Nana has practiced yoga for over 20 years. Nana is a 500-HR RYT, certified Yoga Alliance instructor and founded Bliss Yoga 10 years ago. Nana has worn many hats in her career, including that of a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, Wall Street banker, artist, fashion designer, fashion model, yogi, wife, and proud mother of her young daughter. Nana received certifications from the Laughing Lotus Yoga Center (NYC), The Kaivalya Yoga Method (NYC), Swan Yoga (Goa, India) and The Association of Pranic Healers (Healing Methods). Her study of yoga includes, yoga therapy, psychology, meditation, pranic healing, trauma informed yoga, grief-based alignment and energy work, womb and fertility wellness, yoga for persons in confinement, ayurvedic nutrition, restorative yoga, vinyasa flow yoga, super sequencing, prenatal yoga, corporate yoga and kids’ yoga.
A city dweller and art museum fanatic at heart, Nana received her B.A. in Visual Arts and Art History, from Columbia University, in New York City, and her JD from the American U, Washington College of Law, in D.C. She draws inspiration from her travels to India, Israel, Brazil, Switzerland, Paris, Turkey, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Madrid, Barcelona, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Zambia and, her present love – Ghana!
Bliss Yoga Accra continues to lead in wellness for West Africa, as a pioneering studio, and has sold over 2000 studio memberships, during its 10 years, and licensed over 100 yoga teachers. The studio holds press associations with CNN, Oprah Magazine, BBC World News, France 24, TEDx, TimeOut Accra and Travel Noire to list a few!
Atsu is an instructor at Bliss Yoga Accra. He brings with him the love of dance and Ashtanga Yoga. His practice is diverse and beautiful and he brings a grounded and pure energy to the Bliss teaching team. We love Atsu! His spirit and love of yoga is simply magical.
Dr. Wanida Lewis started practicing yoga as an avid distance runner while attending graduate school in Raleigh, NC. In 2010, she attended her first yoga class titled “Yoga for Runners” at the local Fleet Feet running store. It was not love at first practice, but eventually Wanida grew to love yoga over time especially for her shin splints. After finishing her doctoral degree and moving to Minneapolis in 2013, Wanida was able to consistently devote more time to her practice and explore carious types. Her love for the practice grew but not her love for cold weather. As a longtime practitioner, Wanida completed her restorative, yin and 200 hour vinyasa certifications at Yess Yoga Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2016, Wanida relocated to the Washington, D.C. She is devoted to using yoga as a tool to reduce stress and trauma for communities of color.
Licensed with the world renowned Africa Yoga Project in Kenya. She is an experienced power yoga instructor. Here classes are for a mix of levels. She emphasizes strength and using her classes to help her students find balance and build their stamina. A principle instructor at Bliss Yoga, she has commanded some of the most popular classes at the studio and is also a lead trainer Bliss Yoga 200-HR Teacher Training Program.
Imani Francis-Pennant: She is a freelance teacher of Afrikan and Khemetic Yoga. She qualified as an Afrikan yoga teacher in London, UK 2007 under the tutelage of Pablo Khonso Imani. In 2013, she studied in Jamaica with Yisir Ra Hotep to become a certified Khemetic Yoga Teacher. Imani is a member of the IYN (Independent Yoga Network). She was recently invited to present a Khemetic Yoga workshop hosted by the British Wheel of Yoga which was a wonderful experience for all involved. Imani holds a BA Hons degree in Sociology and Social Policy, Post Graduate Certificate in Education and 1st-degree black belt in Judo. She is also a physical therapist specializing in remedial massage. An essential part of Imani’s practice is making yoga accessible to the disenfranchised, especially those with complex needs and disabilities. To this end, she has successfully applied on several occasions for funding to organise free yoga classes for the marginalised.