Biography
Eliza was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in 2002 while completing her academic degree at Carnegie Mellon University. Grateful for the relief from chronic back pain, Eliza grew to appreciate the insight yoga offers into the connections between physical, mental, and emotional patterns and its value as a tool for developing the mind.
After studying Iyengar Yoga with Senior teacher Mary Dunn in New York City for seven years, in 2008, Eliza made her first trip to India and studied with the Iyengar family in Pune with a particular focus on the women's classes with Geeta Iyengar. She also made numerous retreats at Yog-Ganga under the guidance of Swati and Rajiv Chanchani, both of whom she still regularly studies with. During these years in India, Eliza also undertook Buddhist study courses, completed meditation retreats, and continues these practices, as an integrated part of her daily life. She is a Level 2 Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and Meditation Guide, who has been practicing for 18 years and teaching for a decade. Eliza simply loves teaching! It is a joy to witness students accessing their embodiment in new dimensions to facilitate the ability to change, let go, and transform. The art of teaching is communicating with everybody present, to bring them into an asana or moment, with complete involvement of body, mind and breath, creating awareness that allows one to eventually study the mind. Eliza guides yearly worldwide retreats, has a podcast "Beyond Bones, Kitchen Table Conversations with a Doctor and her Yoga Teacher," hosts virtual seminars about practices of embodiment from her home base on San Juan Island, and is invested in continually learning along these paths of transformation. |
Education
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Creative Writing New College, Oxford University, Oxford, UK Bachelor Minor in Philosophy Columbia University, New York City, NY Graduate Studies in Poetry Iyengar Institute, Maida Vale, London, UK Iyengar Yoga Level 2 Certification |
Teachers
With inexpressible gratitude to His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin for being a radiant sun and teaching me with unceasing gentleness, clarity, and pure eloquence, to remember who I truly am. With reverence and deep appreciation to Sage Patanjali and the renowned Yoga-masters Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, Srimati Geeta Iyengar and Sri Prashant Iyengar of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, India. Swati and Rajiv Chanchani of Yog-Ganga Centre in Old Rajpur, India. Usha Devi of Omkarananda Ganga Sadan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. Including Mary Dunn, Marcela Clavijo, and Deborah Wolk, of New York City, NY.
Testimonials
"Eliza Bishop is the best Yoga teacher you can find! I wish I could be in all her classes! As an advanced spiritual practitioner she is not only teaching physical yoga, but can transmit an integrated approach including body, speech and mind for highest benefit."
- Werner Brock
"Studying with Eliza is a joyful experience. I always learn much more than I expect to and find myself contemplating what she taught weeks later. Eliza is such an inspiration, on and off the yoga mat, and really lives her practice, which you can witness in her presence, peace, and radiance. Since joining her classes, my entire life is transforming. Eliza's classes, workshops, and retreats are blessings I carry with me. Don't miss the opportunity to study with this gem!"
- Jasmine Phillips
"From studying with Eliza, I learned a kind of ease. Eliza is very experienced, has a warm personality, and genuinely cared about me and each person in the classes so much. I think it is unique to have a teacher really care this much. Eliza is extremely knowledgable, incredibly kind, serene, and explained every detail of postures and meditation so well and clearly. Her classes are inclusive, and her temperament is equanimous. Because of Eliza, I am completely going to continue the practices of yoga and meditation, plus eat a vegetarian diet for the rest of this incarnation!"
- Octavia Heinke
- Werner Brock
"Studying with Eliza is a joyful experience. I always learn much more than I expect to and find myself contemplating what she taught weeks later. Eliza is such an inspiration, on and off the yoga mat, and really lives her practice, which you can witness in her presence, peace, and radiance. Since joining her classes, my entire life is transforming. Eliza's classes, workshops, and retreats are blessings I carry with me. Don't miss the opportunity to study with this gem!"
- Jasmine Phillips
"From studying with Eliza, I learned a kind of ease. Eliza is very experienced, has a warm personality, and genuinely cared about me and each person in the classes so much. I think it is unique to have a teacher really care this much. Eliza is extremely knowledgable, incredibly kind, serene, and explained every detail of postures and meditation so well and clearly. Her classes are inclusive, and her temperament is equanimous. Because of Eliza, I am completely going to continue the practices of yoga and meditation, plus eat a vegetarian diet for the rest of this incarnation!"
- Octavia Heinke
