The Owner of YOGA + Studio, Dr. Maria A. Riggio is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance, acknowledging her 200-hour Yoga Training through the Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and her 300-hour Yoga Training through My Vinyasa Practice (MVP) in Austin, TX. She is a level 3 Reiki Master, a certified Yoga Nidra and Sound Healing Practitioner, and is currently training as a Clinical Yoga Therapist (acknowledged by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)).
Maria is an experienced Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), Certified Group Exercise instructor (CGFI), an MMA Conditioning Specialist, strength trainer, and a Muay Thai Fitness/Cardio Kickboxing/MMA trainer. She is also a Licensed Zumba Instructor. She considers herself an Accessibility and Trauma-Informed Yogini with a focus on foundational elements of mind and body. Maria has undergone 5 spinal surgeries (among other things) so she finds it important to tailor her teaching style to EVERYbody at all stages.
Maria provides both traditional and unorthodox practices of multi-discipline yoga and a compelling method of guided and visual meditations in Śavasana. She welcomes the opportunity to offer independent and/or group sessions and brings a unique flair to her practice. Maria started offering ‘Yoga Plus….’ gatherings in Baltimore. Some of Maria’s previous engagements include: Yoga Plus Vegan Eats, Yoga Plus Wine, Yoga Plus Art, Yoga Plus Tea, Yoga Plus Puppies, and of course, Yoga Plus Meditation. The inception of The Studio’s name (located in Sierra Vista, AZ) came from these engagements and gatherings.
Maria is an Air Force Disabled Veteran, a philanthropist, and a Doctor of Education. She loves her husband, her dogs, being active and in the great outdoors (and yoga happens here, too!). She enjoys hiking, trail running, mountain biking, snowboarding, swimming, [once-upon-a-time] flying single-engine planes, and skydiving. Her favorite place is Santa Fe, NM and visits as often as she can.