Teacher Feature: Grace Izzo
January 7, 2026
Meet Grace Izzo, E-RYT 500—a teacher whose path was cracked open by a moment of “sweet silence” and continues to unfold through sound, chanting, and deep presence.
Stay up-to-date on the latest from Asheville Yoga Center with our blog! Meet our teachers and hear them share more about their lives and yoga practice. Read tips on how to integrate yoga more deeply into your life off the mat. Learn more about inspirational teacher training programs, and discover new ways to deepen your practice!
Meet Grace Izzo, E-RYT 500—a teacher whose path was cracked open by a moment of “sweet silence” and continues to unfold through sound, chanting, and deep presence.
Meet Grace Izzo, E-RYT 500—a teacher whose path was cracked open by a moment of “sweet silence” and continues to unfold through sound, chanting, and deep presence.
Yoga and storytelling together offer a path to healing, connection, and transformation. Through myth, movement, and mindfulness, practitioners explore universal themes of courage, compassion, and balance. Trauma-informed yoga and Ayurveda honor each person’s story, while neuroscience affirms storytelling’s power to rewire the brain—awakening resilience, peace, and shared humanity across traditions.
Sierra Hollister explores the beauty of seasonal transitions through Ayurveda’s five elements—space, air, fire, water, and earth—offering guidance for balance, harmony, and spiritual connection. By aligning with nature’s cycles, we release, renew, and rediscover joy, learning to live with awareness, gratitude, and rhythm through each changing season of life.
Yoga Nidra, or “yogic sleep,” is a meditative practice of deep relaxation where the body rests and awareness remains awake. Rooted in the Mandukya Upanishad and Tantric tradition, it guides practitioners toward turiya—pure consciousness. Modern teachers like Swami Rama and Swami Satyananda Saraswati systematized it for all levels. Yoga Nidra reduces stress, improves sleep, and can lead to profound self-realization and inner peace.
Kirtan in Asheville is a joyful, communal chanting practice rooted in yoga tradition. At Asheville Yoga Center, gatherings welcome people of all backgrounds—no singing or yoga experience needed. Since 1997, the center has created space for connection, peace, and belonging through sacred sound. Whether local or visiting, anyone can join, open their heart, and experience the uplifting power of kirtan.
Yamas and Niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines that shape how we interact with the world and cultivate personal growth.
Slow-flow yoga invites intentional movement, deep listening, and nervous system awareness. It helps you slow down, build self-trust, and connect with your body’s wisdom. On and off the mat, it’s a practice of presence, balance, and honoring your inner rhythms.
– Mary Oliver
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