Banu Bektas-Markert

Instructor

Elevated Living Collective

Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, Banu began her yoga journey in 1995, turning a personal rehabilitation effort into a lifelong passion for holistic wellness. Since 2007, she has been teaching a wide range of classes from yoga, meditation, mat Pilates to barre to people of all ages and various physical ailments including visually incapacitated, paraplegic population. Her specialties extend to pre-post natal yoga, scoliosis yoga and trauma informed practices, aiming to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for all.Banu has completed 500 hours of yoga teacher training in Hatha and Anusara styles, and participated in various continuing education workshops. She is also certified in group exercise classes including pilates on the mat, barre and free weights incorporated classes, and vipassana meditation.Banu’s path moved her from Istanbul to Miami, Kansas City, San Francisco Bay area then Santa Cruz. In 2023 summer, Banu and her family have chosen Long Beach as their forever home. After becoming a mother of two, self-care became her primary focus on daily practice in order to maintain the connection of body, mind and soul.  Banu believes that through dedicated practice and conscious choices, on and off the yoga mat, anyone can live a life filled with joy, authenticity and love.As a self-proclaimed eternal student and seeker of knowledge, Banu intends to share her knowledge and her passion to support her community.