About Sonya Harnett
Meet Sonya
I have been teaching yoga and meditation in my local community for a number of years now and am so passionate about sharing the amazing benefits of how these practices offer a place of silence and stillness throughout our busy lives. As a busy mum of two kids and running a business, yoga and meditation have been the pinnacle in my way of healing and nourishing myself. The foundation of my day is my daily morning and evening meditation practice and this feeds my soul, nourishes my body so I can be the best version of me, for my family and everyone I interact with through my day! Meditation and yoga keep me in touch with this natural state of peace, clarity and goodness within daily and through my work, help others connect with this also within them!
I am a fully certified yoga teacher with Yoga Therapy Ireland (Dip YTI 500hrs) and am highly experienced and have been teaching yoga classes since 2011 within the local community. I have operated my own purpose designed yoga studio for 10 years and have moved on to teaching freelance in many locations and settings. My classes are gentle and open to all levels from beginner to experienced.
My love of yoga brought me to study a 6 month Yoga Foundation Course with YTI. This led me to undertake the Yoga Teacher Training Diploma Course also with Yoga Therapy Ireland with a total of 500 training hours to include a strong emphasis on anatomy & physiology. I have to date, over 5000 hours of of teaching and training through ongoing learning. I have particular interest in an embodied approach to movement and Somatic Movement and Yoga Nidra.
Classes are taught through an embodied approach along with Somatic inspired movement that is blended together as a grounding practice suitable for everyone! I am very grateful to have experienced teachings my greatest teachers Leslie Kaminoff and davidji meditation. I am influenced by the teachings and work of Bonnie Brainbridge Cohen of Body Mind Centering, Donna Farhi and am very grateful to my own amazing teachers, Lisa Petersen, Michael Ryan, Carmel Diviney, Mari Kennedy and many more along my journey to date! I also have an very keen interest in Somatic Movement Education and it's healing approach and how beautifully it compliments yoga practice. My classes also offer a therapeutic approach offering modifications to suuport students and their practice with ease. My movement classes are gentle and fluid using the foundation of breath centred awareness that include a deeply mindful approach to all movement.
I am also a fully certified Masters of Wisdom Meditation Teacher with davidji academy 285hrs and meditation is also central to my teachings. I teach meditation classes and facilitate local meditation sanghas (group practices) which I am so grateful for! I am delighted now to offer the tools of mindfulness and meditation, stress reduction, emotional intelligence programmes to the workplace to offer a space of how to de-stressify and find peace in those moments of high paced stess.
Specialities:
Meditation: Offering classes, courses and workshops in meditation and techniques for better living, less stress and a happier life!
Yoga & movement: Offering classes in hatha yoga to include an embodied approach, breathing techniques, yoga nidra, restorative yoga and chanting.
Sound healing therapy: Sound Bath healing group workshops and events.
Reiki practitioner: Offering reiki healing therapy to help reduce stress, offering deep relaxation and emotional wellbeing and I am very passionate about sharing the ripple of the amazing benefits of these wellness therapies to help you live a happier life!
Meditation teacher training : A tutor offering Meditation Training for Yoga Teachers.
Workplace wellness: Bespoke wellness events offered through meditation and stress management techniques to support staff within your organisation. Yoga & movement, Sound Healing can also be included. Please contact Sonya.
Classes are offered online and onsite. Groups classes, corporate, semi-private, private classes offered.
Enquire at sonya@yogaessence.ie
Qualifications & Certifications
Yoga Teaching Diploma with Yoga Therapy Ireland Certified 2012 with 500hrs to include 60hrs Anatomy & Physiology.
Fully registered teacher with Yoga Alliance as a E-RYT500 hrs.
Fully registered YACEP Continuous Education Provider with Yoga Alliance.
Member of Yoga Therapy Ireland.
Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Therapy Ireland 2013)
Mum and Baby Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Therapy Ireland 2013)
Reiki Mastership Usui Tera-Mai with Grace Sheridan Wellness 2019
Gong Master Training Module - Celtic School of Sound Healing 2019
Sound Healing Practitioner - Celtic School of Sound Healing 2020
Masters of Wisdom and Meditation Teacher Certification with davidji 2020 (285 hr)
Advanced Diploma in Sound Therapy - Celtic School of Sound Healing 2022
Somatic Exercise Coach in Training with Lisa Petersen Living Yoga 2023
Other trainings: Yoga for Arthritis, Chair Yoga, Yoga & Breathing 3 day module with Leslie Kaminoff 2018, Yoga for Back Care with Donna Farhi, Somatic Yoga - 6 months immersion 2021 and 2022 with Lisa Petersen at Living Yoga.
I am a seeker of wisdom and happiness and endeavour to continue to trainings to further develop my teachings and offerings as I believe that we are all students of life!
My intention is to build community and to help you find your purpose and live your dream for a happier and more content life.
To you, I am grateful! Namaste, Sonya x
