Ella Ran has been teaching at the Yoga Shed since 2016, and became the studio owner in 2019. Her yoga practice began in 2006 while living in Israel and became a more integral part of her life after moving back to DeLand and taking regular classes at the Shed in 2012. Ella began working closely with a senior Iyengar teacher in 2018 and became a Level 1 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) in 2021. Iyengar Yoga is accessible for all ages and body types, and is known for its focus on precision, timing and the use of props. CIYTs undergo rigorous training and evaluation to ear their certificates. CIYTs are trained to provide clear demonstrations of each posture and are skilled in using simple props to make the practice accessible to all, regardless of experience or age.

During her time as a professional skydiver, Ella was injured in a skydiving accident (repeated whiplash). This lead her to dive into the practice of yoga for its therapeutic aspects of pain management. After completing her 300 hour SIYI teacher training program at the Yoga Shed, a life-changing event, she began teaching weekly back care classes with the hopes of helping others move out of chronic pain or prevent future injuries.

Ella’s classes offer an opportunity to explore awareness of body, breath and mind while following the methodical approach of Iyengar Yoga. She is an enthusiastic and caring teacher, who provides each student with individual attention and help, to ensure every body is able to participate and receive the benefits of yoga.

Her classes offer ample modifications, making them welcoming and open to all, from absolute beginners to experienced practitioners. She is passionate about sharing the gifts of Yoga with others, and looks forward to every class she teaches and each student who gives her the opportunity to share her journey with.

Hippie, punk, goth, vegan-flexible, yoga fan searching for harmony at all levels, physical, sensual, emotional, intellectual, “relational”. I want to follow my dreams but I don’t know which one, so I make it work with what I have, where I am, with whom I am.

Born and raised in Belgium, I am a linguist by formation and by passion; I have studied literature and linguistics in French, English, American, Dutch, and Italian. I also have a background and training in ballet. Exploring the capabilities of mind and body led me to yoga and eventually to sharing yoga with others. I have completed a 300hr SIYI Precision Alignment Yoga certification, which was the logical culmination of a 12 plus year yoga practice. In yoga I love to challenge the body (safely, unlike ballet) with discipline, focus and gracefulness (like ballet) to achieve the only form of meditation that really works for me. “Yoga is my version of flying.”

Yves-Antoine is also a professor of French at Stetson University in DeLand. He has been a faculty member since 1992.