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Meet Your Lead Trainer
Steven Villanueva Skees, ERYT 500, YACEP, CPT, CNC
There was a lightbulb that went off in my head very early in my yoga practice. So early, in fact, it was actually during the very first class I ever took. This was back in 2010 when I was studying business and philosophy at the University of Houston while working in the inner city restraunt scene. This was a busy time in my life and I often felt stressed trying to balance school, finances, work and family responsibilities. I was so stressed that I knew I needed to make some lifestyle changes in order to continue moving forward with some semblance of efficiency. As destiny would have it, I accepted an invite to a yoga class not really knowing what I was about to get myself into. I had no idea it was actually a Hot Yoga Power class so upon my arrival to the studio, I was a little taken aback when I was asked to fill out a liability waiver. Really? Is it that serious? Well, it turned out it was. This particular studio was a little more strict and rigid so as a very inflexible person who didn't know what he was doing, I got physically destroyed, embarassed, and humbled as the teacher repeatedly called me out to correct my alignment. Finally, after over an hour of practice, I entered into my very first Savasana pose and was blessed with life-changing enlightenment. Despite being embarrassed and humbled in class, I also knew this practice was EXACTLY what I needed. I played sports growing up so I was familiar with different excercise modalities but this yoga was something truly special. The deep breathing, physical postures, and mindfulness - I needed more of ALL of this in my life. I would go on to practice consistently since that time but little did I know just how far this practice would take me.
After my time at the University of Houston, I enjoyed a short but illustrious career working as an Account Manager for a global construction solutions company. During that time, in 2016, I did my first 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Black Swan Yoga in Houston. I was actually part of the very first group of graduates to complete a BSY teacher training in our city. Upon graduating, I immedietly began teaching yoga on nights and weekends and absolutely fell in love with sharing my practice with the community. I loved it so much and believed in the power and benefits of this practice with such a passion that I felt almost called upon to build my life around this practice. I decided to leave Corporate America and do some traveling. I knew if I was going share yoga with the community on a more impactful level then I needed additional training to really develop my understanding of the yoga tradition. Fortunately, I was blessed to hear about a special teacher on the other side of the world named Gokulacandra offering an upcoming advanced teacher training in Malaysia. Gokulacandra is highly respected as a yoga master and spiritual teacher in the global yoga community. I personally believe he is the greatest yogi alive today. Not just for what he can do with his physical practice, which is the most sophisticated practice I've ever seen, but becuase he also understands yoga philosophy on a masterful level. He truly walks the walk and I have been practicing with Gokulacandra ever since. I am blessed to have done advanced trainings with my teacher among spiritual communities in Belgium, Sweden, and Malaysia on multiple occasions and I continue to study with my teacher till this day in an online format. This relationship helps me stay connected to a traditional yoga lineage and remain inspired by my teacher and fellow Gokul Yoga peers.
After arriving home from my travels, I taught all over the city and dedicated myself to honing my delivery of this life-changing practice. Soon, an opportunity arose for me to acquire my own yoga studio location and thus, Yoga Dragon was born! Now my wife, Rachel, and I have three Yoga Dragon locations and we hope to continue growing our yoga community. Since I began teaching yoga, I've also acquired a Certified Personal Training Certification and Nutrition Coach Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, studied multiple semesters of yoga philosophy with the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium under Yoga Master Jayananda Das, taken advanced teacher trainings in Yin Yoga with Rhia Rhobinson, studied Myofascial Release Therapy with Misha Laird, and spend time studying Ayurvedic practices overseas with Ayurvedic Dr. Parthab Chauhan. Now I currently teach various styles of yoga at my Yoga Dragon locations, work with the elderly and people with limited mobility, hold corporate events highlighting the mental health benefits of all aspects of yoga, and teach alongside some of the most respected teachers in the city at both the Houstonian Hotel, Club, and Spa and River Oaks Country Club. I am a dedicated yoga student and continue my own education constantly to continue refining my delivery of the art of yoga. I have taught thousands of classes and led multiple yoga teacher trainings. Many of my students have gone on to teach yoga themselves all over the city of Houston. Thank you for taking time to read a bit about my yoga background. I know I shared alot in this reading and I plan on sharing much more with my students in this upcoming training. Hope to see you soon and please reach out if you have any questions.
May your practice of self-awareness help to influence more goodness in the world around you and more peace within you.
Namaste! - Steve
Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider
#UseTheBodyToTrainTheMind
