Magnolia Yao-Sao-Yia yoga teacher at One Down Dog yoga studio in Los Angeles

Magnolia Yang Sao Yia

Teacher
she/her
Hometown:
Metro Detroit, MI
Favorite Song/Artist:
Depends on my mood but I mostly listen to alternative R&B, hip hop, and indie pop. For dancing and letting loose, though, House music is my go to!
Odd Fact:
I like to bite the chocolate edges of my Kit Kats before eating the wafer cookie, and dip my fries in soft serve!
My Sign:
Pisces
My Class Style:
Dance-y creative flows to curated soundtracks. I would also consider my classes welcoming, affirming, accessible, social justice informed, and choice oriented.

Although I took yoga classes here and there as a teenager and young adult, I would say that my yoga journey officially began in 2013 when dancing with Ananya Dance Theatre – a women of color social justice contemporary dance company. I trained in Yorchhā™, a technique that draws from Vinyasa Yoga, Odissi (an Indian classical dance form from Odisha), and Chhau (an East Indian martial art form). Not only is this my lineage, but it is within this dance approach, social justice framework, and South Asian rooted context that my yoga practice was developed and nurtured, and to this day, continues to be informed by.

In 2023, I decided to take the 200-hour yoga teacher training at One Down Dog to deepen my relationship with and understanding of yoga. As a yoga instructor, I strive to make my classes equitably inclusive, to center care, and to be a sincere teacher. Off the mat, I’m a dance artist and scholar, university educator, and cat mom.

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