About Me
Marysa Manning (she/her)
E-RYT200/RYT500, TCTSY-F, YACEP
I’ve been practicing yoga since 2008. What began as a way to reduce stress and increase flexibility soon became so much more: a way to connect, listen to, and make peace with my body. As a trauma survivor, I knows firsthand what a powerful and complicated process developing a yoga practice can be. I believe our bodies are our best teachers, and that by practicing yoga we can practice connecting to ourselves, so that we can better connect to others. I have a passion for adapting shapes and sequences for individual students, and I believe that yoga really is for every body! I practice from a place of deep respect and gratitude for the Asian cultures that gave us these practices, and for all the teachers known and unknown to me whose wisdom continues to enrich my life every day.
I earned my 200-hour Hatha Vinyasa yoga teacher certification from Steadfast and True Yoga in Nashville, TN and am a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. In 2022, I completed my 300-hour advanced certification in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), an evidence-based clinical intervention for complex trauma or chronic, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) through the Center for Trauma and Embodiment in Massachusetts. I have additional certifications in Yin Yoga (20 hours), Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Yoga (50 hours), Meditation (50 hours), mindful hands-on assists, and teaching yoga for beginners. My influential teachers include Gillian St. Clair, Allie King, Kristen Stanley, and Terry Coburn.
In addition to my yoga training, I hold a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Vanderbilt University and have 15+ years of experience in nonprofit community programming, healthcare advocacy, social work, and higher education.
You can read more about my story and my path to yoga teaching on Nashville Voyager.
Follow me on Instagram at @yogawithmarysa.
What People Are Saying
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If you are new to yoga or just don’t really get it (hi, me for the last 20 years), or need info for adjustments/alternatives for shapes that work for you, Marysa is your person. Trauma-informed. Supportive. Just the best. So much love.
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— EMILY
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Learning to listen to my body continues to transform my physical, mental, and emotional health. The curated yoga practices are tools that I use when I’m feeling anxious AND when my physical injury needs a gentle approach. Gamechanger!
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— LAUREN
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As a lifelong athlete, I’m in the process of unlearning a performative and perfectionistic approach to any form of exercise. I would practice yoga as if I was going to somehow ‘win’ the class, even if I was just competing with myself. Listening First Yoga is teaching me a gentle way that honors where my mind and body are, one moment at a time. As it turns out, listening to my body first is also transforming my anxiety. The gentle approach is a win-win all around.
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— EMILY L.
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I really didn’t expect there to be such a FELT experience of change in the 8 weeks. This course provided a container, guidance, and connection that has noticeably improved my relationship with myself and the world. Weeks after it’s ended, I find myself feeling more empowered, safer in body, and more trusting of myself.
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— TRAUMA SENSITIVE YOGA GROUP MEMBER
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Marysa is such a wonderful teacher! She creates a welcoming and inclusive space for participants to be where they are, with encouragement to bring and embrace their full selves. I really appreciated the care, compassion, and guidance that she brought to our practice each week, as well as the opportunity to share and connect with others in the class.
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- TRAUMA SENSITIVE YOGA GROUP MEMBER
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I’m a trauma survivor. Stepping into a yoga studio with hands-on assists was triggering for me. Even experiencing body memories that bubble up during a yoga practice was overwhelming. I was angry that yoga was another area where I felt powerless. BUT it’s different with Marysa! Her hands-off assists and listening first approach create a safe space for me to practice.
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— ANONYMOUS
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I felt that this group offered me the chance to truly connect with my body for the first time. Before, I felt trapped in my body and like I was completely powerless to it. I also feel that this group helped me understand some of the therapy “catchphrases” about trauma and healing and how those can actually apply to me.
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— TRAUMA SENSITIVE YOGA GROUP MEMBER
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This time was SUCH a gift! Marysa is conpassinate, caring, and and well trained, which reflects in her beautiful teachings. These classes were great for my nervous system and always a bright spot in my week.
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- TRAUMA SENSITIVE YOGA GROUP MEMBER
