Student and Professional Feedback
“Reading Your Life, Your Yoga, I recognize that same approach. I especially appreciate his treatment of strength, mobility, and recovery as practices we choose according to what we need that day. In a performance environment, we need to recognize when an athlete would benefit from more challenge, a different approach, or time to recover. Through practical movement instruction, breathing, and self-observation, Krojo helps readers build that same awareness in their own lives.”
—Elisa Angeles, Performance Consultant | Former Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning, University of Notre Dame
“As someone who is a neophyte when it comes to yoga, I found Steve’s teachings easy to understand and embrace. The book piqued my interest and gave me a foundational understanding of the principles that have shaped Steve’s years of practicing and teaching yoga.”
—Mark Williams, Director of Rec Sports, University of Notre Dame
“Steve’s patient, caring and thoughtful cues to take my time, to ignore distractions, and to listen to my body stick with me long after I leave class. Steve meets you where you are, each day, in that moment and encourages you to meet others where they are as well. He reminds you to always be present, on or off the mat, and I could not be more grateful for his guidance.”
Steve's life has been an example of the power of a yoga practice: his kind presence has helped countless students feel better connected, balanced, and free. Now you can benefit from Steve's wise advice in this helpful book, which will guide you to personalize a yoga practice that suits you uniquely. The friendly instructions and clear illustrations walk you through just what you need to use yoga to enhance your life. It's a great book, and we are all lucky to learn from Steve!
—Sage Rountree, PhD, E-RYT500, author of The Art of Yoga Sequencing and Yoga Off the Mat
—Alicia Sachau, Assistant Director of Scholarly Conferences & Events, Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, University of Notre Dame
“Yoga itself has personally helped me tremendously as a swimmer. The flexibility I have gained throughout my college career has helped me reach the next level in my swimming and made weightlifting much easier. My core and balance have greatly improved as well. Yoga does not only help me physically, but it also aids me mentally. When I am so stressed that I can barely function, going to yoga helps me to clear my mind and focus on my breathing and my movements. Krojo gives us a short speech at the end of each session that stresses things such as staying positive, working as a team, or believing in ourselves. I always come out of yoga feeling refreshed, relaxed, and strong.”
Emma Reaney
13 time All-American, 200 Breaststroke National Champion and 200 Breaststroke American Record Holder
USA National Swimming team 2013–15
Notre Dame Class of 2015
Yoga Steve’s yoga sessions have given me both physical and psychological benefits that have improved my sport and my life in general. Before each session, Yoga Steve would give my teammates and I certain things to focus on, and that allowed me to relax and focus on my own psychological development and what I needed to do to get the most out of the session, and out of my day. Yoga Steve showed how much he cared about the team by coming out to our practice field during our practices and cheering us on from our bench at games. Since he was so invested in how we were doing in our sport, we felt very comfortable with him during yoga sessions. He designed the yoga sessions to help us stretch muscles that felt tighter or more sore based on how our practices were going, which helped us recover faster and prevent injury, ultimately leading to success. He always stressed the importance of practicing yoga while avoiding pushing too hard during sessions, which I think is very important. In addition to the sessions being psychologically and physically beneficial for myself and the team, they were fun because Yoga Steve is very laid-back and can have a laugh!
Cari Roccaro
Houston Dash NWSL
University of Notre Dame All-American 2015
Before I met Steve Krojniewski, yoga wasn't a big part of my life. However, that changed when my team started working with “Yoga Steve,” and we began seeing the benefits almost immediately. Yoga is an incredibly versatile tool that can build core strength, flexibility, poise, and even concentration. For an athlete, these tools are essential, and yoga is an excellent way to strengthen them. Personally I saw the results right away; I was running faster, cutting harder, and I was able to control my breathing better. Yoga Steve also encouraged our team with daily affirmations, which I found myself applying outside of sports. Yoga has not only helped me become a better soccer player, but I truly believe it has helped me become a better person as well.
Katie Naughton
Chicago Red Stars NWSL
University of Notre Dame 16
“My freshman summer at Notre Dame, Coach Brey thought it would be a good idea to have the team partake in yoga sessions with Steve Krojniewski. Before then, I had never done yoga and didn't know what it could do for my body. After many sessions with Steve, I could clearly see the benefits it was having for my team and me. Steve spoke of the importance of taking care of your body through stretching, core work, and meditation for mental health.”
Luke Harangody
Notre Dame Basketball 2010 - Cleveland Cavaliers
“This fall I came to South Bend for the first time to help out with the Coaches Vs. Cancer swim clinic. While in South Bend I was able to do a yoga session with the women's swim team and Steve Krojniewski. . I instantly fell in love with the practice and the benefits it had on my body and mind. I felt stronger (especially through my core), and more flexible. Both of which are beneficial for sport performance. I experienced new benefits in South Bend when I worked with Steve. He challenged the swimmers and me in some completely new ways.”
Tyler McGill
2012 Olympic Gold Medalist
“When I was a student-athlete at Notre Dame, Steve instructed us in yoga as part of our off-season conditioning work. I found it really helped my hip and shoulder flexibility, which is especially helpful for a baseball player, especially a pitcher. However, Steve's instruction went above and beyond just flexibility, as we also learned proper breathing techniques and meditation that built my mental focus. I still use the breathing techniques when pitching to help refocus myself on the mound. I believe Steve is a great resource and think all student-athletes would benefit from his instruction.”
Will Hudgins
2012, 4-time Monogram winner in baseball, pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization
“I have been a runner, a half marathoner, for over ten years. I used to get injuries all the time, especially hamstrings, groin and a lot of muscle pulls and strains. Since I have included the yoga, which has been approximately two years, I have been able to successfully complete four half Iron Man races and a full Iron Man without any injury. Clearly, this is an important part of my training and I don’t think I could do a race like an Iron Man without the help of Steve and his yoga classes.”
Dr. Bilal Ansari
Head of Medical Oncology at Saint Joseph Hospital.
ND Lacrosse has entrusted Steve Krojo and TBY with using yoga and sport-specific stretching to keep our student-athletes flexible and relaxed. It has been a key component of our drive to an NCAA Championship for the last 7 years”
Gerry Byrne
Assistant Coach, Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse
“Steve reminds me that this practice is my own. Although he provides amazing cues and options to guide my practice, it is ultimately up to me to listen to my body and find what feels right. … His lessons remind me that caring for myself is not something I have to earn, but something I deserve to prioritize.”
—Reagan Ludwig, Notre Dame Class of 2027
“Thanks to Yoga Steve, for the first time in my adult life, I now have a space where I can move my body, relax, and connect with others in meaningful ways. During this particularly stressful and, at times, overwhelming time of my life, I feel grateful to have found this outlet.”
—Abby Arts, PhD student, University of Notre Dame
Steve Krojniewski (or as we call him, "Yoga Steve") has been a great help with the South Bend Roller Girls. He attends multiple practices a month, shows us great yoga moves, and gives us massages on problem areas (i.e., our backs, shoulders, calves, etc.).
Steve has also offered massages outside of practice. Roller derby is a contact sport, and his massages have helped us get back to play quickly.
Candice Mansfield
Candi-land Massacre #314
Physical Training Committee Head
South Bend Roller Girls
True Balance Yoga and Steve Krojniewski’s techniques have taught our athletes discipline and methods of coping during periods of stress. Additionally, the yoga positions have aided our athletes with core strength and stability resulting in faster performances in the pool. You will not find a better instructor or someone more knowledgeable about their craft better than Krojo. –
Brian Barnes
Head coach Notre Dame Women Swimming and Diving
“For me personally, yoga has played a significant role in helping with my injury rehabilitation. Krojo has provided instruction on posture and core strengthening that has been an important aspect of my recovery after bilateral shoulder surgeries earlier this year. Moreover, Krojo has worked with our team on composure, focus, and goal setting, all skills that have proven very useful for me as I confront the obstacles my injuries have presented me with.”
Kim Holden
Notre Dame All- American Women Swimming and Diving Class of 2013
Steve’s teaching is clear and inspiring. He knows how to modulate sequences depending on an
athlete’s sport, position, and stage in the training cycle. His classes are both modifiable, which means
they can serve a range of athletes simultaneously, and accessible—they meet athletes where they are.
Best of all, the energy of Steve’s teaching is perfectly suited for college athletes. It’s upbeat without
being singsongy, challenging without being heavyhanded. It shows Steve’s well of experience and it
will help your athletes reach their full potential.
Sage Rountree
Co-owner of Carrboro Yoga Company and the Durham Yoga Company in North Carolina.