Giva Ann Wilkerson, MA, MPA is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Indiana University, currently residing in New York. Having struggled with an eating disorder most of her teens and early adulthood, Giva recovered through a combination of therapy, activism and support from family and friends. These experiences have shaped her perspectives on health, healing and social justice. She is a trained sexual assault crisis counselor, mental health first aid worker and vinyasa yoga teacher. Moreover, she is a believer in the power of education, peer support and fair and equal access to healthcare.

 

Giva’s relationship with yoga started out of sheer curiosity; but after her first class she was immediately drawn in by the calming, cleansing and rejuvenating effects of the practice, leading her in 2018 to became a certified yoga teacher. A proud and strong advocate for "empowerment" over "improvement", she embraces yoga as a tool for personal growth, clarity and acceptance. Her teaching places great emphasis on body awareness and the connection between breath and movement. Her goal is for her students to leave class more empowered, relaxed, self-aware, and most importantly, happy. Giva describes herself as a wanderer who leaves her expectations off the mat and embraces her practice as it is — a philosophy she encourages her students to take in and outside of class.

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Giva uses her personal experience, mental health training and yoga practice to guide and support others toward recovery. In the near future she hopes to become a certified yoga therapist, which will allow her to combine her love of mental and physical health with the holistic healing practice of yoga.

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Training and Certifications​

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• Eating Disorder Recovery Coach Certification (January 2022)

• 20 Hour Yoga for Seniors/Yoga Calm (February 2022-Anticipated)

• 25 Hour Restorative Yoga Training / Yoga and Ayurveda Center (June 2020)

• 25 Hour Trauma-Informed Yoga Training / Yoga Vida (July 2019)

• 250 Hour Teacher Training / Wake Up Yoga (June 2018)

• Mental Health First Aid / Mental Health First Aid USA (February 2017)

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