Larissa began studying yoga and meditation as a way to deal with the stress of daily life. She quickly embraced all that yoga practice offered: a strong and flexible body, a quiet mind, and a grounded framework in which to move through life. The inspiration for Inner Smile Yoga is the meditative practice of giving oneself an "Inner Smile" and letting that healing and restorative energy move through the body.

Larissa is married and has three children. She loves to garden, read, knit, and to study and teach yoga.

She completed yoga teacher training at the Himalayan Institute in 2003, is a member of the Himalayan Institute Teacher's Association (HITA) and the Mid Atlantic Yoga Association (MAYA) and continues her personal and professional study of yoga at workshops and retreats on an ongoing basis. She was certified as an instructor of Yoga and Jewish Spirituality in January 2007.

Larissa is currently working towards ordination as a Rabbinic Pastor through Aleph and is pursuing an MA in Jewish Studies/Education at Gratz College Online.

Larissa's passion for yoga and contemplative Jewish practice are reflected in her expression of embodied Judaism, ShalomYoga™. Please see the ShalomYoga™ page on this site for more information