Meet Katie Kasten: YA Classes Teacher Highlight Series (Interview)

In our YA Classes Teacher Highlights, we feature one of our amazing instructors and interview them so our members and readers can get to know them. This teacher highlight is with Katie Kasten.

Katie is a fitness and marketing professional from San Diego, California. She has dedicated nearly a decade to teaching yoga and fitness and her hope is to ignite a global movement towards aligning body and soul.

Her expertise transcends various platforms and businesses and her instruction and modeling have accumulated millions of views and followers on social media and beyond.

When you take a class with Katie, her high energy and fun spirit is infectious. She is so incredibly passionate about movement, and a very gifted instructor.

Katie is known for her unique approach to teaching on the beat of the music. Her love and talent for creating the perfect playlist for the energy she seeks to cultivate is inspiring to see and a total blast to practice with!

Learn more about Katie’s background, what led her to yoga, and so much more in our YA Classes teacher highlight!

View this profile on Instagram

Katie Kasten Wasilisin | Yoga (@yogi.ish) • Instagram photos and videos

Katie Kasten shares her yoga journey:

“My introduction to yoga happened at 18, but love didn’t strike immediately. Insecurity and comparison held me back. It was years later, during my recovery from a spinal injury, that I fell head over heels for yoga’s healing power. Pair that with shaking your ass and yoga and I have been in a long-term commitment ever since.”
 

The key to maintaining an empowered mindset is to let go of ego. – Katie Kasten

 
 
Want to learn more about this acclaimed yoga and fitness teacher? Read on.
 
 

Get to Know Your YA Classes Teacher: Katie Kasten

We sat down with this powerhouse yoga and fitness teacher for a Q+A session so YA Classes members and YouAligned readers can learn more about her.
 

YA: What’s your favorite self-care practice you can’t live without?

Katie: My ultimate self-care practice involves getting outside with my three adorable dogs: Captain, Peaches, and Honey. We make it a ritual to soak up the sun’s rays during morning and evening and always play fetch! It’s a blend of some of my favorite things: nature, animals, and sunshine.

Looking for more YA Class teacher features? Find them all in our Yoga library here
 

YA: What’s your go-to song or music genre when you teach (or practice)?

Katie: When I teach or practice, nothing gets me in the mood quite like EDM and Hip Hop. The beats make me want to shake what my mama gave me, and it’s infectious! Explicit only of course 😉
 

YA: What’s your favorite motivational quote?

Katie: “I don’t need loneliness, for I’m never truly alone. I don’t need greed, as I already possess everything. I don’t need doubt, because I already know.” – Ram Dass

These words from Ram Dass motivate me to be a better person, reminding me that the power to thrive lies within.
 

YA: What’s your favorite yoga pose? Least favorite?

Katie: Frog pose is my all-time favorite yoga pose. It connects me to my pelvic floor (which I often struggle to relax) and fills me with a sense of flexibility and strength. Back extensions, on the other hand, aren’t my cup of tea as I already have a tight low back. We all have our nemesis poses, right?
 

YA: Where’s your favorite place in the world you’ve ever been to, and why?

Katie: Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart. The vibrant music, delicious food, and laid-back culture make me feel like a goddess. It’s like a sexy, fun Latin paradise where happiness and relaxation reign.
 

Tap Into Your Inner Sensuality with Katie

Awaken your center of creativity, sexuality, and confidence through a sensual energy yoga flow in this Sensual Chakra Flow on YA Classes with Katie. This class features a series of poses and hip movements to stimulate the Sacral Chakra and make you feel powerful, alive, and connected to your senses.
 
 

YA: What’s your most embarrassing moment, either teaching or in life?

Katie: Who knows why this is coming to mind lol . . . but perhaps when I slipped and fell in front of my middle school crush? I had a grand plan to impress him with a dramatic hair-flowing-in-the-wind entrance, but instead, I ended up face-first on the ground.

Needless to say, my romantic movie moment turned into a humbling experience. Despite the mishap, it’s a reminder to embrace vulnerability and find humor in life’s awkward moments.
 

YA: What’s your #1 piece of advice for maintaining an empowered mindset?

Katie: The key to maintaining an empowered mindset is to let go of ego. By releasing the need for constant comparison or negative judgments, we create space for our true selves to flourish.

Authentic empowerment comes from connecting with our inner essence, allowing our genuine strengths and passions to guide us. When we silence the ego, we tap into confidence, resilience, and purpose.

Suggested read: 5 Ways to Drop Your Ego in Yoga
 

Image: @yogi.ish

What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?

Katie: People are often surprised to discover that my endeavors extend beyond fitness/yoga. In addition to my passion for yoga, I hold the role of Chief Marketing Officer for two companies, MoveU and BOSU.

Additionally, a lesser-known fact is that I used to play co-ed ice hockey!
 

YA: Aside from your own, what’s your favorite class or teacher on YA Classes?

Katie: I have so much admiration for some of the OG’s: Ashton August and Crystal Palermo. These lovely ladies just exude an inspiring energy and unwavering confidence – it’s tangible AF. Their classes have consistently left me feeling empowered, motivated, and ready to embrace challenges.
 
 

Want to Connect More With Katie Kasten?

Currently Katie works full-time as the Chief Marketing Officer of MoveU and BOSU; however, you’ll find her joyfully leading dynamic classes for YouAligned’s YA Classes and beyond in her free time – spreading the contagious enthusiasm for mindful movement!
 
 

Take an Online Fitness Class With Katie Kasten

In Katie Kasten’ fitness classes, you can expect high-energy, dynamic, and mindful movements designed to uplift and challenge you, and all set to fun playlists. Not yet a YA Classes member? You can try it free for 14 days.