Laura Malia Dunn has been practicing yoga for 15 years and teaching yoga for the past 9 years. Laura’s first teachers are Rupali Embry, Tania Ingrahm, and Anthony “Prem” Carlisi. Laura has studied with both Sharath R Jois and Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India and in the US. In February of 2009 Laura completed a fruitful one-year apprenticeship with Cathy Louise Broda. Laura’s teaching is informed by her studies of religion and philosophy at the University of Hawaii. Laura also studied Sanskrit for three years with grammarian and Hindu priest, Rama Nath Sharma, professor of Sanskrit studies at the University of Hawaii.
A large part of Laura’s yoga practice involves the “bringing together” of the fragmented self. Laura draws from a background in Buddhist meditation, the study and research of Buddhist philosophy, Yogic texts, and Sanskrit. Laura has developed a method of teaching that emphasizes both steadiness and ease in an effort to strike a balance between the tension of opposites in life as well as in yoga practice. She teaches students to cultivate the longevity of their practice through adopting an attitude of discipline, patience, and non-attachment.
Laura has been a contributor to Parabola Magazine on the topics of yoga, consciousness, and creativity. She speaks semi-regularly on yoga to students, educators, and the broader community. She also hosts monthly, community-based satsangs exploring the relationship between yoga theory and yoga practice in the postmodern world.
Testimonials
“Dear Laura, You help me be present in the moment, be aware of what’s going on in my body, my thoughts and emotions, and let go of mental fixations and physical blocks. In every single one of your classes, I learn something new – practice in the truest sense. Without complete confidence in you as a teacher, I could never do what I am doing now. You are truly inspiring.”
W.K., physician
“I appreciate the way that Laura channels a beautiful energy into her classes- I find they are always changing and evolving, and offer the opportunity to expand my practice along with whatever divine energy is present that day. I leave both grounded and exhilarated.”
Kristine Cuthrel, nutritionist
“Whenever my husband and I travel, especially when we visit cities like Los Angeles and New York, which are known for their famous yoga studios and instructors, we try to take a few yoga classes at the places that have been recommended to us. Although it’s fun to try classes at the various studios, we always come away with a sense that, although we live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, we haven’t had to compromise on the quality of our yoga instruction.
Not only is Laura technically skilled in teaching the nuts and bolts of the practice, she also has an intuitive sense that allows her to read her students in order to guide them more effectively through their practice. Her instruction is shaped by her knowledge of and respect for the tradition of yoga and her studies in Sanskrit and religion
Even first time students benefit from Laura’s sincere effort to assist her students in developing their practice.”
Cookie Shimizu, creator of Cookie’s famous “OM cakes”
“I have seen Laura’s yoga expertise continue to blossom, first hand and from afar. This woman is a fantastic source of inspiration, strength, and of course, yoga guidance. I’m proud to know her and hope to attend one of her classes next time I’m in Hawaii!”
Stephanie Hickey, marketing consultant
“Laura has a great degree of social aptitude, care and sensitivity in her relations. She inspires a drive towards true humanity, compassion, balance, and health. She has a sense of spirituality that is strong, along with a deep grounding in reality.”
N.B., artist
