Lucy Cimini (E-RYT500hr, YACEP, C-IAYT) has been teaching yoga for over 35 years.  She has trained and certified yoga teachers across the world.  She is the founder and director of Central Mass Yoga and Wellness (established in 2000) www.centralmassyoga.com and founder of Yoga Warriors International (established in 2005) www.yogawarriors.com

 She is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and has been trained in Hatha Yoga, Senior Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Health Coaching and Yoga Therapy (trauma-informed yoga).

 Lucy’s program –Yoga Warriors International is a trauma-informed program for combat veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families and those with PTS. She has developed outreach yoga programs for corporate clients, recovering addicts and prison inmates. She has integrated formal instruction on teaching trauma informed classes to yoga teachers across the country and internationally.

Lucy is the subject matter expert of the published Iraq study, (Jan. 2012; American Journal of Occupational Therapy) “The Effects of Sensory Enhanced Yoga on Symptoms of Combat Stress in Deployed Military Personnel”. Her work has been the subject of many local, national, and international yoga and news articles.

 Lucy presently teaches private lessons, in-person and virtual group classes and has been teaching for McClean’s Hospital (Brigham and Woman’s) for over 20 years.   

  REFLECTION

Owning CMYW for over 22 years is a labor of love.  I opened the doors in 2000 on a shoestring budget and with an abundance of heart, sweat and even some tears.   My tenure began with being the face of the studio; teaching all the classes and also handling the management.  As time went on and more teachers came on board, that allowed me to branch out into other aspects of teaching.  Presently (2020), because of Covid-19, In good conscience I could not reopen our doors to the public; inviting students into small spaces potentially opens us up to contributing to the spread of the virus.   CMYW is now a completely virtual studio.   I see the closure of our beautiful space as a natural evolution in response to our ever-changing world.  If anything, COVID-19 has taught us the yoga philosophy of Aparigraha or non-attachment.  Central Mass Yoga will continue to move forward and we look forward to seeing you  in our virtual classes!

 Lucy is teaching IN- person at the FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 26 Central Street,  West Boylston starting Wednesday, September 7th, 2022-11:00am-12:00pm -$20 Drop in (cash or check payable to Lucy Cimini) Please email her at info@centralmassyoga.com for more information

Please note: The yoga therapy components of my instruction or practice are based on certification through the International Association of Yoga Therapist, not derived from my status as an RYT with Yoga Alliance Registry.

Lucy’s Journey to yoga

I discovered yoga while in college, but it truly came to the forefront of my life in the early 1990’s after relocating to Cape Elizabeth, Maine. It was there that I raised and home-schooled my two children.We frequented bookstores and libraries and while foraging through used bookstores, I found many classic books on yoga philosophy. These revered masters included Swami Rama, Rudolph Ballentine, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, and more. This proved to be a most fortuitous discovery since it led to me to take my first Iyengar Yoga class. It was a life changing experience for me. I felt stronger, my sore back from my home sewing business felt healthy again and best of all it brought me to a place of mental and emotional strength. I discovered how to truly take care of myself and found when I did that others around me benefited! Realizing the life changing potential of yoga, I enrolled in the Teachers Training Program at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Philosophy and Science (www.himalayaninstitute.org) in Pennsylvania. The commute from my home in Maine to the Institute was over 8 hours. While inconvenient, I recognized that it was necessary in order to obtain the very best training in Hatha Yoga. During this time, I read and studied all I could on yoga. I started teaching at local community centers in the Portland, Maine area. Today, I continue to incorporate the Iyengar influence into my teaching and have shared this influence in our 200 hour teacher training program and with the teachers at CMYW.

“In your journey with Central Mass Yoga And Wellness, my wish is that you find more than you initially

sought; not only relief from bodily or emotional pain, but an entryway that leads you into your own

soul… into the deep depths of grace. And within this still point, may you find peace.”