Your Professional Yoga Teacher Trainers are:

LARA WARD, Founder & Director of Lotus Gardens, LLC Lara has been studying and practicing eastern and western physical arts for 40 years. In her mid-teens, she was introduced to Masakazu Takahashi and the traditional Japanese martial art of Shotokan Karate. The concept of life energy, known as Ki, Prana or Chi, began an avid study of all things energetic. In 1980, Lara certified to teach a blend of cardio fitness and yoga and five years later created her own blend of yoga, fitness, martial arts and eastern healing practices to clients throughout western Connecticut. 

Studying with America’s most influential yoga teachers of the 80s & 90s; David Swenson, Rodney Yee, Ganga White, Richard Freeman, Erich Shiffman, Patricia Walden, Gary Kraftsow, Sarah Powers and Sandra Anderson. Lara learned the most beneficial aspects of safe alignment, sequencing design, meditation, yoga lifestyle and philosophy. She was one of the first teachers to bring powerful vinyasa practices to Western CT while also guiding traditional hatha and meditation to Danbury & New Milford Hospitals Cardiac Rehab patients. She also developed, taught and directed weekly employee programs for United Technologies, Duracell, MS Society, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cartus, Dow, Ethan Allen, Goodrich, Kimberly Clarke, Praxair and Scholastic corporations for over 25 years.

Evolving out of her love of sharing yoga and the growing need for yoga teachers, in 2000 Lara founded one of CT’s first nationally registered Yoga Alliance schools. Under Lara’s direction, Lotus Gardens Yoga School, has certified over 450 people into the world of yoga teaching. In 2013 she expanded her knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology, acupressure and reflexology earning Massage Therapy licenses in NY & CT.  Lara is an adjunct professor for the Health Promotions & Exercise Science Department of Western CT State University and an Advisory Board member of the Institute of Holistic Health studies. She also holds dual Bachelors of Business & English.  Contact Lara at laraward@lotusgardensyoga.com

TRAINING FACULTY May Include:

REBECCA SMITH Co-Director 500 hour Training & 200 hour faculty Rebecca first tried Yoga to recover from a dance injury in 2003 but didn't fall in love with it until years later. After enjoying an assignment as an Army Instructor, she looked for a civilian path with a similar sense of duty, purpose, and service to others. Rebecca turned to fitness and yoga, wanting to share the amazing health benefits of an active lifestyle that had helped in her own life. She enjoys teaching a variety of styles of yoga. Whether restorative or vigorous, she always seeks to empower each student with self-care knowledge physically and mentally, always encouraging and hoping to inspire a consistent home practice. She draws on her dance background for creative movement, her personal injury recovery for modifications and healing, and her military years to bring discipline and strength to the mat. Her disciplined, strong style is still playful and open. Rebecca highly recommends Lara Ward's Lotus Gardens Yoga School where she obtained her 200 hour YTT as well as Childrens' Yoga Certification, and Veterans Yoga Project with Daniel Libby, Ph.D. with whom she continues to study Yoga for Veterans.  Contact Rebecca@LotusGardensYoga.com