Santina Giardina-Chard - Ashtanga Yoga Teacher
Santina Giardina-Chart - Ashtanga Yoga Teacher
My journey from suffering to liberation through yoga has led me to a deep and real study of yoga as a living practice.
My primary practice is in the Ashtanga Yoga system and I have completed the Primary, 2nd and 3rd series of the system under the guidance of Mark Togni. I travel to Mysore, India every year to continue my tutelage under R. Sharath Jois. I am a certified Master Teacher in the Nicky Knoff Yoga System.
Through tender endurance with each asana of my advanced Ashtanga practice, I have developed an intimacy with the physiology and spirituality of our human form. My commitment to a life of process, practice and courage makes rich soil from which to provide meaningful guidance as a teacher and assistant. I augment my yoga teaching with my work as a therapist, holding a Masters of Gestalt therapy – a humanistic therapy focusing on sharpening an individual's awareness of emotions and behaviours in their experience of the present to bring light to what really is.
I have had the opportunity to study and practice with some of the world’s most respected teachers including Kino McGregor and Tim Feldman, Nicky Knoff, Matthew Sweeney, and Prem and Heather Radha Carlisle. I have been assisting Kino and Tim on retreats abroad.
I have worked with a number of elite athletes from various sports including world class surfers, swimmers, NRL players, boxers and triathletes. Santina has taught world champion pro surfer Mick Fanning, women's surf lifesaving iron woman champion Courtney Hancock, surf lifesaving ironman champions Shannon Eckstein and Pierce Leonard.
I practice Ashtanga Yoga 6 days a week and I find that the TXG Compression Calf Sleeves have provided much needed support through my lower leg muscles and particularly my shin bones. I suffer from poor blood circulation during the winter months. I started using the calf sleeves during my yoga practice and experienced improved blood flow, resulting in better performance and faster recovery. I have experienced deeper levels of mobility in my ankle joints as the shin bone is warmed improving vascular performance. The TXG compression fabric comforts and fortifies the muscles and tendons in my lower legs while reducing inflammation, swelling and soreness. I use the calf sleeves when I teach. My shin bones are thanking me for the support.
I travel extensively around the world teaching yoga and spend many hours in airports and on planes. The TXG flight compression socks have significantly reduced the impact of swelling and decreased the effects of jet lag. Proper recovery to assist in the removal of lactic acid is so important to me during flight times. The graduated compression socks are knitted to apply maximum pressure at the ankles with gradually reducing compression up to the length of the sock. This allows my toes to feel free while the veins and muscles in the lower legs are constricted which prevents soreness and swelling. For maximum benefits I put the socks on before the flight in the airport and notice a significant difference in the mobility of my ankle joints when I arrive at my next destination.
To find out more about Santina, her yoga teaching, yoga retreats and Gestalt Therapy:
Email: giardinachard@icloud.com
Instagram: santinagiardinachard
