“Go out and shine your light—as bright as you can, as often as you can, wherever you can!”
Welcome!
I’m Robin DeMent, the owner of Shining Light Yoga. As a yoga teacher, I’m devoted to helping you create a practice that grows and evolves with you through every phase, challenge, and transition of your life. Through breath, movement, and awareness, you’ll learn to live the wisdom of your practice, cultivating both your inner light and outer strength.
My guiding intention is to ensure that every student is safe, seen, and cherished—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally—with no judgments, no expectations, no projections, and no excuses. I show up to create an environment of loving kindness, compassion, shared joy, and equanimity. When we pause, come into the present moment, and breathe together, the inherent loving light within each of us shines through. And when we practice together in harmony, yoga helps us magnify that light out into the world!
Shining Light Yoga offers retreats, private classes, workshops, and local community events designed to support you wherever you are on your path.
Creating a practice that works for you
Your mat is a microcosm of your life. It is your safe practice space to be present and challenge yourself, building the ability to regulate your nervous system and the resilience for life’s ultimate challenges.
My classes are open to anyone at least 16 years of age and at any physical skill level. I invite you to bring an open mind—not just willing to change—but willing to be changed by the practice.
Most of my students describe themselves as having a seeking nature, those who believe they can heal themselves with the right “medicine.” They strive to keep their bodies, minds, and hearts flexible and adaptable as they age.
Be ready to discuss any physical challenges you have that may require pose modifications. I’m trained to provide asana, breathing, and movement variations to ease the suffering from challenges like arthritis, muscular depletion, menopause, weight management, joint replacements, postural alignment issues, and mental fatigue. My approach has also proven beneficial for those whose lives demand they sit or stand daily for long periods of time.
All classes are held in a safe, light, and welcoming environment.
Upcoming retreats
Vita Pura Yoga retreat
March 26-30, 2026
Charleston, SC
Dive deep into self-care with luxury lodging, delicious meals and transformative daily Hatha Yoga sessions.
Private Lessons & Local events
Private lessons
Private group lessons held in my home studio, aka Sangha @Robin’s Nest, are by invitation only. If you wish to be considered, please contact me.
For private instruction at your own location with one to four participants, please contact me.
Local Workshops and events
In addition to private classes, I offer occasional in-person workshops and community classes. These events are designed for both experienced practitioners and newer students. Upcoming events will be announced when scheduled.
Please join my mailing list to be the first to hear about them.
PracticIng yoga: my approach
Melding Western and Eastern medicine
Realizing constriction is a key source of suffering, I continue to concentrate my studies on elemental yogic techniques from multiple traditions and disciplines that help us bring stillness, space, energy, and light into our bodies, minds, and hearts.
techniques
Pranayama
Asana
Meditation
Yogic Philosophy
Traditions
Hatha
Iyengar
Kundalini
Yin/Restorative
And my 25+ years in healthcare research gave me the opportunity to absorb an incredible amount of scientific knowledge across multiple therapeutic areas:
Neurology
Kinesiology
Genetics
Respiratory
Biochemistry
Endocrinology
Still a geek at heart, I keep my knowledge current and color my lessons with research, giving students a richer, more integrated perspective through which to view their practice.
Believing in the true uniqueness of each human, I encourage all to embody what works best for them and weave and evolve their own life-long practice. In our modern cultural environment, I’ve observed the most effective practices include recent Western clinical knowledge and ancient Eastern wisdom—each supporting and reinforcing the other.
About my yoga journey
My healing journey began when I awoke from back surgery in June 2013. The toll of working 25+ years in a high-stress sedentary research environment had crippled me. This was my “wake-up call” to stop ignoring and bullying my body. My spine surgeon recommended yoga!
I grew up on a dairy and tobacco farm in Granville County, NC, and I graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a double major in Computer Science and Chemistry, which led to my work in healthcare and technology research. My entire life was logical, analytical, and intellectual, basically “living in my head.” So the concept of yoga was completely foreign to me, moving my body and opening my mind to ease my own suffering seemed unreal.
My first yoga classes were challenging and humbling to me after surgery. Yet, with the support of a few phenomenal teachers, my practice slowly revealed that “constriction” was the true source of my pain in my body, mind, and spirit! With each and every practice, I became stronger, more flexible, more open, and generally pain-free.
With this personal insight, I realized that this “constriction dis-ease” is rampant in our challenging world. Finding joy in teaching, I decided to pursue my yoga teacher certification, specializing in guiding students with real human physical and mental challenges who require asana modifications to promote a more safe, beneficial, and enjoyable practice for all. I’ve had the privilege to aid hundreds of students in many environments to create their own thriving practice.
