ABOUT YOGI ME

The Journey to YogaStrong

Elise the Athlete:

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From marathon running and triathlons to advanced yoga asana championships, my athletic journey began with a passion for pushing limits. Ranking among the top 50 women in the 2012 London Marathon, I quickly realized that while competitive sports had their rewards, the physical toll on my body—knee pain, shin splints, and back issues—was undeniable. This led me to seek out new ways to restore and strengthen my body, shifting from pavement pounding to the healing practice of Hot Hatha yoga.

In my pursuit of athletic performance, I’ve encountered my own setbacks—torn hamstrings, intercostals, and lower back compression from repetitive movement. But these experiences didn’t deter me; instead, they drove me to discover a broader spectrum of movement practices. I explored the complementary power of Yin yoga, Ashtanga, strength training like calisthenics, and weightlifting, ultimately embracing a more holistic approach to training.

After experiencing the limitations of traditional strength training, I dove deeper into therapeutic techniques like deep fascia release, Ayurvedic therapies, and gymnastics—finding a smarter, more sustainable way to build strength. Today, these diverse practices form the foundation of "YOGA STRONG," a signature approach that bridges yoga, strength training, and mobility work to help athletes of all levels—from yogis to runners and weightlifters—train smarter, move better, and stay injury-free.

Elise the Coach:​

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Since 2012, I’ve been working as a certified movement coach, helping people build body awareness and balance in all aspects of life—physically, mentally, and emotionally. My journey into coaching grew out of 15 years of teaching creative processes to both children and adults, where I found my passion for helping others heal through movement.

My goal has always been to understand movement through direct experience—exploring as many disciplines and cultures as possible to bring the best knowledge and passion to my students. Over the last two decades, I’ve taught across Europe, Asia, Indonesia, Australia, and the Middle East, leading classes, workshops, and masterclasses. I continue to show up online, offering programs to those I’ve met along the way.

I’ve had the privilege of training with respected coaches like Dev Kapil, Gokulandra, Joseph Konnoth, Daniel Rama, Ky Ha, Bikram Choudhury, Juan Bustil, Eric Oritz, and Justin Garcia. These experiences deepened my understanding of movement and reinforced my belief in its transformative power.

As a coach, my mission is to guide others in fine-tuning their body-mind connection, improving their movement, posture, and overall well-being. My approach focuses on cultivating sensitivity to sensation, tapping into the present moment, and using movement to clear the mind and restore balance.

For me, movement is a tool to find clarity, stay balanced, and navigate life's changes—if it works for me, I believe it can work for you too.