about the Teacher

Natalie came to yoga in her forties, and what began as a personal practice gradually became a lifelong path of study, self-discovery, and service.

Each year, she travels to Mysore, India, to continue her studies within the traditional lineage of Ashtanga Yoga. Studying under the guidance of the late Sharath Jois profoundly shaped her approach to both practice and teaching, instilling a deep respect for the discipline, consistency, and transformative potential of the method. In 2022, she received Sharathji's blessing to teach the Full Primary and Intermediate Series. During a subsequent trip to Mysore, she also had the privilege of assisting him at the Sharath Yoga Centre, an experience that deepened her understanding of the method and the responsibility of its transmission.

Although deeply rooted in the Ashtanga tradition, Natalie considers herself an eternal student. Curious by nature, she continues to learn from teachers, practitioners, and related fields of study that deepen her understanding of yoga, movement, and human potential. This spirit of inquiry informs her teaching and reflects her belief that learning never truly ends.

Born in Cambodia, Natalie left during the difficult years of the Khmer Rouge era. Returning later in life felt like a homecoming, and sharing Ashtanga Yoga with the Khmer community has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her journey. Yoga has been a source of healing, connection, and transformation in her own life, and she feels grateful to share this practice with others.

Natalie's teaching is grounded in the understanding that every body is unique and that our relationship with practice naturally evolves throughout the many stages of life. Having come to yoga later in adulthood herself, she deeply respects the realities of aging, recovery, change, and individual circumstance. Rather than encouraging students to pursue idealized shapes or fixed outcomes, she invites them to cultivate awareness, patience, consistency, and trust in their own process.

Over the years, she has developed a strong interest in biomechanics and functional movement. This ongoing study has enriched her understanding of how traditional practice can support long-term health and resilience. While remaining committed to the integrity of the Ashtanga method, she believes that understanding the individual body helps practitioners build a sustainable relationship with practice, one that evolves gracefully alongside life's changing circumstances.

She believes yoga should support practitioners through all phases of life, honoring individual needs rather than demanding conformity. By balancing tradition with thoughtful observation, she helps students cultivate a practice that is both challenging and sustainable, one that can accompany them for years to come.

Now based in the United States, Natalie maintains strong ties with the community she established in Phnom Penh. Through her online Mysore program, she continues to support students in Cambodia and abroad, helping them remain connected to their practice and to one another regardless of location.

Today, Natalie is the only Cambodian-born Level 2 Authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher. She divides her time between teaching, studying, traveling, and supporting students in developing a sustainable lifelong practice rooted in consistency, self-inquiry, and compassion.

Whether working with experienced practitioners or those stepping onto the mat for the first time, Natalie's intention is to create a supportive environment that honors the traditional Mysore method while respecting each person's unique path. Her hope is to help students discover a practice that not only strengthens the body, but also cultivates resilience, clarity, and a deeper connection to themselves.