San Jose : Santana Row

Misako Matsuoka

Misako Matsuoka is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance.
Misako teaches "Anusara Inspired"TM yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga
and Vinyasa Flow Yoga.
Misako's first yoga experience was a prenatal yoga class. Relocating
to California from an overseas corporate expat assignment in Italy she
had no idea where yoga would lead her. Postnatal yoga mom and baby
classes followed, then she found the vigor of a "power" yoga class.
With the demands of a young child and the workload of an engineer, she
was often stressed and sleep deprived. She was mystified why yoga
should be so invigorating and uplifting yet calming and relaxing. She
had been an avid runner, hiker, skiier, and dancer so she dived into
the yoga world. She kept going back and sampled as many of the
various styles and teachers that were available in the South Bay.
After an amazing yoga retreat to Brazil with Lululemon Ambassador
Marti Foster and local teacher Jackie Long, Misako decided that the
only way to have her questions answers was to start into a teacher
training program. She ended up leaving the corporate world and now
teaches full time.
Misako’s first Teacher Training certification came from Avalon Yoga in
Palo Alto under the mentorship of Samantha Shakti Brown, a prominent
certified Anusara teacher. Misako has since completed an advanced
immersion in Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley, the world’s leading expert in
Yin; has been certified in Restorative Yoga with the founder of and
best-known specialist in Restorative Yoga, Judith Hanson Lasater; and
has studied the Shadow yoga style with Scott Blossom and Sharre Young.
Her vinyasa style is influenced by Max Strom and Janet Stone, with a
strong emphasis on the breath while keeping the flow playful with
varied sequencing. Misako is an Anusara Inspired Teacher, and
continues to study Anusara with internationally known Anusara teachers
including Kenny Graham, Chrissy Graham, Sianna Sherman, and Anusara’s
founder, John Friend.
Misako hopes to share her belief with her students that yoga can offer
opportunities to discover the healing and vitality of the body and to
open the heart and mind.