Justin Michael

Yoga Instructor

AUM Studio

Justin’s yoga journey began in 2011 when he learned the Tibetan Five Rites.He used this practice to help himself work through living with a compromised spine.Practicing those movements daily to relieve back pain and prevent injury, Justin eventually grew a deeper desire for learning about the theory of yoga.In 2013, he began to regularly practice in studios, and in 2015, he decided to take a 200 hr RYT training after being exposed to the methods of Universal Yoga and its founder, Andrey Lappa. Since then, Justin has trained with Andrey an additional 200 hours, and plans to continue learning from him as long as Andrey is teaching.He has trained with Andrey both in the US and in Kathmandu, Nepal at the Karma Lekshe Ling Buddhist monastery, where he also has learned and practiced tantric meditations (both Hindu and Buddhist), under Andrey’s guidance.Justin has also developed a regular practice of Buddhist meditations, both tantric and passive, from his meditation teacher and master Lama Gyurmey La, one of the head lamas of the monastery.Justin’s love for authentic yoga and meditation has inspired him to carry on the teachings and methods learned by both his yoga master and his meditation master.This has lead him to incorporate these methods and practices into his daily class teaching, giving students a down to earth and experiential understanding of ancient techniques and theories that are designed to help the individual transform themselves on any and every level of their being as needed.Justin’s spinal injuries through his 20’s and 30’s have helped him to see how universal yoga can be adapted for all levels of practitioners as well as how all styles of yoga need to be used in correct ways to provide real yogic benefits and results to any who wish to develop them.Justin wishes to bring clarity, understanding, and honest development to those who wish to practice with him—helping them to see what it looks like to practice yoga and meditation in a way that changes who we are mentally, physically, and energetically.