Meet Sofia Gobbi, the newest certified graduate of my Teaching Yoga to Athletes course! Sofia brings such a unique perspective to this work—she’s someone who truly understands what it means to bridge different worlds, and that’s exactly what makes her such a natural fit for teaching yoga to athletes.
Sofia’s path to this certification is beautifully winding. She’s been a gymnast herself and has been teaching gymnastics to young girls since she was just 16 years old. That foundation in movement and coaching gave her an intuitive understanding of how bodies work and adapt—knowledge that translates perfectly to yoga instruction. With six years of personal yoga practice and two years of teaching experience, she came to the program already grounded in both the physical and teaching aspects of yoga.
But here’s what drew me to Sofia’s story: she discovered my work by reading one of my books and looking me up online, curious about what it meant to build a career as a yoga teacher for athletes. That curiosity led her to recognize something important about her own teaching trajectory.
Currently teaching at local gyms and studios in Italy, Sofia works with diverse age groups and levels—mainly adults who work during the day and train in the evening. While these weren’t traditional “athletes” in the competitive sense, Sofia could see the potential. She’s personally passionate about rock climbing, running, swimming, and hiking, and she had a vision of becoming what she calls a “bridge” figure between the holistic and sports worlds.
That vision is exactly what this certification helps teachers realize. Sofia wants to work with teams and create personalized plans for individual athletes, particularly focusing on rock climbing and outdoor sports, plus endurance activities like running, swimming, and cycling. Her dream is to specialize while maintaining the flexibility to do seasonal work in different locations—combining her love of travel and cultural exploration with her teaching practice.
One of the things that impressed me most about Sofia was her final teaching video for certification. She chose to teach her sister, who is a musician—and musicians are absolutely a form of peak performer! It was brilliant to see Sofia recognize that athletic principles apply to anyone pursuing excellence in their field, whether that’s on a sports field, a climbing wall, or a concert stage.
Sofia is already putting her certification to work in creative ways. Given her gymnastics background, she calls her approach to yoga for athletes Balance Beam—pretty clever! And she recently hosted a yoga + climbing event, which perfectly embodies her vision of bridging worlds and bringing yoga directly to the communities that need it most. This kind of innovative programming is exactly what the athletic world needs—teachers who understand that yoga doesn’t have to happen on a traditional mat in a traditional studio to be transformative.
Her approach is both practical and inspiring. She’s seeking more stimulation in her teaching work and wants to connect with motivated people who value both physical and mental health. The specialization in working with athletes offers her the opportunity for higher, more stable income while doing work that genuinely excites her.
Sofia is currently based in Italy, where she continues to teach in and around Brescia and can be reached via her English or Italian websites. Her unique combination of gymnastics background, outdoor sports passion, and fresh certification makes her an ideal teacher for athletes looking to enhance their performance and recovery through yoga. She speaks English, Italian, and Spanish, and can help you virtually!
If you’d like to join Sofia as an expert in teaching yoga to athletes, start your work on the course here. Sofia’s journey shows exactly what’s possible when you combine passion for movement with the right tools and framework to serve the athletic community.
