Isaac Peña  

Isaac Peña is a yoga instructor, personal trainer, and contortionist in New York City. Growing up in Chelsea, he began practicing martial arts at the age of seven and was introduced to Zen meditation at the age of nine. Working as a personal trainer at Equinox, he found yoga in the mid-nineties, studying under a variety of teachers including David Life and Sharon Gannon, Dharma Mittra, Glenn Black, Richard Freeman, Rodney Yee, David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Manouso Manos, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty. In continuing to expand his knowledge of the body's potential, Isaac trained for several years in contortion under Jonathan Nosan, opening his doors to the circus community. He also made several trips to Thailand, receiving his certification in Thai Body work under the guidance of Chung Kal & Chaiyuth Priyasith. Isaac then co-founded Sankalpah Yoga studio where he taught for five years until its closing in 2011. Today, he trains other contortionist and circus performers, teaches weekly classes and workshops at numerous studios across Manhattan including Pure Yoga, Exhale Spa, and Body and Pole, and holds yearly retreats at LuxYoga with Benjamin Sears. Although Isaac is known for his work with top contortionists and yoga asana champions (and his ability to bend in any possible direction..), it’s his ability to teach teachers, and thus everyone, to truly understand the fundamentals of the practice that makes him special.