Marzena Lucyna Kierepka, Yoga/Pilates Teacher & Master Teacher Trainer and Founder of Zenith

I began practicing yoga in 1999. The classes were on a Sunday in a local gym. I confess back then I didn’t even know what yoga was. It was not long after that I began to look forward to Sundays with anticipation, excited to go to the gym and practice. One day, I took the plunge. I approached my teacher and asked ‘Where can I learn more about this?’ Her answer was: ‘Go to India to this ashram in the south…’

Two months later, I was on a plane to that ashram in India to develop my practice and hone my skills. On that journey, I explored different styles, teachers and places. The rest is history. The vastness of this subject, its depth, and its beauty can be overwhelming.

I tried and practiced many different styles before I found the style that speaks to me best, Iyengar Yoga, a type of Hatha Yoga that focuses on alignment, strength and unity of body and mind. Iyengar Yoga was developed by Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar, who I met in Pune, India, on several occasions. I feel a depth of gratitude to all my teachers: the Iyengar family, Hart Lazer, and Radjiv & Swati Chanchanis. Their graciousness in sharing their knowledge with me has allowed me to experience the joy of Yoga.

I moved to Hanoi in 2005, working as a tour guide and saw a gap in the market.  With the support and encouragement of my husband and two close friends, I took a leap of faith, and set up a small yoga studio near the Temple of Literature. This was where Zenith was born.

But my journey didn’t end there. Not long after that, I became very interested in Pilates and introduced it to Hanoi in 2007 and was the first Pilates instructor offering classes in Northern VietNam.

And … Zenith continues to develop and expand to meet the needs of our ever growing community, now incorporating yoga, pilates, teacher training and a range of health and wellness services.

Marzena Lucyna Kierepka is the owner and founder of Zenith Training, one of the oldest and most highly regarded centres in Hanoi.  She is a master trainer in therapeutic & foundation Yoga, and in the Pilates method, with a particular focus on apparatus (reformer). With over 15 years of experience, she offers therapeutic consultations in both yoga and Pilates, and leads a range of workshops, classes, courses and teaching training (TTC) in Vietnam.