Maty Ezraty

Maty Ezraty was an Israeli-born American, yoga teacher, and co-founder of YogaWorks. Born September 2,1963 in Israel[1] to parents Yossi and Miriam Ezraty.[2] In 1974 at the age of 11 years old Maty Erzaty, her sister Haggit, and their mother Miriam left Israel and moved to California.[2] In 1987 before opening YogaWorks opened Maty met her long term partner Chuck Miller.[3] Ezraty died at the age of 55 on July 9, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan in her sleep.[2][3]

Early life and education

Born in Israel, Ezraty moved to California in 1974 with her family.[4][2] She began practicing yoga after graduating from Beverly Hills High School, inspired by her ballet classmates.[4]

Career

Maty Ezraty began taking yoga classes at the early age of 13 years old at the Center for Yoga in Larchmont Village.[3] She originally started working at the front desk of the yoga studio in exchange for classes.[3] Ezraty started teaching yoga in 1985 and soon became the director of the Center for Yoga in Los Angeles.[4]

In 1987, she established YogaWorks with Chuck Miller, where they developed a new yoga methodology that integrated elements of both Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga.[4][2] Opening their first studio in Santa Monica.[5] Her approach emphasized both the flow of choreographed movements and precise alignment.[4]

In 1992, Maty Ezraty teamed up with lyengar teach Lisa Walford to create the YogaWorks Teacher Training program.[3] Maty's approach to yoga was "Ashtanga-influenced style of vinyasa with the precise alignment cues of the lyengar tradition".[3] Her influence is still strong today and the teacher training program has been taught in over 20 countries, to over 15,000 students.[3]

Ezraty and Miller sold YogaWorks in 2004 and relocated to Hawaii, although Ezraty continued to teach internationally and lead workshops.[4][6] Ezraty died in 2019 while teaching in Tokyo.[4] Her contributions to yoga, particularly in teacher training, helped to proliferate its practice across the U.S. and internationally.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Maty Ezraty, L.A. yoga instructor whose teachings spanned the globe, dies". Los Angeles Times. July 19, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Maty Ezraty, who spread her yoga methods globally, dies at 55". The Globe and Mail. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ezrin, Sarah (2019-07-11). "Tribute to Maty Ezraty and her Legacy in Modern Yoga". LA Yoga Magazine - Ayurveda & Health. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Seelye, Katharine Q. (July 17, 2019). "Maty Ezraty, Whose Yoga Methods Have Had Global Reach, Dies at 55" – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ "Learn About the History and Mission of YogaWorks". YogaWorks. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  6. ^ James, Tatiana Blackington (July 12, 2019). "YogaWorks founder dies while in Japan". Santa Monica Daily Press.