About Alex

I fell in love with yoga the same way many of us do.  I loved the way it made me feel so I kept coming back. I had no intention of taking the teacher’s seat.  I never knew it would be the forefront of my creative and spiritual path.  It was 2001, I was living in New York and loving the city, but my job was soul crushing and I wasn’t doing the work I wanted to be doing.  I was convinced I would be an actress.

And then 911 happened and to cope with the impact of this, my practice took on a life of its own.  It was all I could do to get through like so many of us. I practiced six days a week and eventually thought ‘maybe one day I’ll do a teacher training.’  Six months later, an opportunity to teach came up.  I wasn’t certified to teach yet, but I saw the opening and I thought ‘why not me?’  Before I knew it I was on a broadway stage teaching Kathleen Turner and the cast of ‘The Graduate’ — with a cheat sheet under my yoga mat.   (Sorry Kathleen).

I didn’t realize this then, but that deep desire to be an actress freed me up to develop as a teacher. I had no ambition to be a yoga ‘brand’ as it’s called nowadays. I just wanted to teach good classes and I loved the practice so much. I was burning CD’s, discovering Krishna Das, and running all over Manhattan to teach and take different classes. It was the best.

Study

I have been greatly influenced by many gifted teachers. Lisa Walford who carries direct teachings from the Iyengar lineage. Schuyler Grant whose creativity and intelligent sequencing is boundless. Mark Whitwell who grounded everything in the breath and spirit of practice. And Shiva Rea who was my first influence with her wild freedom flows.  And yet, still mostly I learn from my students. 

Aligning in an asana practice or meditation can bring us back to the Flow State of such great intelligence.  This is the space I’m most interested in exploring. It feels transformative, vital, and universally connected. When it comes down to it, teaching is listening.  Listening to the energy of the room, the physical capacities and reactivities of the students, and guiding the journey so we can transform to a sense of well-being.  A return to our essential Self.  

Training

Yoga: Sonic Yoga, NYC - 200-hour Certification (2003)

Yoga Alliance - 500-hour E-RYT

Meditation: Mindful Meditation Certification with Jack Kornfield & Tara Brach - MMTCP (2023)

Breathwork: Certified in levels 1 & 3 with David Elliot (2021)

Sound Healing: Soundology Certification with Lauren Waggoner (2018)

Reiki: Level 1: (2013)

Bhakti Yoga: Mentorship with Tony Khalife (2007-2020)

Coach U: ACC - Associate Certified Coach (2023)

Practice

Vinyasa - My personal yoga practice has mostly been Vinyasa

Iyengar with Lisa Walford (2022 - 2024)

Mysore Ashtanga (2007-2009)

Vipassana (10 day silent retreat) as taught by S.K. Goenka (2007)

Vedic meditation with Thom Knoles (2007 - 2018)

Mindfulness with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield (2018 - 2023)

Teaching History

Studios

  • Alex Dawson Yoga Platform (2020 - present) – Online

  • Heimat (2023 - present) – LA

  • Equinox (2003 - present) – Hollywood (current) – LA & NYC

  • Wanderlust TV (2020 - 2023) – Online

  • Wanderlust (2015 - 2020) – Hollywood

  • YogaWorks (2009 - 2020) – Larchmont

  • Exhale (2003 - 2007) – NYC

  • Clay (2002 - 2005) – NYC

Academia & Corporate

  • CalArts (2022 - present) - Yoga Faculty for School of Theater BFA Students

  • Foursquare/Factual (2012 - 2022) - LA & Online

  • The Broad Foundation (2020) - Online

  • All Things Marnie (2013 - 2016)

  • ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ at the Ahmanson - LA (2005)

  • ‘The Graduate’ on Broadway (2002 - 2003) - NYC

Signature Program

  • 21-Day Yoga Body Cleanse (2021 - present)

Dream Big Yoga Retreats

  • Azores, Portugal, (October 2024) *upcoming

  • Sayulita, Mexico (April 2024) *upcoming

  • Quimixto, Mexico (2024)

  • Guatemala (2023)

  • Malibu, CA (2020 - 2023)

  • Le Marche, Italy (2022)

  • Sayulita, Mexico (2022)

  • Ubud, Bali (2019)

  • Topanga, CA (2019)

  • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (2018 & 2019)

  • Sicily, Italy (2017)

  • New York, New York (2011)

  • Maui, Hawaii (2009)

  • Sayulita, Mexico (2008)

  • Ojai, CA (2007 - 2023)

Festivals & International Workshops

  • Wanderlust Festival, Romania (2023)

  • Yoga Arava Festival, Israel (2019)

  • Ella Yoga, Tel Aviv, Israel (2019)

  • Le Tigre, Paris, France (2019)

  • Wanderlust Festival, Atlanta (2019)

  • Wanderlust Festival, Whistler (2018)

  • Wanderlust Festival, Tremblant (2018)

  • Wanderlust Festival, Lake Tahoe (2017)

Passion

One of my passions is leading my Dream Big Yoga Retreats and bringing seva to parts of the world we are visiting on retreat.  I’ve done these since 2007 in Ojai and have since expanded our retreats worldwide. Part of my mission is to create events that will give back to various causes that are in need.  This mission began in 2005 right after the tsunami hit Indonesia.   I realized then that part of my purpose as a yoga teacher was to start my Peace for Relief efforts and to raise money and awareness through the healing power of yoga.  Since then, I’ve raised money for various causes including Breast Cancer, Save Darfur, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, Haiti, Women for Women International, and Save the Children.

Creatively, I have parodied the life of the overly spiritual yogi-type in a short film I wrote and starred in called ‘Clara’s Carma’ opposite Stephen Tobolowsky (Groundhog Day, Silicon Valley).  As well, I played the ruthless studio boss in the New York Times featured web series ‘Namaste, Bitches,’ but I swear, it’s not like that.  At least not in my class.  Unless you’re on your phone.  And then all bets are off.

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Become a Sponsor

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and supporting Alex Dawson Yoga so that she can continue to give back in a bigger way, please contact her directly.  Alex is grateful to have had such generous product sponsors for her past retreats including  the Clean Program, This Bar Saves Lives, Vita Coco, Kind Snacks, Aquiesse Candles, Hail Merry, Bumble Bars, Skin Worldwide, and Guayaki Yerba Mate,.