost Human Growth Hormone – the hormone of Youth. There is a lot of scientific
research behind Interval Training and the world is yet to learn about combining
HIIT with Yoga. Interval Yoga is on the fringes of functional movement and the
world of fitness and spirituality is unfolding in front of us as a beautifully
woven pashmina with seemingly unmixable elements woven in together beautifully.
Ali lives in the mountains outside of LA with her
Partner Jonny Be, her daughter Lotus and their four-legged friend Sofie, an
american bulldog girl who is present in most of Ali’s yoga classes.
Ali is working on building a massive library of
online classes that can be an invaluable resource for any yoga – from moms to
be, to postpartum mamas to girls in school to women in menopause or any other
time in a woman’s life. Make no mistake her classes are great for men as well
and although 75% of her students are female she has a strong following of men
who are brave and progressive enough to bring yoga into their lives. Men ahead
of their times.
If you are a beginner be sure to check her beginner courses.
If you are a new mom be sure to follow her postpartum
series before you return to a regular practice
Some of the benefits of Interval Yoga were discussed
in this Live Chat. Covering hormonal health, digestive health, weight
loss, metabolism, stress reduction, cardiovascular health and more.
Write a public review