BIO
Malika Shay is dedicated to extending her knowledge and passion for Yoga, Meditation, Dance, Pilates and other modalities in the Self Healing Arts to any individual seeking healing and balance in the mind, body, and spirit. Passing on ancient teachings through a innovative, inspiring, and empowering personal style, Malika’s primary goal is to guide the practitioner into achieving total rejuvenation, new levels of health and happiness, and a new found awareness of Self. Malika Shay balances the traditional teachings of the past with the insight and power of the future, while uniting community together through sacred Yogic and Mystic Universal teachings. Malika is trained in various styles of Vinyasa, Anusara, Sivananda, Mysticism, Tantric Methodology, Power Yoga, Restore/Therapeutic, Children's Yoga, Trance Dance, World Dance, Turbo Kick Boxing, Yogalates, Aqua Yoga Therapy, Hoop Dance, and Pilates. Drawing from a wide range of versatility in her educational background, she has graduated from the International Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy, The Yoga Institute and Bookshop( Anusara Based- Raye Lynn Rath), Anusara Teacher Training Intensive with Betsey Downing, phD.(Anusara Affiliate Teacher), Shiva Rea’s Prana Vinyasa Teacher Training Program, Shiva Rea’s Yoga Trance Dance Teacher Training Course, Intensive studies with Baron Baptiste and Gurmukh Khar Khalsa, among other various world-class yoga professionals, and PhysicalMind Institute for The Method Pilates, with Charlotte Addington Weikel. Malika Shay credits The Path of White Tantrism and Sufism for having the deepest influences in her personal life. She also holds a certification with The Pilates Institute of America. For cardiovascular benefits, she enjoys kickboxing, and is a certified Turbo Kick Boxing Instructor. She is a member of the Yoga Alliance, ACE, and is CPR certified. Malika teaches 18 to 25 sessions per week through private and group semester programs she has developed. She pioneered DevaDance! Yoga Trance Dance ceremonies. DevaDance is a melting pot of all the Yogic and Sacred Universal Teachings she has studied which integrates breathwork, chanting, moving meditations, group unity exercises, and the teaching of the 5 elements through spoken word, sacred sound, World Music, and Art imagery. Malika hosts mini- retreats called the " Zen Trilogy", consisting of a trio of Yoga, Acupuncture, and Vegetarian Lunch. She enjoys facilitating workshops and community events with intentions to expand her passion and purpose with All. Malika Shay hosts Specific Condition classes such as the" Parkinson Yoga Program" in affiliation with Sarasota Memorial Health Plex, and the "Aqua Yoga Therapy Program", where we combine 94 degree hydrotherapy with Yoga Therapy, for a blissful and unique experience. She has produced and sold “Malika Shay’s Evolved Hearts Yoga “multi-level cd and a meditation cd entitled “Coming Home” written for transcendental healing and renewal. Her meditative voice has been used in artistic, musical songs. She has an Aesthitican's license, and enjoys offering non-invasive, natural, and nurturing Spa Therapies for renewal. She provides Radiant Chakra Facials by using crystals and gems on the entire body, integrated with breathwork and meditation, along with a botanical skin treatment and aromatherapy facial massage for a radiant glow within, that shines throughout.

Q - "What is your professional objective with yoga?"

A-  I have been teaching professionally, full-time since 2001. You will find me serving all types of people, from all walks of life. I enjoy utilizing all of my skills, and progress in the field of Esthetics, Spa Therapies, and Body/Mind/Spirit modalities, to the highest of my potential. I also enjoy developing private semesters as well, and working with others one on one, in a spa, home, business, or a corporate wellness setting.

Q - How has your practice affected your quality of life?

A - Yoga is a 5,000 year old eastern practice that unites two opposing forces together, balancing mind and heart, breath and body, muscular and organic energy, the sun and moon all in to one harmonious state of being - naturally. Yoga has helped me through some dark times in my life, but it was Living yoga that helps to dissolve the shadow self, and lead me to the realization that all suffering was invoked by none other than the creation of the resistant mind. Raja yoga has done me the justice of refining the thought system, breaking out of fear based patterns, and alleviating habitual characteristics. Pranayam empowered me into higher levels of metamorphosis leaving long term anxiety and breathing disorders way behind. Meditation propelled me into greater realization of my destiny, and keeps me connected to source. Hatha Yoga has naturally realigned my body and its energy centers in harmony and flow with nature and the elements.

Being a survivor of two serious car crashes, I was off my feet for 4 months and had a long recovery. My body is now stronger than ever, through a disciplined routine of consistent yoga therapy in all schools. My internal body was once weak due to environmental pollutants and mycotoxins. Yoga alkalized my blood and purified my organs, helping them to function again, towards peak level. Mantra Yoga served as a catalyst for transformation, magnetized my power of clarity, restored my Being to a most astounding and courageous inner knowingness. Most importantly, by having made the conscious decision to let go of all fear and to fall in to Love, by under going a few spiritual deaths, it was then that I began the path of the Bhakti yogini. This is the path of the devoted Heart towards the Sacred Path of Yoga and the Divine, and all other schools of yoga lead to this source. This is the most powerful yoga of all, because it is the essence of it, itself. If there is no intent, mood, feeling state cultivated into the asanas, it is like eating tasteless food. Yoga is a magnificent well, that I dive into, and bathe in its teachings on a daily basis to help refine, heal, and transform my evolutionary self. Yoga has always improved my quality of life in truly radical ways. I am forever grateful to be a servant of this Sacred Path for the benefit of my self and for the benefit of others.

Q - What are your unique talents and gifts that you bring to the yoga community?

A - The foundation in which I build my personal teaching style from is opening up to the creative flow of Inspiration, Empowerment, and Pure Intention based on Yogic Principles, Energy Medicine, and Tantric Philosophy. I love to create a beautiful mood, invoke a feeling state of receptivity, reverence, and concentration with a relaxed, pliable mind. Great Global music and heart warming intentions bring depth and beauty to our practice. I enjoy being innovative, and having fun with it all too. I am excellent with hybrid classes, and am very receptive to clients needs. I simply want to offer the best quality and potent experience I can to people. I take being part of their personal yoga journey very serious, and I have committed my Life to it. The Yoga Trance Dance is my gift to the world, as it is an offering of opportunity to bring community together, and share common intent, breath, and evoke Joy as one, and this, I think, is what we need a lot more of in this world at this time! The more dynamic practices such as the Solar Flows, Dance Fusion, and Yoga Trance Dance events adds more creativity and shakti into the practitioner's experience so that they may experience a more organic, succulent and juicy side of yoga.

Q - What does DevaDance mean?

A - Simply put, Deva is a Angelic Force, or God Presence in a Yang, or Solar state. Devi is a Angelic Force, or a Goddess in a Yin, or Lunar state. The intent is to empty the self into the sacred movement, to allow the Divine to move through you for the sake of transcending the ego. Deva is a generalized yogic term. Men are devas, women are devis in devadance. pronounced: day* va)