with Monica Angelucci
Picture

Why Work With Me

I'm an American living abroad since 2004. I love traveling & experiencing new cultures and my profession allows me the freedom to do this! I've been working with students and teachers to promote healing and prevent injuries in the yoga classroom in Europe, Asia and N. America for over thirteen years. My passions are anatomy, alignment, breath and meditation. Yoga is always a beautiful reminder for me to play, live, love, breathe in the moment! Prior to teaching yoga I worked in the non-profit sector and taught volunteer and non-profit management. For me, all of my professional choices have been and continue to be about modeling and facilitating my students and clients to find a voice that is empowering, authentic and loving - particularly towards themselves. Currently, I sit on the advisory group for the US Yoga Alliance Standards Committee. I'm also an ambassador and write the Socratic Anatomy column for Gather Yoga. In addition to my yoga certification, I have a masters degree in English from the University of Missouri and a certificate in non-profit management from Duke University. In my spare time, I love listening to jazz and rap, running, writing, cooking, lifting free weights and taking my wildling cat Circe for walks in the park! For more information, visit me at yogaeuropa.com.

What People Are Saying...

"I consider it a blessing that I fell upon the Yoga Europa teacher training with Monica. The school she runs is done in a professional manner with classes that are dedicated to creating thoughtful, well educated, open-minded, and open-hearted yoga teachers. Throughout the training we were taught many elements about yoga including, history, different styles of yoga, asanas, proper alignment, yogic breathing techniques, meditation, and positive communication. Having finished the course, I would say that those are all very important elements in becoming a yoga teacher; but what Monica really taught us about the heart of yoga is that yoga is about observing yourself without judgement. I believe that I can speak for all of the other student teachers in my course:  when we finished the course with Monica we left loving ourselves just as we are. This is the yoga Monica teaches, and this is what I am looking forward to teaching others."
Laura Hall
Owner, Bamboo Garden Rosteto, Prague, Czech Republic
"It was a pleasure to host your training workshops. I received nothing but positive feedback from everyone involved. The energy you created was truly something special for our yoga community. We learned, and renewed, and connected; thank you for that empowering vision of the future. I look forward to staying in touch."
Elizabeth Penziner
Director, Yoga Intentions Malta
"After my first class with Monica, I knew I could trust her completely, because she teaches from the heart; to be in her presence is to be embraced. Her teacher training changed the course of my life. She not only taught me how to plan, sequence and instruct a class, but she also challenged my own physical mental and spiritual practice while honouring the traditions of yoga. For this I am forever grateful."
Orla de Bhailis
Artist, Belfast, Ireland
“After practicing Yoga for a few years I became interested in further deepening my practice and exploring the possibility of becoming an instructor. Exploring around various possibilities, I decided to attend Monica's intensive TT in October 2010. Monica's training was very thorough. It not only covered the philosophy, the importance of daily application of the eight limbs, and excellent background of the anatomical and kinesiological aspects of asanas, but also how to design safe and varied teaching practices and cater to different students' personalities. Monica also provided invaluable tips for starting a business. As a result of working with Monica I came back feeling confident and clear about my intentions and started teaching friends and colleagues. Soon afterwards I started my own business, opening a small studio in Siena. Amongst the many valuable things I gained from Monica's training are a great respect for the different bodies we have and how to move them through safe modifications in the yoga practice; and the importance of pranayama in the practice, which I now always incorporate in my classes. Monica's enthusiasm and passion for yoga make her a very dedicated teacher. She has been available during and after the course for open discussions and help whenever I have any doubts or questions."
Chiara Ghiron
Owner, The Yogi Cat, Siena, Italy
"Looking at my freshly acquired yoga instructor certificate, I feel very proud - not only for successfully completing the training but for taking the courage to sign up and take my chances. Whether one is on the path towards becoming a yoga instructor or just wants to deepen his or her personal practice, this course has a lot to offer. Monica has a strong focus on anatomy and safety and approaches the physical yoga practice in a modern and dynamic way. The course is not only about completing the mandatory hours and covering the topics that are on the syllabus, but also a mutual learning experience among all participants and a personal lesson about the self. Looking at yoga from the teachers perspective, with the approach and tools received from Monica my personal practice has evolved to a completely different level. And it's not only the certificate that says that I'm a yoga instructor, by the end of the course we all became teachers with valuable connections to the yoga community."
Szilvia Fil'ák-Gőz
Yoga Instructor, Budapest, Hungary
"Monica’s design and execution of the teacher training programme has made a strong impact on both my personal practice and my teaching. With a strong sense of empathy and a deep understanding of the dynamics of yoga classes in western society Monica handed me tools, approaches and background that I am still able to put to good use whenever I teach. I would highly recommend anyone who is desirous of passing on the yoga message to work with Monica."
Ele Jan Saaf
Managing Director, Water & Environmental Consultancies, Amman, Jordan
“I went to see Monica as a novice to yoga during my pregnancy. As someone with extensive physical issues, she was constantly reassuring and spent a great deal of time researching my specific problems to find the best possible exercises for my body. I was very impressed by the amount of time she put into my case. She was extremely encouraging, hopeful, motivational and kind - simply a terrific person.”
Gail Whitmore
Director, Ozvi se!/HollaBack!, Prague, Czech Republic
"Training with Monica Angelucci is a true gift. She is patient, she is self aware and she requires her teachers to understand their students. Well versed in everything from ancient texts to anatomy, she takes her teachers on a journey that allows them to confidently apply their knowledge to a classroom. I arrived in Prague knowing no-one, completely unsure if I would teach at all. By the end, I had a room full of friends and I cried tears of joy at graduation. I ended up starting a successful yoga business in Toronto and I have taught everywhere from Italy to Thailand. Monica's teacher training was my first step, and I am so grateful to her. By taking her teacher training you will be giving yourself the tools to work in yoga, in whatever capacity you choose."
Courtney Sunday
Owner, Om At Home Yoga, Toronto, Canada
"I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the teacher training with Monica. Every month I eagerly looked forward to each session for a variety of reasons, especially the wonderful warm student teachers whom I am so grateful and thankful to have met and the wonderful teaching with Monica. Monica is not only one of the most special and inspiring people that I have ever met in my life, she is also a fantastic teacher. She incorporates every aspect in her teacher training program:  client safety, communication, respect, listening, love, compassion, empowerment, individuality, creativity, passion, skills development and technique. Her attention to detail and how to keep a student safe in the classroom, specifically through breath and bandhas, is hugely inspiring and instills confidence in those undertaking the training program. The program also covers pranayama and meditation,which I thoroughly enjoyed. Monica has a beautiful way of incorporating every aspect of yoga ranging from physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. She does this with such love, kindness and compassion that is deeply moving and encourages growth on all of these levels. Her ability to communicate and listen is just beautiful. Her openness and non-judgment  give rise to a safe warm learning environment where one is left feeling nurtured, not only as a student but also as a person. Monica's sense of humor is fantastic and results in a learning environment that has a freshness about it that makes the learning experience so enjoyable. For anyone looking for a teacher training program with a difference, I highly recommend Monica's, I am so happy that I undertook the program and will always cherish the wonderful teacher training." and the beautiful memories and friends that I made.
Kate Dowling
Nurse, Dublin, Ireland
"Having practiced with Monica for almost two years and having completed the yoga teacher training with her, opened up a box of a new way of life for me. I started breathing. At the age of 25, I found my grounding, my goals and myself; my entire being was put in a different perspective. I had the opportunity to lead yoga practice sessions for Malay colleagues in Kuala Lumpur, practice in an ashram in India, and do it all with absolute devotion to life and living, breathing and being. My values and 'habits' haven't changed, I still eat meat and have a glass of wine every now and then, but I do it with contentment and love. I am healthy and smiling, wishing I would still live in Prague so that I could attend those "occasionally" life-saving yoga classes of my dear friend. :) Namaste!"
Zsofi Kamenczki
IT Project Manager, Budapest, Hungary
"Monica's training enabled me to experience and learn about the deeper side of Yoga, encompassed in the 8 limbs. I knew there was much more to the Asana's through attending Monica's weekly classes; but not until I took her Teacher training did I begin to fully realise the potential Yoga had to transform the body, mind and especially the spiritual element. As a result of working with Monica, I now understand the many benefits of Yoga which include an enhanced awareness of one's self and others. Valuable insights I gained from Monica's training include to trust that 'wherever you are is the perfect place to be' and to relinquish all fear and take a leap of faith. Also I learned that communication and physical touch are very important in the Yoga classroom."
Emma Hewett-Smiles
Community/Schools Development Coordinator, Adelaide, Australia
"Thank you for the training, it was a great experience! What I found most impressive about the teacher training was Monica´s deep care and love for each student. Monica´s teacher training is solidly grounded in both theory and practice. The training is combined with competent teaching and insightful discussions that empowered me to practice and teach yoga in a safe and insightful way. Most of all, training with Monica enabled me to integrate Yoga and practice principles in my daily life."
Ivana Sket
Yoga Instructor, Montessori, Prague, Czech Republic
"I am very thankful for having been able to attend the yoga teacher training with Monica Angelucci. She taught yoga as a whole – I learned that it´s not just physical exercise – it´s about your body, your mind, your soul … it´s about YOU … in the present (not past, not future). Monica taught the physical yoga poses in a very understandable way with big focus on safety! I found out through her that following a breathing pattern makes a huge difference in well-being and avoiding injuries. I also liked that part of the training were webinars, which you could attend from home (or watch the recorded version any time later if needed). Monica was always very helpful with any questions we had and she made my teacher training really fun and valuable. Thanks so much, Monica!"
Doris Lesiw
Yoga Instructor, Abtenau, Austria
"As a result of working with Monica I can now feel confident and relaxed both when teaching Yoga and when just being a student in other classes. She has taught me not only how to act, teach and be professional but also how to feel confident with who I am. Thank You Monica for the lovely Experience!"
Roberta Griscti
Hospitality Executive & Yoga Teacher, Balzan, Malta