Romy Toussaint was born in Haiti, grew up in Princeton and currently resides in Lawrenceville where she established Romy Yoga in 2007.
In 1992 while working out at a gym, Toussaint’s trainer shared a yoga video with her of Brian Kest, founder of power yoga, and she was inspired. She soon began her study of alignment-based yoga varieties, Kundalini, Hatha, and Vinyasa yoga as well as meditation. Toussaint went on to become a certified yoga instructor and head coach through the Yoga Alliance.
In a recent interview Toussaint said, “Yoga is so much more than what we see out there where people are wearing [tight] pants trying to get their body in contortions,” says Toussaint. “It is not just the ahsanas, or physical movements.”
Instead she describes yoga in different terms saying, “Yoga for me is really a lifestyle. It is a practice that really lets us see things as they really are, that brings in a lot of self-awareness and it has principles and disciplines most people don’t know of.”
One thing that people may not know is that yoga “has breathwork and meditation.” She adds, “Yoga is transformative if you practice all that it has to offer. It has brought balance into my life. A strong balanced flexible body gives a strong balanced and flexible mind too.”
After becoming a yoga instructor she went on to become a certified conscious leadership life coach, and a professional speaker on the benefits of yoga, mindfulness and wellness.
“I am an expert at customizing and facilitating physical activity breaks and mindfulness sessions at conferences and workshops for all types of groups and organizations,” says Toussaint. She also leads yoga and hiking retreats everywhere from New Jersey and New Mexico, all the way to Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. She recently got back from a Women of Color Retreat.
Toussaint, who is Black, says, “I like to do separate events for people of color so that they can really understand the habits of yoga and take advantage of that on their own without having to worry about any microaggressions.”
Briana Pettis who has been working with Toussaint for four years says, “It is a deeper practice physically and emotionally when I practice yoga with Romy compared to when I practice it through a fitness app. She helps you understand that yoga is non-judgemental and for everybody.”
During COVID Toussaint was able to expand her work.
“Virtual classes have been a lifesaver for people. There is so much yoga available virtually,” says Toussaint. “There is even more yoga available now.”
In the future Toussaint hopes to focus more on teaching her courses in helping people be better versions of themselves, including her Conscious Leadership course.
“I do much more than teach yoga,” Toussaint says. “I teach the 10 Habits course where I teach people aspects of Ayurveda to learn to sleep better, how to incorporate more plants in your diet.”
Toussaint says, “Yoga is good for everybody, everyone can benefit.”
Romy Yoga is offering new students a $39 special which includes unlimited classes for a month. The monthly membership for students also comes at a reduced price. They hold evening and weekend classes too.
Pettis says, “Romy yoga is so special because Romy practices what she preaches and she is so gifted in what she does. She practices and teaches both the philosophy behind yoga and the postures.”
Toussaint says, “Everyone can benefit because when you do yoga, you turn inward and you become more mindful, physically mentally and spiritually, it really helps you physically doing other sports and having the energy to show up in your life. It helps to connect to the divine in you and the divine in all beings.”
Pettis says, “[Romy] has a saying, ‘have you climbed your mountain today’? and she makes you feel like you can climb any mountain, whether it is physical or mental.”
