Allison Sorokin

Instructor

Align Yoga and Strength

I am a lover of life. A mom to a wonderful young lady. A wife and pet owner. Like you I wear many hats. So many that I sometimes forget WHO I AM. But then I come to my mat and I breathe. I move my body and I breathe some more. And I remember and I connect.I have been a fitness enthusiast from a young age, as a child, I watched Gerardo and Richard Simons for fun. So when I got a job as the Business Manager of a gym on the top floor of World Trade Center 3, I was in my glory! Well, we all know what happened there. It took about 4 months for PTSD to really hit me. The anxiety was awful and I began being treated for both anxiety and depression. I sought solace in a local fitness studio and began practicing yoga with an amazing teacher. I learned so much and really got to experience the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that come from a consistent practice. I was hooked.Then I got married, got a corporate job...family and work took center stage.In 2009 a herniated disk left me side-lined and unable to walk. At only 31 I was diagnosed with advanced Degenerative Disk Disease and was told I had the spine of a 70-year-old. Talk about a wake-up call! After surgery, I realized I had to change in a big way – my perspective, the way I moved, held my body, and how I led my life. My practice took on new meaning with a focus on alignment and form to create stability while increasing flexibility and strength throughout the body and mind.Right before returning to work, I got laid off. (Such a blessing!!) I decided going back to sitting for 8 hours a day was not going to be good for my spine and I needed a new path. But I felt lost. I was so full of FEAR and ANXIETY. My body had betrayed me and I was scared of feeling that pain again. I found alignment based yoga and not too long after I signed up for Yoga Teacher Training. I graduated from teacher training in March and wanted to begin teaching ASAP! Yoga by the Bay in Keyport began as a free class so that I could practice my craft. It has been such a pleasure to teach this community class along the Raritan Bay for the last 7 years! The wonderful people I have met and befriended is something I am forever grateful for.I received a 200 & 300-hour certification from Yoga works of NYC (2011 & 2013 respectively). I am a Yoga Tune Up Certified instructor as well as Restorative Yoga, Kids/Teen Yoga, Yin, and Prenatal Yoga. I love helping students create home practices for maintenance of both body and mind and offer private and public classes.Currently, I am pursuing an Advanced 300 Hr Yoga Psychology certification w/ Yoga.Psyche.Soul. and Human Movement Specialist Certification.