Teri — Teri's first yoga class was on a Thursday night in March of 2001. She went to it hoping to "de–stress", not knowing exactly what yoga entailed. She was hooked with her first class, and by Tuesday of the following week was chomping at the bit waiting for Thursday to come! It's been a love affair ever since. Teri decided to get her teaching certification for the simple reason that she thinks everyone should practice yoga. She brings this enthusiasm for yoga to every class she teaches. Teri received her yoga teaching certification from the White Lotus Foundation after training there with Gang! a White and Tracey Rich. She has since studied with Ana Forrest and Shiva Rea. She thanks local yogi,teacher, and friend, Julie Lerner Schmit, for her guidance/mentoring and friendship, and her family and friends for their ongoing support.

Gillian — Gillian- opened Minnehaha Yoga Studio in 2006. She began doing yoga years ago when there was just Yoga-over the years she has practiced most styles of yoga as they became available in the twin cities and finds value in all styles of yoga. When she opened the studio she wanted to create a beautiful comfortable place where everyone would feel welcome. Every one can benefit from Yoga- what’s not to like about feeling better feeling a bit stronger, calmer and more open. You don’t have to stand on your hands or twist in to a knot but if you want to we can help you find it in you. Gillian completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification training and Vinyasa training at Core Power Yoga and continued her studies with Tias Little, Julie Gudmestad, Max Strom and has done workshops with may other great teachers. She is trained in Thai Yoga massage and uses many of the techniques to adjust and assist in all her classes. Gillian brings elements of all her teachers and styles to her classes, in either a gentle class of a more vigorous Vinyasa trying is always more than doing. It’s in the process of trying and falling that we learn the most. Gillian believes that a guided group yoga class should still be an individual experience where each student is encouraged to find the version of a pose that best suites their needs. She loves that all of the classes are small and you will never be “you in the red shirt.” Gillian is very thankful to all of her fellow teachers here at the studio for their help, patience and guidance.

Erez —Erez grew up in Israel. At the age of eighteen he joined the Israeli Army, and was recruited for the Special Forces for four and a half years. Upon leaving he traveled the world. It was in Minneapolis that he discovered Yoga. He always knew he would do something in his life which combined the physical and spiritual. Erez found his destiny in the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. He has traveled to India, California and New York in order to study with his teacher, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. He has supplemented his training by studying with the only teachers in the world who are qualified to teach Ashtanga due to the fact that they have spent a lot of time in India in order to be certified by Pattabhi Jois. They are as follows: Manju Jois, Pattabhi’s son, Shirat Jois, Pattabhi’s grandson, Micheal Gannon, Govinda Kai, and Kino Macgregor. Erez’s newest favorite teachers are his two beloved children Lilly and Lucas whom he learns from each and every day! Erez teaches authentic, traditional Ashtanga, mixing the physical and the spiritual in a seamless flow.

Molly — A lifelong South Minneapolis resident, Molly is a creative, fun, & encouraging teacher. Molly’s teaching style brings with it an empathetic intuitive grasp of mind and body struggles, balanced with deep desire for others to find their strength and internal wisdom. Molly is always seeking out new teachers, and approaches on and off the mat. She is devoted to finding our edges, and giving loving tenderness to our injuries. Spending the last 10+ years bringing your food and beverage as a server at some of your favorite south Minneapolis spots, she is ecstatic to be of service in another way. Classes are primarily influenced by Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, & Restorative with an emphasis on breath and movement.

“Initially I turned to yoga as a way to de–stress, and create strength and balance in my body. I discovered something I could not imagine life without. Through yoga I was able to see how I was detaching from my body, and find the connection, and confidence. Yoga brings me closer to myself. I am so grateful to the teachers and students, who continue to guide me, cheer me on, challenge and inspire.”

Shira—”My first yoga practice was in my living room with Rodney Yee on VHS. From him I learned to spread my toes, which was the first of many lessons in mind/body connection. My next yoga practice was in the sweaty hot studio with Bikram Yoga. Bikram taught me that I am strong beyond my understanding and by exploring my physical and mental strengths, I can gain control over negative emotional patterns. From there I moved to Ashtanga Yoga where I learned fluidity and grace and personal spiritual strength. With Vinyasa, I am able to get in touch with creativity, a more tangible reading of the subtle body, and the joy that that brings. And Laughter Yoga is the most direct and fun path to feeling better emotionally and being open to meaningful relationships.“

Shira has studied yoga with Bikram Choudhury and David Swenson, workshopped with Max Strom, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Ana Forrest, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea and been influenced by many others. She has been teaching yoga since 2003 and lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Pablo, where she continues to practice a variety of styles of yoga.

Sub Instructors

Melissa — Melissa Culloton, a native of Norway, is a level 3YogaFit certified instructor as well as being Senior and pre-natal/post-partum trained. She continues her yoga education thru numerous yoga workshops – including chanting, balances and core building workshops. Melissa has been practicing yoga for five years and at Minnehaha Yoga for over a year. She has been teaching yoga for over three years. She loves teaching Vinyasa /Flow Yoga as it combines her love for music and yoga. In addition to teaching yoga she gives private voice instruction at PriorLakeSenior High School and through her church. Melissa holds a doctor of musical arts in voice and is a professional singer in the Twin Cities. Melissa lives in South Minneapolis with her husband Matt and their beagle Charlie.

Silke — Silke has been teaching yoga since 2000 and is a senior teacher/student of Rod Stryker's Para Yoga. Her studies also include yoga therapy with Doug Keller and pranic healing/mediation with Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati. Currently, she is working towards certification in both Advanced Sanskrit for Yogis and Jyotisha/Vedic Astrology in Boulder, CO.

As a Para Yoga-inspired teacher, Silke draws from Tantra and classical Yoga as the source for her teaching. Through a systematic and light-hearted approach, Silke's aim is to have students EXPERIENCE the great wisdom of the sages -- that to unlock and understand the great creative force of the universe, you need to look no further than your own body and mind. The ultimate goal is for each student to live compassionately, joyfully, fearlessly -- to thrive wholly in every aspect of their lives and in doing so, become the model for others to do the same