Désirée Isabelle Berger has been a competitive athlete for over 15 years. She followed her passion of playing ice hockey, bringing her to North America all by herself at age 18. In the Fall of 2004, she started pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing) at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, while representing the women’s varsity ice hockey team for the next four years.
Native to Switzerland, she was first introduced to yoga at age 22 as part of cross training for hockey while playing on an international level. No stranger to the ups and downs that come with being a dedicated ice hockey player and searching for an identity away from the sport she loves, Désirée committed herself to exploring and profiting from the benefits of yoga on and off the mat.
Désirée’s experience as a student of yoga has taught her that the best advice comes from your body’s inner wisdom, despite having spent the greater part of her athletic career following the advice of others in terms of training for competition. Now as a teacher of the art, mentored under one of Canada’s leading yoga figures, Louise Sattler of Galloping Yoga, Désirée seeks to aid and guide her students to their full potential by connecting with their inner strength. Her extensive background in elite athletics sets her apart as a leader in yoga for athletes.
Désirée currently works in Olten, Zurich and Biel.
“It is rare to find a student as skillful and coachable as Désirée. Her skill and understanding of the healing path of Yoga stems more from a willingness to expose herself to opportunities that frighten most, and less from having a naturally flexible body. As a result, her teachings hold more value because she understands what it’s like to live in a body beat up by sport and knows how to mend the body through Yoga. Désirée brings an honesty and integrity to the classes she teaches, creating a safe space for her students to do that same profound work on the mat, to go past the difficult issues and connect to and own parts of themselves that they were unable to reach on their own. Pay attention in her classes, you will learn a lot!”
-Â Louise Sattler, Galloping Yoga