My name is Dev,
I am the founder of the Bija Yoga Institute, and I have been teaching yoga all over the globe since 2015. As a teacher I am passionate about creating safe, loving, and supportive spaces of practice where students of all kinds can thrive. Everyone is welcome in my classroom.
My own journey began at a young age, I felt deeply introspective and full of questions. My curiosity towards philosophy, spirituality, and the human experience naturally led me to the path of yoga in my late teens. A few years later, I set aside all other pursuits and left college to attend a yoga institute in Mexico, thereafter dedicating my life to the practice.
My teaching is rooted in the eight-limbed system of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga, with strong influences from the Ghosh and Iyengar lineages. I approach yoga as a living tradition and a way of life, one that extends beyond physical posture practice and serves as a path to deep self-understanding and transformation.
With over 1,500 hours of formal training and more than a decade of international study and teaching, I remain a lifelong student of yoga. I believe the teachings of yoga are as powerful as ever, and their timeless wisdom is available to anyone willing to explore them. It is my greatest honor to share this path with others and support each person's unfolding relationship with the practice. To help others discover what yoga can make possible in their own lives is my greatest joy.
upcoming offerings
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upcoming offerings ✧
September, 2027
April 5 - 14, 2027
TBD, 2027
June, 2027
Interested in joining a retreat but want to ask some questions first?
Let’s connect!
Let’s hop on a call!
Click below to schedule your complimentary 3o min discovery call — this an opportunity to answer your questions, talk through the retreat experience, and help you decide which retreat you want to join!
Find a time that works for you + let's connect.
Frequently Asked Qs
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I find supreme value and inspiration within the traditional roots of the practice, and I hold that as the foundation of my teaching.
In particular, I have spent much of my time studying the Ghosh lineage and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga system.
I offer vinyasa, yin, hatha, and 26+2 classes in studio. You can see my current schedule here!
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Yandara Yoga Institute 200hr YTT
June 2015 // Baja, Mexico
Teachers: Christopher Perkins, Nicolina Sandstedt, and Saraswati Young
Reiki 1-3 Training
June 2015 // Baja, Mexico
Teacher: Allyson Eaton
Awakening Yoga Academy 50hr Inversion Intensive
August 2019 // Seattle, WA
Teachers: Patrick Beach, Carling Harps
LAAIC 200hr YTT
Sept - Oct 2019 // Chamonix, France
Teachers: Talia Sutra , Julia Shemesh
Awakening Yoga Academy 20hr Teaching Mentorship
January 2020 // Seattle, WA
Teachers: Patrick Beach, Carling Harps
Teaching Trans Affirming Yoga Training
April 16th 2021 // Online
Teacher: Allé K
LAAIC 300hr YTT
April - May 2023 // Rishikesh, India
Teachers: Talia Sutra, Tony Lupinacci, Dr. Rose Erin Vaughan, Dr. Keshava Murthy, Nidhi Pandya, as well as Kamala and Jahnavi aka the Samadhi Collective.
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YES! My retreats are for EVERYONE who feels called to join.
People of ALL genders, religions, ages, and life paths are welcome and celebrated on every one of our trips together.
Retreat groups are always a fun medley of people all with different levels of practice. Some come solo, some come with friends or family, either way we all become a family for our week together.
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No, many people come to yoga teacher training as an immersion experience for their own personal growth as they deepen their practice and begin engaging with yoga in a richer, fuller way beyond just postures.
Teacher training is not just a training for yoga — it is a training for life.
Many students come to training not sure if they want to teach or not, and they discover the answer along the way.
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YES! The practice of yoga meets you exactly where you are at
Flexibility is not required nor it is it the goal of physical yoga practice.
Both physical and mental flexibility will develop with time, patience, and consistent practice.
One of my own teachers often states: “to say you are not flexible enough for yoga is the same as to say you are too dirty to take a shower”
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A yoga mat and water is typically all you need.
If you don’t have your own mat some studios have mats available to borrow for class, you can always call ahead and check.
Your choice of clothing may depend on the type of class you are taking, but comfortable clothes you can move in are always the best choice.
Light breathable clothes are best for hot and sweaty practices, whereas in a slow meditative class you may prefer to dress more on the cozy and warm side.
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Hot yoga is yoga practiced in an intentionally heated room.
Hot yoga, particularly Bikram Yoga, was popularized by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s.
The heated rooms were invented to replicate the warm and humid climate of India, where traditional yoga originated.
The heat is believed to help with muscle flexibility, promote detoxification through sweating, and enhance the overall cardiovascular benefit of the asana practice.
Some people love heated practice, others do not.
Unheated practice is just as powerful as heated practice, they are simply different approaches.
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Yes. No one type of yoga is better than a other.
Personally, I teach both heated and unheated practices and practice both as well. I find benefits from each, and every person has their own experience.
If hot yoga isn’t for you - don’t do it!
Find the practice that serves YOU.