About Romy Phillips

I have been teaching yoga since 2001 and have a BFA in painting and sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art; and an MFA in Arts Administration, from Columbia University. As a former Arts Administrator, a decade was spent serving a number of roles at prominent arts organizations in New York City, namely The Museum of Modern Art and The Guggenheim Museum. I also have a background in dance and studied ballet, modern, and jazz in Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York City.

In time, the pressures and stress of work and city life led me to Los Angeles in 1999. Shortly thereafter, I walked into the newly opened City Yoga in West Hollywood, where in spite of my artistic pursuits, my life took a dramatic turn towards becoming a yoga teacher who would be devoted to health and wellness.  Now as a certified yoga instructor and yoga therapist, I have taught at a number of studios in Los Angeles, Maryland, and Tokyo and have led numerous teacher trainings and workshops in the US and Asia (Japan, China, and Vietnam).

After completing a number of teacher trainings including Anusura and Yoga Works (Lisa Walford & Birgette Kirsten) and assisting three YogaWorks 200-hour Teacher Trainings, my career presented me the opportunity to lead trainings internationally. From 2012 – 2016, I led five Yoga Works 200 Hr. Teacher Trainings in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), and China, (Beijing). In addition, co-led the first YW 300HR Teacher Trainings in China (Shenzhen) and Vietnam (Saigon). The 30HR Injury Management Intensive that I’ve created has been held eight times at First Ship Yoga School in Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka (2016 – 2020). This 30HR has evolved into a Yoga Forma workshop series, programs, and publications.

I enjoy practicing traditional styles of Hatha Yoga, primarily Ashtanga and Iyengar and have also attended numerous intensives and workshops with internationally recognized teachers in the yoga community including Patthabi Jois, John Friend, Chuck Miller & Maty Ezraty, Lisa Walford, Jasmine Lieb, Birgette Kristen, Cindy Lee, Kranti (Renato Libonati), Rodney Yee, Erich Schiffman, Max Strom, Mark Stephens, Chad Hamrin, Richard Freeman, Rod Stryker, Donna Farhi, Annie Carpenter, Natasha Rizopulous and more. As an avid meditation practitioner, the Zazen training with the Roishi Hozumi Gensho and Francisco Figueroa at the Kyoto International Zen Center (Jotuk-ji) in the Kyoto Prefecture, has had a great impact on my life.

I was a Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Aide at UCLA Outpatient Rehabilitation Department and had the opportunity to conduct patient care and observe numerous staff performing therapeutic treatments. My interest and development in healthcare have inspired me to become a licensed CNA (Certified Nurse Assistant), complete an Advanced Patient Care Certification, and also publish a book about lower back pain “Yoga Forma: A Visual Resource Guide for the Spine and Lower Back. (Plain Sight Publishing).

In 2021, I was accepted into the SOARING PROGRAM,  a yearlong internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and worked as a Clinical Technician in a Medical Nursing unit. I’m working as a Clinical Customer Service Coordinator for the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, on Weinberg 4CD, and as a Cardiology Technician at Northwest Hospital in Maryland.