Biography: Stacey Milchman

Stacey Milchman, founder and owner of Happy Earth Yoga walked into her first yoga class as a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University. With a dance and gymnastics background, she took to yoga like a fish to water and shortly thereafter began to practice regularly. After graduating from CMU with a degree in Psychology, she taught yoga to children while working at the Carriage House Children's School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2003 she received her yoga teacher certification from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts with Rashmi Sue Jenkins and Yoganand Michael Carroll. While there she also received training in Pranayama and Meditation. In 2004 she received her SomaVeda certification in Thai Yoga Massage Therapy with Anthony B. James LMT, ND, MDAM. In 2010 Stacey received her Cycle Reebok Foundation certification from Robert Sherman. Stacey is an E-RYT 200 with Yoga Alliance. Since 2003 Stacey has taught yoga and practiced Thai Yoga Massage Therapy in various locations, including Highland Yoga, LivYoga, Tranquility Yoga, Yoga Mandali, World Gym, YMHA, JCC all in New Jersey, Spirit in New York City and Traveling Yogis based in London, England. After spending a year teaching and traveling around Europe, she moved to DC in 2004 and taught yoga and practiced Thai Yoga Massage Therapy in the DC area, including Sport and Health, as well as privately while working as the Manager of Member Services for the National Recycling Coalition. In 2009 Stacey moved to Maryland and quickly saw the need for yoga and massage to fit active, busy lifestyles and to make it affordable to all. Soon after Stacey started teaching at Gold's Gym and Lifetime Athletic where she quickly grew a following. She still teaches at both locations, however she specializes in small group classes, workshops and private lessons in her studio in Gaithersburg. Stacey teaches various forms of yoga stemming from a Kripalu background and bringing that into a Vinyasa flow which uses the sun salutation throughout the routine. Stacey has studied Iyengar, Anusara, Ashtanga and Baptiste yoga. She is a lover of Kundalini Yoga (Kriya Yoga), that uses Pranayama and Kriyas to detoxify the body and stimulate the mind. She uses a hands-on approach with her students and encourages them to listen to their bodies and their innerself. A firm believer that personal exploration and growth are essential to the heart of a yoga practice, she encourages her students to find the connection between yoga and their emotional well-being. When not teaching in Maryland, you can find Stacey traveling and teaching around the world, hiking, diving, snowboarding, climbing, camping, reading, writing, taking photos, catching a movie with her fiance and playing with her dog....