Every day, Lauren strives to embody the principal philosophy that she believes yoga to be – the science and art of utilizing one’s power and passion to create a life of health, love and liberation.
Meet Saumya Lauren
Saumya Lauren Toolin is a teacher, mentor, mother and a full-time goddess who is devoted to living a life infused with Yoga and spiritual connection. She was drawn to the practice of yoga at age 14 as a means of navigating a tumultuous childhood. It has been a guiding force in her life for more than forty years.
Continuing to develop herself through personal study and steady practice, Lauren’s yogic path evolved in the early 90s to teaching yoga classes infused with body-mind alignment and philosophical and spiritual integration.
In 2004, she created her first teacher training program, sharing the powerfully catalyzing process of yoga through the lens of teaching.
Over the years, thousands of students have been able to refine themselves, their lives, and their style of teaching through Lauren’s loving, personalized and powerful approach. Meditation, self-awareness, pranayama and advanced hatha techniques that are integral to her unique style.
Lauren is a master teacher of Yoga and Tantra. She apprenticed with Rodney Yee for many years and has extensive experience in both the Iyengar and Krishnamacharya styles. She was initiated into the Sri Vidya Tradition in 2001 and has been immersed in the study of Tantra, Sri Vidya and Ayurveda since then.
In addition being certified to teach in two separate yoga styles, she holds the highest designation as an experienced teacher through Yoga Alliance and is an International Association of Yoga Therapists Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT).
Lauren is regarded as an expert anatomist, and her alignment, assisting and adjusting trainings are popular throughout the country. As developer and former director of a worldwide Master Training Certification Program and her own trainings through her Yoga Vidya school, she has mentored hundreds of exceptional yoga teachers and practitioners.
Lauren’s love of all things yoga has taken her beyond the mat and studio setting. She has presented workshops at the Kripalu Center, Omega, the Himalayan Institute and at many yoga events. She taught Yoga as Medicine workshops with Dr. Timothy McCall from 2009-2013. You can practice with her online through YogaInternational.com and find her Meditation series available through PranaMaya.com. In 2011, she founded the Women’s Liberation Festival, which celebrates positive feminine power and cultivates effective action in the world.
Lauren was on the Yoga Journal team for several years, and edited its Anatomy and Asana columns. She created, developed the content for and associate produced the PBS television special ‘The Practical Power of Yoga’ in 2009. Lauren has been featured in Yoga Journal, Yoga Plus Joyful Living, Yoga International, Origin magazine and many publications and media.
Lauren is a certified as a Miracle Minded Master Life Coach, having studied directly with the renowned author, teacher and spiritual leader, Marianne Williamson. She was selected to become part of the first ever Miracle Minded Mastery Program, and is delighted to be bringing this ground breaking life coaching paradigm into her work with private clients and groups.
Every day, she strives to embody the principals that utilizes one’s power and passion to create a life of health, love and liberation. Currently Lauren is based in upstate New York, where she directs Yoga Vidya Academy and sees clients in her Yoga Therapy and Life Coaching Practice. She also travels widely as guest faculty and leads interesting retreats worldwide.
