40+ Years of Practice • Traiteur Healing Lineage
A lifetime dedicated to the ancient art of yoga and healing. Discover the journey, lineage, and philosophy behind Yoga Circle.
The Journey
The Beginning
Knekoh's journey with yoga began in early childhood, when she first experienced the profound connection between body, breath, and consciousness. Growing up in Louisiana, she was surrounded by the rich healing traditions of her Acadian heritage.
This early exposure to both Eastern philosophy and ancestral healing wisdom would shape her unique approach to yoga therapy for decades to come.
The Reconnection
During her time at Louisiana State University, Knekoh rediscovered yoga with renewed passion. What started as a personal practice quickly became a calling. She dove deep into the ancient texts, studied with dedicated teachers, and began to understand yoga not just as exercise, but as a complete system for healing.
"I realized yoga wasn't just about the poses - it was about understanding the whole person: body, breath, and consciousness working together."
The Teacher Emerges
Knekoh's formal teaching journey began under the guidance of Peter "Hutch" Hutchinson, her friend and teacher whose joie de vivre and childlike wonder taught her to live each moment as if it is both your first and last.
In 1999, she founded Yoga Circle in downtown Los Angeles, creating a sanctuary where students of all levels could experience the transformative power of yoga.
Ancestral Healing
Knekoh carries within her the ancient healing tradition of the Traiteurs - traditional Acadian healers who have passed their gifts down generationally through a family line. This sacred lineage connects her to a deep well of ancestral wisdom that informs every aspect of her healing practice.
The Traiteur tradition combines prayer/meditation, hands on energy movement, and intuitive awareness - practices that seamlessly complement the therapeutic aspects of yoga. This unique heritage gives Knekoh an extraordinary ability to sense what each student needs for their individual healing journey.
"Listening is my secret weapon. The Traiteur tradition taught me to hear not just words, but the body's wisdom, the breath's story, the soul's needs."
Knekoh's ancestors survived Le Grand Derangement - the 1755 deportation of Acadians from Nova Scotia. They brought their healing traditions to Louisiana with them. Traditions that were evolved and strengthened by sharing knowledge with the Mi'kmaq natives. These wisdoms became the foundation of Cajun folk medicine and its knowledge keepers/practitioners, the Traiteurs.
Education
Decades of dedicated study with world-renowned institutions, building the foundation for therapeutic excellence.
Loyola Marymount University
Graduate-level certification in therapeutic yoga applications, combining ancient wisdom with modern medical understanding.
C-IAYT CertifiedIntegrative Restoration Institute
Advanced training in meditation-based healing for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain - used by the U.S. military.
CertifiedSamata International
Traditional training in authentic yoga philosophy, pranayama, and meditation from the Krishnamacharya lineage.
E-RYT 500A New Chapter
When the pandemic forced the closure of her beloved downtown studio after 20 years, Knekoh faced a choice: retreat or transform. She chose transformation.
What began as necessity became revelation. Moving fully online opened doors to students worldwide who needed healing but couldn't access quality yoga therapy locally.
March 2020
Downtown studio closes after 20+ years
2020-Present
Full pivot to yoga therapy and live streaming worldwide
Global
Reach via Zoom
1:1
Personalized Care
100%
Focused on Healing
Certifications
Recognized certifications from leading yoga and therapy organizations worldwide.
International Association of Yoga Therapists
The highest credential in yoga therapy, requiring 1,000+ hours of specialized training in therapeutic applications of yoga for health conditions.
Loyola Marymount University
Advanced certification in creating individualized yoga therapy protocols for specific medical conditions and rehabilitation.
Yoga Alliance
Elite teaching credential requiring 500+ hours of training plus 2,000+ hours of teaching experience. Qualified to lead teacher training programs.
Yoga Alliance
Authorized to provide continuing education credits for registered yoga teachers, ensuring quality professional development.
My Approach
Three pillars form the foundation of every class, every session, every healing journey. Together, they create the complete union that is yoga.
Breath is life. Through pranayama, we learn to harness the vital force that connects body and mind, calming the nervous system and awakening inner awareness.
PranayamaProper alignment protects the body and opens pathways for energy flow. Through careful attention to form, we prevent injury and deepen practice.
AsanaStillness reveals truth. Through meditation and Yoga Nidra, we access the deepest layers of healing - mental clarity, emotional release, and lasting peace.
Dhyana"I specialize in this union... this Yoga of body, breath, and consciousness. I specialize in peace, mental clarity, and happiness!"
Begin Today
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