Fernanda

I began studying and practicing yoga in 2017 in my home country, Brazil. It all began with a free yoga class at the park. Even though I had a tough time during the class and said I wouldn't do yoga again, I ended up in tears during Savasana, where I found a moment of silence and stillness within myself. That's when I realized yoga had something special, so I kept showing up (thankfully).

I moved to Seattle (the land of the Duwamish people) in 2018 and have since then gathered over 500 hours of yoga study, including two 200hr TT, one of them being with Greta Hill and Sianna Sherman, and I also am Trauma Informed Yoga trained with Raquel Peres, in Brazil.

I am a natural and dedicated student who will never stop learning, and will never take for granted the opportunities I had in the north american land and in the yoga scene around Seattle area. NowadaysI lead weekly studio classes in-person, as well as private yoga sessions both in person and online, and also lead "Vision and Action," a group mentorship program that supports people in learning/practicing and applying tools for self-study, self-leadership, and yoga practices in order to create and live a more aligned life with their purposes. You can also find some of my classes on my Youtube channel (I am Fernanda Santos), which is a way I found to share the value of yoga with those who can’t pay for it.

My teaching has been described as “highly organized, intuitively structured, clearly presented, inventive, playful and precise” and “inspiring and innovative”, and you can come experience it for yourself now at Drift! I share the sacred practices of yoga that came from India and Africa with deep respect and humbleness for the ancient teachings, my teachers and mentors, and all their teachers and mentors. May yoga keep showing us the ways to re-connect with ourselves and the world through grace, compassion, kindness, and love <3 see ya on the mat!

My teaching style: I teach a Vinyasa and Slow Flow Vinyasa style that prioritizes accessibility through cueing that is welcoming and inclusive, guiding students with embodied intention from yoga philosophy, posture alignment and biomechanics, creative and smart sequencing, pranayama (breathing techniques), mantras (sound vibration) and mudras (gestures).

Why I teach yoga: I teach yoga because it transformed my life and I believe in its power. Through yoga I could recognize that I am my own best teacher. This practice helps me connect inwardly, understand myself better, navigate life with clarity and strength, and to feel connected to others on a deeper level. It reminds me of my resilience and compassion, empowering me to face challenges head-on, and teaching yoga is the way I found to share with my students all the ways they can hopefully access these same powerful experiences within themselves.

Fun fact / Next travel destination: Brazil, Thailand and Europe

Classes at DRIFT: Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Meditation

Certifications:

Yoga Teacher Certifications: New Jersey Yoga Teacher Training 200 hr // Rasa Yoga 200 hr // Embodied Rest Yoga for Trauma

Stay social with me // IG @iam.fernandasantos