Meet Carmen Kija

Carmen Kija is an international and 500+ hour certified yoga teacher from Los Angeles, California. Her love for movement started at age three with gymnastics and competitive cheerleading and continued through her teenage years. Years later as a college student and intern on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., far from her hometown trails and beaches, she stepped into her first yoga studio, where she discovered a familiar rhythm, blended with spirituality and mind-body connection.

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She continued her practice after returning to California and decided to pursue teaching yoga full-time. She completed her 200-hour certification in Peru, followed by a second certification in Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga. As a SUP yoga instructor in Southern California, she soon shifted from the water to the studio then abroad. Within one year she completed her 300-hour certification in Rishikesh, India, with a focus in Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga. In 2024 she returned to India for a three-month study at the renowned K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Shala and with Dr. Srinatha Balasundra in Mysore. She soon returned to Ubud, Bali for a second residency, leading movement workshops and classes for other travelers. She later expanded into corporate yoga, introducing in-office courses to business professionals and teams in Melbourne. 

Today she has taught classes and workshops around the world, including Ibiza, Spain, Thailand, and Australia.

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In 2024, Kija Yoga was founded in Los Angeles. Carmen leads weekly classes based in Ashtanga Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga, with specialized training in flexibility and contortion. Classes are open to all levels.