Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Boigenzahn
Hi Tanya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I got into yoga and wellness early in life. A youth director at my church taught me how to watch my thoughts and develop a meditator’s mind – which I think might have saved my life! I then found yoga at 20 years old while a student at college. I had a mystery illness early in 1993, my Junior year. After getting poked and prodded for several months by doctors and specialists, I had a wake-up call to figure it out myself. The next day a friend suggested I do yoga, and I KNEW I needed to follow that path. I bought a book, read it cover-to-cover, started practicing the yoga asanas (poses), doing the pranayama (breathing) and extending my meditation… as well as living a yogic lifestyle (as best as a college kid can!), and voila! My symptoms dramatically improved. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Yoga teaching found me several years later – another story – and I knew I had found my Dharma. I’ve always been a seeker, and this beautiful spiritual science has continuously guided me towards the light, amazing teachers, and a grounded sense of gratitude and well being. I developed a plan to expand into yoga/wellness over several years, first working in the burgeoning tech/website start-up industry on the West Coast for several years. Then returning back to Minnesota in 2001 to be a full time yoga/wellness educator and practitioner.
Since then, I’ve studied so many more amazing therapies and healing traditions including Thai Yoga Bodywork (aka Thai Massage), Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, Meditation, Tantra, and Reiki/Healing Touch. I spent a lot of years working one-on-one with people. But in my heart I’m a teacher. I can’t help but share! I LOVE seeing the eyes of students when they “get it.” What I’m really excited about now is mentoring the next generation of yoga and wellness practitioners AND teachers!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve had other struggles like anyone else, but a couple others to note include navigating the death of my brother in Sept 2020 as well as former husband in July 2021. Two huge losses, plus losing my teacher, a break-up, and loss of my business manager hit me with a lot of responsibility all in a span of months. I know that my daily practice of chanting, meditation and movement and connection to Source pulled me through that. I see my 18 year old son now resilient and thriving, and am so glad that I didn’t break – instead I got through it in a way where I could be with my feelings of loss, as well as encourage a household where we celebrate all the “tastes of life” as growth opportunities without stuffing them down.
For my dharma of practicing and sharing yoga and healing arts, I had to walk away from a long-time teacher I was very connected with in my study as well as business due to the breaking of trust around ethical rules. So much loss with that, but it was time for many other reasons, and ultimately I had to step more fully into my own empowerment.
As you know, we’re big fans of Devanadi Yoga. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Devanadi Yoga is a school of yoga and wellness. We offer a wide variety of trainings, workshops and retreats with renowned guests and faculty teachers. Students can deepen their practice and/or get certified in our trainings, including 200/300hr Yoga Teacher Trainings and Intensives, Thai Yoga Bodywork, Reiki, and much more. Devanadi is Yoga Alliance Registered and is licensed with the State of Minnesota as a Private Career School.
Devanadi is one of the longest running yoga teacher training programs in the Twin Cities, and also supports one of only certification programs to study Thai Yoga Bodywork in America.
We also offer workshops, outstanding and renowned guests, wellness services (i.e. Thai Yoga Bodywork, Reiki, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy), mentorship programs, yoga series, and continuing education for students and teachers.
Join us on one of our amazing retreats! Thailand, Costa Rica, as well as other locations offer opportunities to dive deeper and make lasting connections with others.
Through our commitment to personal development we contribute to the expansion of global consciousness. We maintain a beautiful environment which is available for members and the greater community for meetings, workshops and wellness offerings.
We encourage people from all walks of life to our school and believe that yoga is for everybody. Although we are a yoga school first, our mission is to help cultivate a sanctuary for like-minded individuals to gather for wellness, spirituality and community.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
FREEDOM! I pulse with it. A born entrepreneur, I need it, but also love collaborating with others who walk the walk, talk the talk and also celebrate freedom of creativity and expression. I also believe that tasting freedom is essential to authenticity of character and allowing relationships to thrive on a level of mutual respect vs. control and co-dependency. However, freedom without self-knowledge and self-discipline can be dangerous! Better head to yoga first! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.devanadiyoga.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devanadiyoga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devanadiyoga/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devanadiyoga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@devanadiyoga
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/devanadi-yoga-studio-minneapolis-2
