The Owner of YOGA + Studio, Maria A. Riggio is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) (E-200, 500) with Yoga Alliance, acknowledging the completion of her 200-hour Yoga Training through the Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and her 300-hour Yoga Training through My Vinyasa Practice (MVP) in Austin, TX. Maria is a level 3 Reiki Master and certified Yoga Nidra Practitioner. She is also currently training as a Clinical Yoga Therapist as acknowledged by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).
Maria is an experienced Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Group Exercise instructor (CGFI), an MMA Conditioning Specialist, strength trainer, and a Muay Thai Fitness/Cardio Kickboxing/MMA trainer. She is also a Licensed Zumba Instructor. She considers herself an Accessibility and Trauma-Informed Yogini with a focus put on foundational elements of mind and body. Maria has undergone 5 spinal surgeries (among other things) so she finds it important to tailor her teaching style to accommodate EVERYbody at all stages. She brings a unique flair to orthodox yoga and breathwork.
Maria provides both traditional and unorthodox practices of multi-discipline yoga and a compelling method of guided and visual meditations in Śavasana. As mentioned, she considers herself an Accessibility and Trauma-Informed Yogini with a focus put on foundational elements of mind and body. She welcomes the opportunity to offer independent and/or group sessions and brings a unique flair through what she calls, 'Yoga Plus....' gatherings. Some of Maria's previous engagements include: Yoga Plus Vegan Eats, Yoga Plus Wine, Yoga Plus Art, Yoga Plus Tea, Yoga Plus Dogs, and of course, Yoga Plus Meditation. The inception of her Yoga Studio’s name (located in Sierra Vista, AZ) came from these engagements and gatherings.
Maria is an Air Force Disabled Veteran, a philanthropist, and a Doctoral candidate of Education. She loves dogs, being active and in the great outdoors (and yoga happens here, too!). She enjoys hiking, trail running, mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming, flying single-engine planes, and skydiving, and being in Santa Fe, NM, among many other things. :-)