Jill Alberson

Jill Abelson (Janaki)

500E-RYT, Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, Author, and Workshop Presenter Jill Abelson is a seasoned bi-coastal yoga teacher, author, and workshop presenter, recognized for her expertise in alignment, injury prevention, and hands-on assists. With over two decades of experience, Jill has earned a reputation as a leader in the yoga community, and in 2007, she was named by Yoga Journal as one of the "5 Yogis Changing the World." Her extensive teaching experience spans from California’s Bay Area to Europe, and she is an advanced certified teacher in the Jivamukti Yoga tradition, having studied under influential mentors like Sharon Gannon and David Life.

Yoga, Dance, and Spirituality

A lifelong lover of dance, music, and spirituality, Jill has been deeply immersed in yoga since 1999, blending her classical dance background with her yoga practice. She is also passionate about environmental health and works on climate change solutions alongside her yoga practice. Jill’s approach is deeply personal and rooted in self-inquiry—traits that were nurtured by her own transformative experiences, including overcoming breast cancer and undergoing a life-changing search for her birth family.

Teaching and Mentorship

Jill’s writing has been featured in major publications such as Yoga Journal, Elephant Journal, and The Washington Post. Her books on yoga assists, originally published as companion manuals for teacher trainings, continue to be highly regarded in the yoga community. Jill also teaches internationally, regularly guest-teaching at Jivamukti studios across Europe, and she has served as a mentor for Jivamukti teacher training.

Teaching Style

Her holistic, heart-centered teaching combines challenging sequences with spiritual commentary, encouraging both physical and spiritual growth. In her classes, students often comment on the devotional, uplifting quality that makes even the most physically demanding practices feel transformative.

Personal Life

When she's not teaching or writing, Jill enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, and their two Siamese rescue cats, Panda and Mookie, in Marin, California.