About Masako

I stumbled into a yoga class after having a particularly hard day (read: being dumped) in January 2001. The rest, as they say, is history.

More than 20 years later, I’m still a passionate student of yoga—and I still love teaching it. I practice yoga not only for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits, but also because it can be fun, liberating and deeply human.

I completed my first teacher training at Integral Yoga in NYC in 2004 and have been teaching ever since. I’m an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and teacher trainer, and over the years I’ve had the privilege of teaching thousands of students and training and mentoring yoga teachers.

My teaching is rooted in the connection between breath, movement, and awareness, with an emphasis on intelligent sequencing and thoughtful alignment. I believe yoga should be both accessible and engaging, and that there is no single “right” way for every body to practice. My goal is to give students clear tools and guidance while encouraging them to become curious about their own bodies and practice.

As a teacher trainer, I especially enjoy helping teachers develop their own voice and learn to teach with greater clarity, confidence, and intention. I love exploring the why behind what we teach—from sequencing and alignment to anatomy, verbal cueing, and creating an inclusive class environment.

I’ve had the good fortune to study with many wonderful teachers, including Judith Lasater, Cyndi Lee, Margi Young, Zhahi Maskovitz, Susan Orem, and others. My additional studies include restorative, yin, prenatal and postnatal yoga, chair yoga, experiential anatomy, backbends and inversions, and aerial yoga.

But perhaps most importantly, I love being a student. Continuing to learn, question, explore, and practice is what keeps yoga interesting to me—and keeps me excited to share it with others.

I teach group classes, workshops, and teacher trainings, and offer private and corporate yoga instruction in NYC and online.
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