The Beginning
Sara Azarius was introduced to Iyengar Yoga while briefly living in Texas 25 years ago. Her workshop studies with Manouso Manos, Mary Dunn, George Purvis, Ramanand Patel, Gabriella Giubilaro and Dean Lerner set a standard and an expectation within Sara. As she traveled and attended yoga classes in cities without Iyengar yoga she always felt something was missing. When she moved back home to Pittsburgh, Sara was inspired to foster a presence of Iyengar Yoga here. Sara became Pittsburgh’s first full-time yoga teacher in 1996 teaching at the Rivers Club downtown. She directed Shadyside Yoga on Ellsworth Avenue, then opened Yoga On Centre, which has now evolved into the non-profit Iyengar Yoga Institute of Pittsburgh. Through its’ permutations IYIP’s teaching staff comprises Pittsburgh’s oldest studio, in continuous operation for 23 years! And we have now moved to Squirrel Hill.
Sara’s desire to develop and maintain a community of like-minded practitioners to share this very special approach has grown into a team of rigorously trained teachers who are eager to share their insights from decades of practice and study.
We’ve Become a Non-Profit!
Yoga On Centre transitioned into a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and as of January 1, 2016 to become the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Pittsburgh. We have long been a community service and this new designation will allow us to pursue donations and grants to open up the world of Iyengar yoga to more people in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.
You will enjoy our same great staff of rigorously-trained teachers, our thorough instruction and our new spacious studio as we continue to refine and improve operations. We plan to offer more educational programs to the community that are free or low-cost, to expand our reach to many who would never have considered yoga as part of their lifestyle or health plans, and we hope to make the studio more alive, productive and joyful than ever.
Shape Our Future!
We are in our infant stages and, like a newborn, need much love and support. Please take an opportunity to read over our new website and give us your feedback, and do consider sharing your gifts or resources! Visit the Volunteer page for more information on how to get involved.