Danika Gilbert discovered yoga in 1996 while working on her master’s thesis in Seattle, WA. She credits a gentle Hatha yoga practice as helping “keep her sane” during a tedious thesis writing process. Those classes also became a refuge for her during the long rainy PNW winters. Her personal practice has ebbed and flowed over the years, with many different styles and intensities. In 2004, Danika started to practice again more regularly as a way to offset the tightening of her body from the rigors of daily mountain guide work. For 13 years, the Ridgway yoga community has been essential to helping Danika maintain balance in her life, between guiding and international travel. In 2016, she embarked on her first yoga teacher training, a 200hr Shiva Rea Prana Vinyasa at the Ridgway Yoga Shala with Monica Mesa and Katie Graves. Initially, she was intending to use her new knowledge primarily to help the young women in Afghanistan she&rs quo;s training to climb mountains, but Danika found she truly enjoys teaching yoga and wants to share with our community. For her, it’s important that we all live from our hearts, with compassion and kindness for others.