Vyana was founded in 2006 by Helena Zera Axelrod, R.N., an avid yoga practitioner andinstructor. The Hasta Pada Yoga Belt was devised by Helena for dhanurasana (bow pose) after an enlightened sadhana with her primary teacher – the world renowned Shiva Rea.
Helena's interest in human anatomy, nutrition, and physical fitness began at an early age. A lifelong athlete, she has been active in gymnastics, running, skiing, Tae Kwon Do, and her true love, Yoga. As a registered nurse, Helena witnessed first hand the suffering of patients living with chronic pain, physical, and emotional ailments. During her years as an Intensive Care and Operating Room nurse, she became intimately familiar with the human body and the effect proper nutrition, exercise, and emotional health had on the physical body, mind, and human spirit. Helena also met her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, in the operating room. After having her first child, Helena decided to focus her time and energy on raising her children as a full time Mother.
After the age of forty, Helena began losing much of her youthful flexibility and decided to attempt Yoga. At the quantum age of forty-two, what began as a love – hate relationship with Yoga and it's physical demands evolved into a lifestyle that would not only transform her physically, but spiritually as well. Her journey has created a bond to the yogic practice and life on a deep spiritual level that resonates to the core of her very being. This bond has taken her around the world to further study this practice that has transformed her in mind, body, and spirit.
On this wonderful journey, Helena radiates love, appreciation, peace, and of course Shakti.
“The mind is everything. What you think, you become.”
Gautam Buddha
Helena's interest in human anatomy, nutrition, and physical fitness began at an early age. A lifelong athlete, she has been active in gymnastics, running, skiing, Tae Kwon Do, and her true love, Yoga. As a registered nurse, Helena witnessed first hand the suffering of patients living with chronic pain, physical, and emotional ailments. During her years as an Intensive Care and Operating Room nurse, she became intimately familiar with the human body and the effect proper nutrition, exercise, and emotional health had on the physical body, mind, and human spirit. Helena also met her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, in the operating room. After having her first child, Helena decided to focus her time and energy on raising her children as a full time Mother.
