ChayaYoga - Chaya's Biography

Who is Chaya?

Chaya~Sharon Heller, BA, IYT, LMT, AYC has been working as a teacher and healer since 1978. As a Yoga and Massage Therapist, Holistic Health Educator, Ayurvedic Consultant, Nutritionist, and Program Presenter, working with groups and individuals to facilitate health and well-being.

Chaya teaches to specific populations and special needs such as people with Multiple Sclerosis, and other Auto-Immune and Neuro-Muscular Disorders, Scoliosis, and postural asymmetries. She is a faculty member, therapist, consultant, Senior Kripalu yoga teacher and program presenter at Kripalu Center, she presents programs at Canyon Ranch and Omega Institute, and she has been invited to teach at Yoga Studios, and for Yoga Teacher Trainings through out the country. Chaya has taught in local high schools, health clubs and other community centers. She was featured on the cover of Yoga International Magazine, [Mar. 05] and Kripalu Yoga; A Guide to Practice On and Off the Mat [Bantam], and is the author of Yoga of Action; Holistic Lifestyle and Adaptive Yoga for People with Multiple Sclerosis, Auto-immune and Neuromuscular Disorders.

Chaya has studied in India, Thailand, and the United States, where she has received certification from Integrative Yoga Therapy, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Professional Level Kripalu Yoga, Ayurveda and Holistic Health Education, and also completed Advanced Training for Ayurveda Practitioners Course at Jiva Institute in Delhi, India.Chaya also studied with Dr. Vasant Lad.

Chaya is a licensed Massage Therapist, offering Swedish, Deep Tissue, Ayurvedic, Sports Massage and Reiki, and holds a BA in Food and Nutrition from Queen’s College. Chaya is a registered E-RYT with Yoga Alliance, and is a member of The National Association of Ayurvedic Medicine, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, EcoYoga, Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association, and Kripalu Bodywork and Therapeutic Massage Association.
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Chaya’s passion for the art and healing power of herbs and tea, have inspired the creation of Chaya Herb Tea; her own unique blends of organic herbs to serve your body, mind and spirit.

Chaya~Sharon Heller, grew up dancing and danced professionally, sharing the stage with many Tap masters such as, Jimmy Slyde, Gregory Hines, Buster Brown and Savion Glover. She partnered Jan Minkens in “Sophisticated Ladies” choreographed by Mercedes Ellington and was a founding member of the World Rhythm Ensemble.

Sharon was on faculty of New York University’s Musical Theatre Department, Steps’s On Broadway, and many other NYC Dance Studios and is recognized in the Gregory Hines Tap Dance Hall of Fame as a member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra under the direction of Brenda Bufalino, and appeared in Karen Zebulon’s Tap Calendar 1999. Her Tap Dance educational video, Funky Rhythm Tap; Stompin’ in the City with Sharon is sold around the world. Sharon is a member of The International Tap Dance Association.

Sharon has danced, taught, adjudicated and choreographed in New York City and throughout the world, and her integration of the healing arts an essential part of her training and a natural progression for her gifts to continue to nurture and heal. She is a vehicle for spirit and devoted to share her passion for life. All of Chaya’s healing work encourages the integration of body, mind and spirit, to move forward in life peacefully, with grace and ease.