“For the experience of the Great Energy, the Great Self, you must turn your gaze inward. That which you are looking for is beckoning to you from within” _Gurumayi

Of Vietnamese and Australian ancestry, Narween Otto arrived in Los Angeles in 1996 to complete the final semester of her BA in Philosophy and to pursue a movie producing career. Her first film industry position was as the assistant to trailblazing independent producer Andrea Sperling. Under Sperling’s mentorship she quickly worked her way from assistant to producer. Between 1998-2002 Narween produced four feature films within both the independent film world and the studio system. Her career was flourishing when she made a shift from the movie business to teaching yoga.

A student of hatha yoga since 1995, Narween completed her first formal teacher training in Los Angeles at City Yoga in 2002 and began teaching Anusara style yoga immediately upon graduating. She was part time faculty in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at The California State University, Los Angeles while simultaneously teaching group classes at traditional yoga studios and working one on one with private clients. She received press in the LA Times and Yoga Journal and taught at the first Yoga Expo. Narween consulted for luxury villas Elixir de Careyes, Mexico helping to design their successful yoga retreat program and modeled for various yoga related clothing labels and publications including Siva Rea for Marika, Yoga Tribe&Culture and Yoga Fit magazine..

In 2004 she deepened her practice and studies by traveling to South Asia. She spent four months living at Gurudev Siddha Peeth, the Indian ashram of her Guru, Swami Chidvilasananda. Narween taught yoga as her seva (selfless service) in the ashram’s hatha yoga department while continuing to study meditation and yoga scripture. For the following five months she traveled and studied in various parts of India and Nepal, spending time at the Ayurvedic clinic of Dr Pankaj Naram in Mumbai, the Iyengar studio Yoga Ganga in Dehradun and trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal.

In late 2004 Narween returned to the US and relocated to New York City. She began teaching Vinyasa yoga for Equinox Fitness while studying and practicing Pilates at the midtown studio of Joseph Pilates’ protégé, Romana Kryzanoswka. In early 2005 Narween was fortunate enough to study with Sari Mejia and Cynthia Lochard and completed 200 hours of the Romana’s Pilates apprenticeship. Narween then continued her study and practice of Classical Pilates at ReAb, the downtown studio of Brooke Siler, where she completed another 400 hours of study within the ReAb certification.

In 2005 Narween complemented her teaching with freelance casting and production work in the fashion industry. In the role of Casting Associate & Project Manager with ACWWW she worked with clients such as KCD, Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Dolce and Gabbana, Italian Vogue, French Vogue and Baron and Baron, traveling to Milan and Berlin for shows and shoots.

Currently based in downtown Manhattan, Narween teaches Vinyasa Yoga with Alignment, Deep Restorative Yoga, Meditation and Pilates. Her clear, detailed and lighthearted teaching style comes from a deep respect for both the importance of working with physical precision and the power of the heart to transform our experience. Narween enjoys helping men and women stretch and strengthen their bodies and minds in support of their own unique journey of the spirit. She is available for comprehensive wellness consulting for private or corporate clients, in addition to yoga and pilates training for private clients and group classes. She leads workshops and retreats within the US and internationally.

“We do not meditate only to relax a little and experience some peace.
"We meditate to unfold our inner being” _Swami Muktananda