About Yana
A yoga teacher on a mission to make yoga accessible, joyful, and life-changing — for every body, at every stage of life.
My Story
Hi, I'm Yana Thompson — and yes, as you may have guessed, I'm a yoga teacher. My journey with yoga began in 2011, as a young student trying to find myself. I grew up experiencing intense anxiety and stress, and it was on the mat that I first felt what it was like to breathe deeply, to slow down, and to come home to my own body.
After two years of dedicated practice I became a certified yoga teacher in 2013, and I've been sharing the practice ever since. Yoga has replaced my anxiety with inner peace, my self-doubt with confidence, and my restlessness with real well-being — and my greatest joy is passing those gifts along to the people who find their way here.
Training in India
A few years into teaching, I knew I had to go deeper. So I bought a one-way ticket to India and immersed myself in intensive training with several traditional Indian teachers. That trip changed the shape of my practice — it grounded my teaching in the ancient roots of yoga, expanded my knowledge of asana, pranayama and meditation, and earned me additional certifications along the way.
I came home with a clearer purpose: to share what I had learned so that anyone — regardless of age, body type, budget or background — could experience the same peace, health and joy that yoga has brought into my life.
My Specialty: Postpartum Yoga
Alongside my general yoga classes, my heart is especially with new mothers. Postpartum is one of the most transformative — and often loneliest — chapters of a woman's life. Gentle, intentional yoga can be a powerful tool for rebuilding core and pelvic floor strength, easing back and shoulder tension from feeding and carrying baby, and supporting mental health through this huge transition.
You can start with my free guides on postpartum yoga and yoga for postpartum depression — written for real mothers, in the middle of real days.
The Vegan Kitchen
Yoga taught me to pay attention to what I put into my body, and over the years plant-based cooking became a natural extension of that practice. I'm not a certified nutritionist — just a home cook who loves feeding people well. On the Vegan Blog I share the honest, family-friendly recipes I actually make in my own kitchen: quick pastas, weekend breakfasts, cozy comfort food, all plant-based.
What You'll Find on This Site
- Yoga Blog — free written guides on yoga for anxiety, sleep, back pain, postpartum, beginners and more.
- Vegan Blog — simple, delicious plant-based recipes.
- Free yoga videos on my YouTube channel.
- A weekly newsletter with fresh wellness tips (sign up on the homepage).
Everything on this site is completely free — no paywalls, no gated content. My mission is to spread the love and joy of yoga to as many people as I can.
Welcome to the Tribe
So — with the deepest and most sincere joy — welcome. Whether you found me looking for your first-ever yoga pose, a postpartum reset, a vegan dinner idea, or just five minutes of calm in a chaotic day, I'm genuinely glad you're here.
If you'd like to reach out, you can find me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, or through the contact page.
With love and light,
— Yana