About Mirka

Mirka Scalco, E-RYT-500, C-IAYT, has studied with some of the great yoga masters of our time, including Sri Krishnamacharya, TKV Desikachar and Gary Kraftsow.   

In her early twenties, she was initiated into active meditations and ecstatic ritual dancing by the unorthodox Indian mystic Osho, and later became a student of Tibetan tantric yoga with his Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, Situ Rimposche, and Lama Tenzin in Maui, Hawaii.

Mirka is gifted with both the capacity and the passion to creatively communicate and work in private consultation, both in person and on the telephone, and her work has enriched the experience of students of many yoga modalities all around the world. In group classes, she uses her extensive background to integrate body awareness and imagery with the Viniyoga principles. Mirka’s own experience and intuition strongly influence her teachings, as do tradition, creativity, innovation, and evolution.

Mirka Kraftsow, E-RYT-500, C-IAYT, Viniyoga, Online Yoga Classes, International Yoga RetreatsMirka has been teaching in the Viniyoga methodology in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar since 1985 after receiving certification from her teacher Gary Kraftsow, and she has been practicing yoga therapy since 1988. She has helped hundreds of individuals develop and maintain a personal practice and manage challenging personal and therapeutic conditions.

Mirka co-founded the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI), LLC with Gary Kraftsow in 1999.  Her vision to train and support Yoga teachers has been fundamental to the growth and development of AVI.  She has a unique ability to develop quality Yoga teachers and support them in their personal and professional growth.  Mirka has worked closely with faculty assistants and students to support their understanding, integration, and application of the teachings in their personal and professional lives.

She has consulted on several successful Yoga studies nationwide, and developed material with Gary Kraftsow for his two books “Yoga for Wellness” and “Yoga for Transformation.”

She currently lives in Sebastopol, California and is available for private sessions. She leads retreats, seminars, and workshops in the USA and Italy.

Yoga Alliance Registered E-RYT 500      Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider YACEP - Sebastopol, Sonoma, Hawaii, Italy, Online


Testimonials

“Mirka has co-taught with me since the mid 1980’s in all of American Viniyoga Institute’s teacher trainings. She has done thousands of hours of both group and private instruction for both teacher trainees, yoga practitioners, beginners, and individuals suffering from some injury, illness, or disability – functioning as an educator as well as a yoga therapist. She has a deep understanding of the teachings and practices of yoga, as well as a compassionate heart and skillful communicator. She is one of the finest yoga teachers I have ever met.”
Gary Kraftsow
Founder, director, and senior teacher of the American Viniyoga Institute

“It has taken me some time to adjust to being back in England, but in all wonderful, positive new ways. Your workshop was a transformation on all levels. I touched and connected to a deep place within myself, which has enabled me to move on and change my life. This came about from the magic of your teaching, not just the traditions and techniques but because of YOU and the source of love and gentleness that you spread out to all of us.”
Tessa Skola
Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher, Cornwall, UK

Read more testimonials here!

Mirka Kraftsow, Viniyoga, Yoga Therapy, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, Hawaii, Italy

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