Heather Vita, RYT-200

Teacher

Heather was first introduced to yoga in 2002 while completing her PhD at Duke University. At the suggestion of a wise neurologist, she turned to yoga as a way to balance the demands of graduate school and help manage her migraines. She quickly fell in love with the physical practice, but as a neuroscientist, she became equally fascinated by yoga’s ability to support and regulate the nervous system, in particular through the practices of meditation and Yoga Nidra.

After more than two decades of self-study, workshops, and retreats, she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training as a way of deepening her own practice. Heather enjoys creating practices that feel welcoming and accessible, with an emphasis on helping students connect with their bodies and settle their nervous systems. She is currently expanding her training through a children’s yoga certification and looks forward to introducing the benefits of yoga to the next generation of little gurus. 

Outside of the studio, Heather is a Medical Director at a Boston-based pharmaceutical company where she works to develop new medications for those living with epilepsy. She is a proud mom to Caroline who is studying pre-veterinary science at USC. She is also a lover of all animals, and in addition to being a neonatal kitten foster with Wake SPCA, she has her own menagerie comprised of a golden retriever (Oliver), a shih tzu (Millie) and 2 cats (Gina and Marie). 

The yoga principles that resonate most with her are ahimsa (non-violence) and svadhyaya (self-study).