Many eons ago when ‘Born This Way’ was on repeat and the Valencia filter dominated Instagram feeds, Elli was introduced to the yoga tradition by a dear Sagittarius friend.* She has since become a certified yoga & breathwork educator guiding practitioners through trauma-informed, student-centered classes.

Her teaching style is intuitive and playful, encouraging improvisation, vocal release and always, dancing. Her work is informed by her lived experience as a queer, first-generation Mexican-American who recognizes the need for visibility in a society that prioritizes aesthetics over truth. She aims to disrupt the one-dimensional representations of ‘wellness’ by celebrating the roots of yoga and showcasing all the ways in which movement and breathwork are accessible in our everyday lives and everyday bodies.

Outside of this love labor, Elli is a musical improv performer, familial oral history archivist, a cultural researcher and creative strategist for some of your favorite brands. She lives with her six plants and JBL speaker in Queens, NY.