Laurie Smolenski

I am a writer, peacebuilder, and yoga teacher. Working at the intersection of conflict prevention, immigration justice, and human rights, I use research and narratives to mobilize resources for community-led change. As a yoga teacher, I use movement and breath to help people reconnect with their bodies and release tension, trauma, and pain—because personal healing and collective liberation are deeply intertwined.

I am based in Brooklyn, NY and Aguada, Puerto Rico.

Offerings

A group of people in a yoga class on a deck

I offer one-on-one yoga sessions, retreats, and classes for groups of all sizes.
I am particularly excited about teaching people who are new to yoga or haven’t felt at home in other yoga spaces. 

I began this practice to alleviate physical pain in my body caused by stress—which led me on a decades-long journey to better understand relationships between the body and the mind, and the role of breath and movement in regulating the nervous system.

I completed my 200-hour RYT certification with Jennifer Lynn at Wisdom Flow Yoga on Maui in 2024, building on two decades of my own yoga practice.

My teaching style is a dynamic, physical vinyasa flow grounded in deep breathwork, strong sequencing, and optimal alignment. I seek for my students to gain new tools for self-regulation while building strength and balance. I sequence my classes to left-field electronic music to connect breath, movement, and rhythm.

Contact

  • "A perfect balance of effort and ease."

    I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a yoga session with Laurie while vacationing, and it was truly a highlight of my trip. Her presence is supportive, grounding, and confident, and she has an incredible ability to accommodate different skill levels, so everyone feels comfortable and challenged. The sequence she created for our group was both thoughtfully challenging and deeply restorative. I highly recommend her class to anyone looking to find that perfect balance between effort and ease.

    - April Clark, ERYT-500

  • "I would highly recommend her..."

    Laurie took our 200 HR training two years ago and stood out as an exceptional student. From sacred geometry of the body to the layers of the mind and sacred disciplines of the sutras, Laurie was open to all of it. Many students are overwhelmed by the profundity of “real yoga,” but Laurie leaned in.  She asked intelligent questions, seeking to understand physical alignment of the poses but also the symbolism behind them. Laurie understood that a good teacher, through the outer forms, leads students on an inner journey.  I would highly recommend her to a studio interested in offering the fullness of the yoga path to their students.

    - Jennifer Lynn, owner of Wisdom Flow Yoga, Maui, Hawaii

  • "A yoga experience that truly restores you."

    We asked Laurie to teach a yoga class the morning of our wedding for our guests. She creates the most wonderfully calm and welcoming atmosphere — the moment class begins, everything else just fades away. What really makes her special is the personal attention she gives each student; you always feel genuinely cared for, never lost in the crowd. Highly recommend her to anyone looking for a yoga experience that truly restores you.

    - Benjamin, Brooklyn