About
I'm Jeff Maliskey, a Queer educator and yoga teacher in Grand Forks, North Dakota creating a community where everyone feels welcome, supported, and empowered to explore their own potential.
I started practicing yoga at a time when I was struggling with my identity and needed to find some peace and meaning in my life. Yoga freed me from self-destructive behaviors and guided me towards self-discovery.
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For me, yoga was a practice for grounding and finding focus during my collegiate years and into my professional life.​ As the years went by I slowly drifted away from my practice and became buried in my work, I was disconnected from the world around me; I had let my job and doctoral study consume my life. In recognizing a need for change, I found my way back to yoga through practice at Lotus Yoga in Grand Forks, North Dakota. That same year I completed my Ph.D. in Education, Health, and Behavior Studies, started a new position as the director of the Pride Center for Gender and Sexuality at the University of North Dakota, along with starting my 200 hour yoga teaching training; it was just the reset that I needed to re-center and find my purpose.
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After completing my 200 hour teacher training at Lotus Yoga, my understanding of yoga and what it meant for me shifted. I found a deep connection to the philosophy, practice, and embodiment of yoga; it became more than just a physical practice, it became a way of living and experiencing the world. Becoming a yoga teacher was one of my greatest accomplishments; for me it was not just about showing up to teach an asana class and move on with my day. It was about creating community, sharing my knowledge, and being a part of something larger than myself. This feeling ultimately lead me to completing the 300 hour teacher training with Susanna Barkataki and Ignite Yoga Wellness Institute.
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Today, I continue my practice as a yoga and reformer pilates teacher at Lotus Yoga. I teach in a way that offers strength and resilience, happiness and joy, along with the freedom to express and explore. Together, we can connect through yoga to find a more fulfilling, happier, and healthier life.
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My Teaching Approach
My mission is to empower individuals to reconnect with their inner selves and find freedom through the transformative practices of yoga and mindfulness. Rooted in authenticity, accessibility, and community I focus on creating a welcoming community where every body is invited to move, breathe, meditate and grow, leading to your collective liberation.​
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My classes incorporate intentional movement with breath. My foundations are alignment-based but I teach accessibility and safety. My classes also incorporate yoga philosophy and ways we can practice yoga beyond physical asana in our daily lives. My goal is to meet you where you are at in your yoga practice.
