Judi “Uma” Maloy, a former dance instructor, has been studying yoga for the past 14 years and has served as Director and now Co-Director of the Yoga Gallery since founding it in 2002. Judi is a (RYT) Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher, a Certified Integral Yoga Instructor, a Certified Mamaste Prenatal Instructor and assisted Jyothi Larson, author of Yoga Mom, Buddha Baby in the Post Natal Yoga Course at Yogaville Ashram in Buckingham, Virginia in August 2004. Her continuing training has been in mainly Iyengar and Anusara Yoga, taking workshops with John Friend, Doug Keller, Sianna Shermann, Aadil Palkhivala, Erich Schiffmann, J.J. Gormley, Roger Cole, Kausthub Desikachar, Felicity Green, David Frawley, Baxter Bell, and Karen Prior to name but a few. She has combined these teachings to develop a style that focuses first on opening the heart, followed by proper alignment principles, strength building, increasing flexibility and reducing stress. Judi continues to take workshops whenever possible to increase her knowledge in both the physical and philosophical aspects of yoga.
Yoga Gallery co-director Lynn Felder, R.Y.T., received her teacher training from Stephanie Keach at the Asheville Yoga Center in 2001 and founded Arts of Yoga on Brookstown Avenue that same year. Arts of Yoga moved to 717 S. Marshall St. in 2003, and Lynn continued her studies with Anusara teachers Doug Keller, Todd Norian and John Friend. She has subsequently studied and taught Yoga for Cancer patients, Restorative Yoga, expanded her understanding of Integral Yoga, Vipassana meditation and has taken many workshops and classes. She has published several articles about yoga in national and regional magazines. "Although I had practiced yoga off and on since the 1960s, it took a serious illness to bring me into a full realization of the healing power of yoga. Cancer nearly took away my body; yoga gave it back. I am grateful every day for the practice, grateful for my teachers and grateful to my students who teach me with their practice."
Amanda Tanner, discovered her love of yoga while living in New York City and it has continued through the many states she’s lived in—Indiana, Maryland, and North Carolina. She has been practicing for eight years and continues to be inspired by the practice both on and off the mat. In 2009, Amanda completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification with Kim Manfredi at Charm City Yoga in Baltimore. She combines her passion and academic training in public health with the movement and meditation in yoga resulting in fun and flowing classes that help students explore the natural abilities of their body.
Amy McGinnis. I took my first yoga class from Billy McClain seven years ago. My practice with Billy and his love for yoga resonated with me and I was hooked. Since then I have received my 330 hour teaching certification from Triad Yoga in Greensboro and am registered with The Yoga Alliance at the 200hr level. I have also done workshops with Patricia Walden, Doug Keller and Cindy Dollar as well YogaKids. My classes are based on "living yoga" and include a gentle introduction to the physical asanas in a safe and nurturing environment.
Becky Hieter shares, "While I have studied Yoga off and on for much of my adult life, I have become consistent in my studies since 1999. My regular practice started as a way to compliment my running by adding flexibility to my hips and legs, later I realized that it wasn’t only my muscles that were receiving the most expansion from my practice. I love the growth and awareness that Yoga provides, to students of all abilities, in their physical and mental journeys. For this reason I chose to deepen my practice by enrolling in a teaching certification program in 2008. Since that time I have received my 330 hour certification at the Triad Yoga Institute in Greensboro, NC and am registered with the Yoga Alliance. I teach alignment based Yoga in the Iyengar tradition in addition to Vinyasa and Power Flow in the tradition of Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois. I seek to constantly expand my understanding of the Yoga tradition and share this love of learning and growth with my students. I believe that by releasing judgment and seeking compassion for ourselves, we find joy. Namaste"
Billy McClain has been practicing yoga since 1975. He has been teaching since 1996 and received his certification from International Yoga Teachers Association in 1999. His classes are designed to give the student a strong background in asana practice while exploring the philosophical aspects of yoga, in a safe, fun and caring atmosphere. The emphasis of his training has been in the Iyengar style. His primary teacher for twenty years was Louisa Klein, in addition he has attended numerous workshops and intensives with Patricia Walden, Rodney Yee, John Shumacher, Joan White, Judith Lasater and others. Billy continues to work and study both the physical and philosophical aspects of yoga.
Brittany Johnson, a competitive athlete since the age of nine, was a 2-time qualifier and participant in the United States Olympic Trials. Brittany has been studying yoga since her devastating, career ending shoulder surgery in 2004. She recently received her 230 hour RYT certification from Stephanie Keach in Asheville, NC at the Asheville Yoga Center and is going on to pursue her 500 hour certification. “Since I stumbled upon yoga in 2004 in Gainesville, FL I have been hooked. I have found that yoga has given me new perspective and meaning in life. Through my yoga practice I have been able to heal my injuries both inside and out and find my true self. I am grateful for my yoga practice everyday.” Brittany is also a certified personal trainer who recognizes the fitness need for flexibility training and the power behind the body/mind connection. Brittany continues to pursue additional knowledge and certification in Yoga and exercise sciences through regular conferences and workshops.
Cara Hagen, "As a yoga practitioner and teacher, I believe in a practice which stresses correctness of form, the union of movement and breath, and attention to lines of energy created in both the physical and subtle bodies. My practice and my classes have been greatly influenced by the Vinyasa and Iyengar traditions, as well as dance, in which I have received my BFA from the UNC School of the arts. I received my 330 hour certification at the Triad Yoga Institute in Greensboro under the tutelage of Terry Brown. I am registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level. I have previously studied yoga at Yoga Works New York with various teachers in the Vinyasa, Anusara and Iyengar styles. I have attended workshops with Nicolai Bachman, Doug Keller, Har Darshan Khalsa, Aadil palkhivala, Bo Forbes and Matthew Seweeney. The list continues to grow as I attend workshops on a regular basis to increase my skills and knowledge of all the different aspects and approaches to yoga. When not on the mat, I am a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. I am artistic director of 87 Dance Productions and an adjunct faculty member at High Point University. My dance work and yoga work inform each other, in that each practice asks me to look deep inside myself and bring to the surface parts of my soul. Both require great discipline and dedication, and both can be a path to enlightenment!"
Courtney Cooper was first introduced to Yoga back in 2001 while attending Appalachian State University. Upon graduating with a degree in Health Psychology and Nutrition in 2005, she went on to deepen her love and practice of Yoga. Courtney completed a 9 month teacher training course, certified 230 hours, at Asheville Yoga Center with Stephanie Keach in May 2009. Currently, she is enrolled in the Advanced Teacher Training program at AYC to obtain her 500 hour certification. Her vinyasa flow classes incorporate pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy, and the practice of being fully present in the moment, allowing you to tap into your inner awareness.
David Emerson comes to us with over ten years experience as a practitioner and over 2000 hours teaching experience in the past five years.
David loves sharing with others the benefits of flexibility, focus and self-empowerment that come from yoga practice. His clear, concise and patient instruction can be easily grasped by beginners. More seasoned practitioners will appreciate more detailed instruction for refining their posture, as well as David's sequencing of the postures for specific benefits.
Elliott Watlington, (RYT) is a dynamic and compassionate yoga teacher who attended East Carolina University where he was a member of the men’s soccer team. He received his BA in philosophy and religious studies and specialized in eastern philosophy and religion. While studying abroad in India through the university he took his first Yoga class in Rishikesh and has practiced and studied Yoga daily ever since. He has studied Jivamukti, Sivananda, Intergral, Kripalu, and Ashtanga yoga traditions through out the country. Elliott received his teacher training certification in Ashtanga Vinyasa style yoga in India at the Tattva Yogashala located on the banks of the Ganges River in Rishikesh. He has taught yoga classes at the university level, in India, and in detention centers to at-risk teens. Elliott’s classes are physically demanding yet approachable for even the beginning level student. He teaches his students to focus on their breath and stays true to the traditional yoga style in which he received his training.
Jacob Felder has been practicing yoga consistently since 1969. He is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level. His teaching abilities include gentle, intermediate, advanced and partner yoga, and meditation. He teaches a unique form of partner yoga that includes a gentle introduction and moves into extreme partner poses seldom seen outside of circus performances. He is also a meditation trainer, successfully using a training method that he developed, "The Awareness Approach." Jacob has two yoga DVD's published with a third soon to be released. His latest project is the production of an audio Meditation Training CD that will be available in the fall of 08'. He can be contacted through his website or 336-407-8602.
Jennifer Haydon began practicing yoga in 1980, while in college at the University of Tennessee and became immediately smitten. She has remained deeply in love with yoga ever since! She received her certification in Hatha Yoga from The World Yoga Center in Manhatten in 1986. She is also certified to teach prenatal, postnatal and those with heart disease. While living in California for the past 20 years, Jennifer immersed herself in the Iyengar, Anusara and Yin Yoga traditions. She also studied restorative yoga extensively with Judith Lasater. One of her objectives as a yoga teacher is to help her students discover the poses from the inside, rather than force them from the outside. She focuses on the breath and in slowing down in order to really feel the poses and their effects and after effects on the body, mind and spirit. Her classes are deeply relaxing, joyful and fun. Please see her website: jenniferhaydon.com for further information.
Kirtan Coan, MA, LPC, CAGS, was certified by Dr. Rammurti Mishra, the founder of the Ananda Ashram, to teach hatha yoga in 1978. She has taught at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, the North Carolina School of the Arts, Pretzel Logic Yoga Studio, and at silent mindfulness meditation retreats led by Shinzen Young. A founding teacher at the Arts of Yoga Studio from August 2003 through August 2008, she is certified in Mindful Yoga at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA. Kirtan finds that her love of yoga deepens with every wrinkle.
Lindsey Meacham has been practicing yoga consistently since an introduction to Bikram yoga five years ago. In the time since, she has explored many traditions of yoga including Iyengar, Anusara and Viniyoga. She received her teacher training and certification (RYT) at the Yandara Yoga Institute of Todos Santos, Mexico. Her classes are open to practitioners of all levels, emphasizing the union of mind and body through alignment-based Asana, Pranayama and meditation practices.
Leslie Lundquist, D.D.S., 200HR RYT. I began a yoga practice about 9 years ago when, Louisa Klein, encouraged me to take yoga classes to decrease the developing aches and pains associated with practicing dentistry. I received my 330HR certification and am taking classes towards the 500HR program at Triad Yoga in Greensboro. These classes all emphasize alignment, philosophy, pranayama, and meditation. Workshops are vitally important for expanding my learning and technique and I have attended workshops with Patricia Walden, Rodney Yee, Elise Miller, Aadhil Palkhivala, Bo Forbes, Baxter Bell and Bryan Legere. Students will learn alignment based yoga in a gentle manner, and how to be present in the pose, thereby learning svadhyaya or self study by looking inside. Practicing in this manner leads us to a deeper understanding and connection with our spirit (true self), and leads to more happiness, light and love in our lives.
Louisa (Paraschi) Klein, Certified International Yoga Teachers' Association since 1980, is experienced in teaching people of all ages in schools (Summit School & Forsyth), undergraduates at WFU, retirement homes in NC, corporate offices and mixed level classes in her home studio in WS, and most recently in Chevy Chase, MD for the past four years. She has trained students for IYTA yoga teacher certification, and has conducted workshops nationally and internationally in the UK, Greece, India and South Africa. Louisa served as Vice-president of IYTA USA branch for 15 years. Born in India of Greek heritage, Louisa was introduced to yoga at the age of three. She was educated in UK and persued her yoga studies in S.Africa before emigrating to the USA in 1976. She believes that "Yoga is an Integral part of living well in this world".
Maureen Stitt, RYT, is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor who was introduced to Hatha Yoga in 1995. She began her yoga studies at the Yoga Zone in Manhattan and currently studies with Yoganand Michael Carroll who teaches in the Kripalu tradition. Maureen’s experience includes teaching all levels of hatha yoga, private instruction, running her own yoga studio and teaching in several other studios in the Greenwich, CT and New York area. Her classes are known for their great variety and playfulness and she likes to empathize a moving away from the known to the unknown.
Monica Casey was looking for a type of exercise that was easy and fun, and that is how "Hoopdio" (hooping + cardio) was born. She started her company Monkey Hooper in 2009 and began designing workouts that could be adapted for all ages in and out of the gym. She makes and provides large modern size hoops for her classes and loves sharing her joy of hooping at festivals, schools and birthday parties. She teaches at many facilities throughout the Triad and is a physical education teacher at Salem College. When she is not hula hooping she is jumping through hoops with her two year old identical twin girls.
Sifu Parichard Holm has been instructing internationally for fifteen years. Her principal teacher is Grandmaster William C.C. Chen, considered one of the world’s leading martial arts technicians. Sifu Holm has been certified to teach the 60 and 128 movement Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan forms and their self-defense applications, as well as sword form, form refinement, and Pushing Hands. In 2004, she was recognized as among the top three World Champions in Pushing Hands at the prestigious nternational Chung Hwa Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Sifu Holm’s qualifications in Qigong empower her to teach the 18 movements of Tai Chi Qigong, Wai Tan Kung, Dao-In, and Taoist Eight Treasures, among others. As a practitioner of the Tao, she is degreed in Feng Shui consultation.
Sydney Hughes-McGee, LMBT 1243, RYT 500, has a private practice as both a Yoga Teacher and Massage Therapist in Winston-Salem. She is a student of Gary and Mirka Kraftsow of the American Viniyoga Institute, has recently completed their Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Program and is currently working toward certification as a Yoga Therapist in the Viniyoga tradition. Sydney loves the practices and teachings of the Yoga tradition because they take the complicated and at times crazy experience of living within a human body and out of it create compassion and love. In her classes Sydney invites students to slow down, listen closely to their bodies and to let their breath led the movement.