Larita Hayden does not simply practice yoga she embodies it. Before she was in kindergarten Larita quickly learned that she was living in a violent world. She witnessed physical abuse at a very young age. “It was terrifying. My siblings and I would lock ourselves in a room scared that our father would turn his abuse from our mother to one of us.” Larita needed peace but was often confronted with chaos and instability.
Larita’s upbringing was not all doom and gloom. She has several fun and exciting memories from her youth. Larita grew up a military brat as her mom was in the army. The family moved around often. This allowed Larita to experience many different cultures including a stint in Japan and several years in the deep south of Savannah, GA. “Traveling around so much helped me have an open mind. I appreciate and value that. I still love to meet new people and try new things. ”
Eventually Larita settled in Cincinnati, OH where she currently lives in a comfortable little home with her husband, Adam, and their daughter, Zoe, and son, Oliver. Larita graduated college with a degree in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Christian University, completed the Sign Language Interpreting program at Cincinnati State, holds a 300 level Yoga Teacher-Training Certification from World Peace Yoga, and is a Certified Kids’ Yoga Teacher through Rainbow Kids.
In 2011, Larita assisted a few deaf yoga classes at World Peace Yoga. Then, in early 2012 she began offering yoga classes to a group of friends in her home. She was at the beginning stages of her double career of Sign Language Interpreting and yoga instructor. Then, the chaos returned. Larita was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called ovarian germ cell cancer. She was crushed and had to undergo a two-month long chemotherapy regiment. “I was devastated. Just as I was getting my life moving in a positive way, this happens. I was angry too.” It was hard for Larita, her husband, and their daughter. Larita got through it with the help of family, friends, and a revived personal yoga practice. Today Larita is healthy and thriving.
Larita has known her share of pain and struggle. It is yoga and meditation that has brought peace to Larita. Now she wants to offer that peace to people of all ages especially the youngest of ages.
Currently, Larita is the Yoga teacher at St. Rita School for The Deaf. Larita also offers Yoga Adventure classes (her unique style of yoga) for young kids at the Healing Space of Cincinnati, the Contemporary Dance Theatre in College Hill, the Avo School of Ballet and various other venues throughout Cincinnati.
Contact Larita Hayden at 513-288-9633 or laritahayden@hotmail.com
