Meet Anabel

Anabel’s story begins with her roots, ever-present in the history of her soul’s journey and heartful deepening into yoga – her guiding light toward authentic being, her greatest gift to the world. Panamanian-born with a unique blend of Chinese and Ngobe indigenous heritage, it wasn’t until she left her country to pursue a degree in Environmental Engineering in Florida, that Anabel would find her true home, unexpectedly, in yoga. That was over ten years ago, when Vinyasa Yoga was Anabel’s first real exposure to the practice of yoga asana, reminiscent of her early experience with eastern traditions of meditation as part of her martial arts training as a teenager. In 2007, on a trip to New York, upon the recommendation of a friend, Anabel took a class from Sri Dharma Mittra at his studio in Manhattan. And as she lay there in savasana, she knew her life would be forever changed.

Sri Dharma instilled a spark in Anabel’s heart that grows with each passing day, and two years after her first savasana in his studio, she flew to Barcelona to be trained as a yoga instructor by her beloved teacher. In that moment in Manhattan, in savasana with her teacher, Anabel was home. Diving deep into the sacred yoga scriptures, Anabel took her practice beyond asanas (postures), and discovered the power of meditation and pranayama (breath work), igniting her path of self-transformation toward embodied authenticity, personal growth, compassion and nourishment – the core elements of Anabel’s ever-evolving yoga philosophy. Returning to the country of her roots, Anabel offered free classes in Panama City before moving to Bocas del Toro, a vibrant multi-cultural archipelago on Panama’s Caribbean coast.

Since the start of her career as a yoga teacher in 2005, Anabel’s style has evolved from a very physical Ashtanga practice to a deeply intuitive and spiritual one. Maintaining a dynamic and playful approach to asana, mantra, pranayama and meditation, emphasizing intention, divine connection and yoga as an offering to the Supreme Being within each of us. With her a vital passion for life and innate ability to connect deeply with those around her, Anabel’s yoga touches the heart and soul of those seeking deep connection to Source, and true evolution into our highest selves, always in love, joy and kindness. It's her medium for embracing the unique aspects of identity, sense of self, and lived experience that have come to define her teaching. Yoga has allowed her to access the depths of her own vulnerability and insecurities, healing through the places that once held heavy wounds, and embracing the light of her truest self in every expression of her yoga.

Anabel’s yoga journey led her to an advanced training in Thailand last year with Jivani Yoga, where soul-level spiritual work allowed her to confront her own fears, transforming trauma into trust through self-love and healing. The lesson she carries with her in her teaching and practice, is that it’s okay to be ourselves; it’s okay to be different. In fact, our differences, once we learn to love them, are actually our greatest strengths. By embracing the strength of her own difference, Anabel’s true self shines through in her classes as an eclectic offering unlike any other. Making her yoga experience truly one-of-a-kind. Aligning with her Chinese heritage, Anabel is certified in Bio-Energy, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

Today, she resides in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, where her love of the sea has led her into the sport and lifestyle of body-boarding as a beautiful complement to yoga and healthy living. Anabel teaches daily yoga classes at local resorts, private homes and yoga studios, and as an enthusiastic vegan loves to share recipes of vibrant food in her blog. Known for teaching a spontaneous, unique blend of styles from across the yoga spectrum mixed with Tai Chi, Anabel’s unabashed connection to the roots of her most authentic self challenges us to come into our own deepest expressions of being, as she holds the sacred space for us to open our hearts, dive into our soul’s integrity, and live true to our fullest potential – yoga, her gift to us all.