Elitza Dempsey

About Elitza

Yoga Instructor, Newburgh Yoga Shala

Student to Teacher Journey

Elitza’s love for somatic expression, and Shirley MacLaine, led to her first yoga class in Toronto, ON in 2000. It provided instant mental and physical stability and joy. Three years later, she gratefully returned an MBA scholarship to go to yoga school. 

She completed Bikram yoga 500hrs Teacher Training in LA 2003, Yoga Works 200hrs TT in NYC 2007, Pre-natal and kids TTs in 2008, and is continuing her Prana Flow studies with Shiva Rea, whom she assists globally, for the past 20 years.

Elitza's 25 years of yoga practice say: Show up as a humble and respectful student, do the work with humility, enjoy all moments as they ebb and flow, as we never step in the same river twice.

Teaching Style & Influences

Elitza’s vinyasa style evolved from her studies with Rodney Yee, Alison West, Kula, Laughing Lotus and Jivamukti in NYC, Shiva Rea, Seane Corne and Michelline Berry in LA. Her practice emerges of deep listening to the breath and body in the present. Her classes feel like spicy honey, laced with precision and curiosity, customized to empower each group. 

Additional Interests

Elitza loves caking and baking, machaing, gardening, chanting, smudging, reading, writing, hammocking, jogging, hiking, biking, kayaking and being in awe of the dance of light. Travel and theatre and stars and flowers bring her endless joy, as do her family and other animals.