About Jil
Jil Stifel is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, yogi, personal trainer, and forest bathing guide. Her artistic practice encompasses dance, movement, film, and time-based art. Jil holds a BFA in dance, and an MS in clinical exercise physiology. She is a long-term yoga practitioner and guides practice as a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200. She is a certified nature and forest therapy guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), and a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Jil is a mother to an amazing young woman, a native plant enthusiast, and a gardener engaged in deep learning from the plants as she joins with them to re-indigenizing the life of the land around her. She is also a cancer survivor and values friendship and relationships with humans and all beings as the most meaningful part of her world.
The intersection of social and environmental justice is a defining quality of my work. My practice involves a continuous process of learning and unlearning while consciously crediting the people and beings that I am learning from and with. I am continuously challenging myself to decolonize my knowledge, teaching, and ways of being in relationship, while committing to anti-racism and indigenous liberation everywhere! These ideals are inherently Yogic while aligning with the goals of forest bathing and creating a new paradigm for fitness that embraces, celebrates, and seeks to grow power in all bodies. I believe that Movement with meaning is a Pathway to connection and liberation.
Follow my artistic practice at:
Education & Certifications
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Registered Yoga Teacher
E-RYT 200 Yoga Alliance
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Certified Personal Trainer
(NASM) National Academy of Sports Medicine
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Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide
Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT)
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MS Exercise Physiology
University of Pittsburgh
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BFA Dance
Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts
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Professional Dancer/Adjunct Professor
FAQs
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I offer in-home sessions (my home or your home). Our forest walks take place at various locations throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. I also train and teach yoga at both Pilates Vitality and Long Run Fitness.
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MS Exercise Physiology - University of Pittsburgh
BFA Dance - Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts
Certified Personal Trainer - (NASM) National Academy of Sports Medicine
Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide -(ANFT ) The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy
Registered Yoga Teacher - E-RYT 200 Yoga Alliance
Professional Dancer/Adjunct Professor - www.jilstifel.com
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Monogahela homeland, ceded and unceded territory of the Shawnee, Delaware, Osage and Lenape colonized as - Pittsburgh, PA