I’m Olga Livingston, a certified yoga teacher and a lifelong student of the practice.
Like many in Ukraine ( my place of Birth) and Southern California ( my home for many years ) , I first discovered yoga as a form of exercise, stretching and way of improving my flexibility — not realizing it would transform my life. Yoga welcomed me exactly as I was. In class, I learned to move within my range of motion, without pressure to push or “make it burn.”
Instead, I found a mindful, breath-led practice that grounded me, nourished my mind, body, and soul, and made me feel whole. This deep connection continues to inspire me, and I’m passionate about making yoga accessible to all bodies. My Private classes are alignment-based, therapeutic, and rooted in compassion, focusing on the power of breath and meditation to heal both the physical and energetic body — always with a warm, heartfelt, and sometimes playful approach.
Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just beginning — unsure where to start — I’m here to guide you every step of the way. I’m deeply grateful to India for giving birth to yoga, to my teachers for their wisdom, and to my students for trusting me to walk alongside them on their path.
○ Pregnancy & Post Partum Corrective Exercise Specialist, CES (Core Exercise Solutions ) with Sarah Duvall DPT (training in progress, 2023)
○ Reiki I, Sacred Space Astoria with Kim Alexandrescu, May 2023
○ Trauma Training with Sacred Space & Be(yon)d Yoga, November 2022
○ 300-Hour Teacher Training, Living Now Yoga with Juliana Mitchell, December 2021
○ Prenatal Teacher Training Living Now Yoga with Juliana Mitchell, October 2019
○ 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program, The Yoga Room with Victoria Greene, Juliana Mitchell & Therem (Elizabeth) Barnet, December 2018
○ Magic of Music Training with Kira Willey (kids yoga), February 2018
○ Karma Kids Yoga Teacher Training with Shari Vilchez Blatt & Kelly Brennan, March 2013
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine:
○ Yoga improves strength, balance & flexibility.
○ Yoga helps with back pain relief.
○ Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms.
○ Yoga benefits heart health.
○ Yoga relaxes you to help you sleep better.
○ Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods
○ Yoga helps you manage stress.
○ Yoga connects you with a supportive community.
○ Yoga promotes better self care.
According to Harvard University:
Studies using MRI scans and other brain imaging technology have shown that people who regularly did yoga had a thicker cerebral cortex (the area of the brain responsible for information processing) and hippocampus (the area of the brain involved in learning and memory) compared with nonpractitioners. These areas of the brain typically shrink as you age, but the older yoga practitioners showed less shrinkage than those who did no yoga. This suggests that yoga may counteract age-related declines in memory and other cognitive skills.” Thereby improving neuroplasticity.
“All exercise can help improve your mood by lowering stress & improving endorphin levels. However, yoga may have some special benefits compared to other forms of exercise. It can affect mood by elevating levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with better mood and decreased anxiety.”
“Meditation also reduces activity in the limbic system—the part of the brain dedicated to emotions. As your emotional reactivity diminishes, you have a more tempered response when faced with stressful situations.”