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.

Susan—”My interest in yoga surfaced late in life, at age 40, when I off–handedly enrolled in a yoga class at the YMCA in Washington, D.C. My teacher, a former Swami with the Sivananda organization, literally turned my world upside down with the sun salutations, the breath work and the inversions. I was hooked and have been on the yoga path since that first class, 25 years ago.“

”After my initial certification in Sivananda Yoga I continued to study with Dharma Mittra and Erich Schiffmann, and Bikram. In 1998 I adopted Ashtanga yoga as my personal practice, which led to my studies with Richard Freeman, Lino Miele, Dena Kingsberg and John Scott. I also attend workshops in New York City with the Pattabhi Jois family and attend several workshops every year, most notably with the Jivamutki Studio, Baron Baptiste and Matthew Sweeney. I am an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, 700 hours, with Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 700).“

”A self–proclaimed yoga mutt, I draw from a variety of yoga traditions, blending Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Sivananda and Vinyasa to create my own signature teaching style. I teach all aspects of Yoga, asana, pranayama, relaxation and meditation and encourage all of my students to do something good for themselves everyday—Do Yoga! My classes are invigorating and challenging, but open to all levels. They are never too serious, and always support individual differences.“

”Time alone on the mat is my best teacher!“

Pablo — Pablo started his yoga journey on Dec. 25th 2004 at the suggestion of his wife Shira who was already teaching Yoga at the time. Over the next several years he continued to practice and take seminars and workshops with many master teachers

Looking to improve his knowledge of yoga and his practice, Pablo started studying and practicing Ashtanga and Vinyasa and Bikram as well as attending trainings with teachers such as David Swenson, Max Strom and Bikram . Pablo is a graduate of the Core Power, power Vinyasa training

“For me yoga is not about competition or coming into the perfect posture, but always being present in the moment”

Nora — Nora had taken a few types of Hatha Yoga classes between 1991-2000. Then she got a sales job that involved traveling almost every week, including International travel. The travel eventually took a toll on her body and she had a lot of neck and back pain. She started back to yoga again in 2008 and discovered Svaroopa® yoga.

“After the first class I knew something had changed deep within my core. I felt an ease in my body and my mind was calmer than it had been in years. I decided to become a Svaroopa® yoga teacher and have been teaching since 2009. I haven’t had any neck and back pain since then and my overall health and well–being has improved.”