Kathy Donnelly, eRYT500, is the Director and Owner of the Yoga Center of Columbia and has been teaching since 1999. Kathy is a certified Anusara Teacher having studied extensively with John Friend and Suzie Hurley and completing 500 hours of study at WSYC. Kathy's teaching style is welcoming, nurturing and encourages transformation from the inside out.

Karl Ardo is a Certified Five Element Medical QiGong and Meditation Teacher - NQA Certified QiGong Clinical Therapist & Level III Advanced Instructor-Certified Zero Balancer. He has studied, practiced, and taught several types of Chinese disciplines including Medical QiGong, meditation and Tai Chi since 1974. In addition, Karl teaches advance QiGong Healing of others (hands off the body healing techniques) and provides private individual session in QiGong and Zero Balancing.

Darlene Bergener, RYT500, LMT, recently completed her 500-Hour training with the Himalayan Institute in traditional Hatha Yoga. Darlene also holds a 200 hour certification in prenatal and postnatal yoga through Colette Crawford at the Seattle Holistic Center. Darlene began her yoga journey in 1998 during her 12 year career as a mechanical engineer, turning to yoga to maintain her own health and sanity. As the benefits of yoga had such a profound affect on her, she knew she had to share it with others. With a strong knowledge of anatomy and a good sense of humor, Darlene encourages students to have fun while maximizing their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, learning yoga tools for life, not just in the classroom. Darlene is also a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) with certification in prenatal and postnatal massage. Darlene and her husband live in Elkridge and are happily celebrating the recent birth of their first child, a beautiful baby girl!

Karen Best, an ACE certified (American Council on Exercise) instructor, has over 17 years experience teaching fitness and movement. She was first introduced to Pilates in 1985 when she was majoring in jazz dance at the Philadelphia University of the Arts and has been teaching Pilates since 1997. She continues to study movement, Pilates and pedagogy so she can most clearly present proper, effective technique with her encouraging and enthusiastic teaching style.

Moses Brown believes that yoga should be a heart-opening experience that is supportive as well as empowering to the student. His teachings create an approach that is physically dynamic, mentally stimulating and therapeutic. Moses brings focus, concentration, and mindfulness to his classes, weaving them together with playfulness, joy and FUN!!

Bonnie Cassels is a recent graduate of CYC's 200 hr. Teacher Training Program. She also completed the Radiant Child Teacher Training Program. She has been actively involved in the Education profession for the past 25 years as a teacher, director, and preschool operator. (M.S. in Education Administration, B.S. in Early Childhood Education) Her genuine enthusiasm, playfulness, and passion for yoga is contagious. She is grateful for the opportunity to share the empowering and never ending gifts of yoga so that she can continue to help enhance the quality of life for children and their families.

Cheryl Catranbone, eRYT200 and Certified Anusara Teacher. Cheryl shares her deep passion for yoga with genuine warmth, humor and joyful expression. Her enthusiasm and step by step approach guides her students into a practice of authenticity. Each class empowers and encourages her students to deepen their awareness and open to their own unique beauty, joy and strengths.

www.heartofgraceyoga.com

Liz Clark, YKT, RYT, is certified through YogaKids InternationalR, Radiant Child and The Yoga Center of Columbia. Liz teaches children's yoga as a tool for connecting physical strength, balance and flexibility to inner wisdom, self-control and personal power. She has taught in local schools, using yoga for early literacy intervention, testing preparation, and general health and fitness.

Melinda Frisch, RYT 500, brings a rich background in gentle and therapeutic yoga to her students. An educator for 30+ years, including ten years at Loyola University Maryland, she began her own yoga practice in 2004 in a therapeutic class when seeking help for a debilitating disease. She earned her 200- and 500-Hour RYT from Golden Heart Yoga. She is certified in therapeutic yoga by Jenny Otto in Body Balance Yoga®, which is designed to work with a multitude of conditions, and by Nischala Joy Devi in Yoga of the Heart®, which is geared toward cardiac and cancer patients. Melinda teaches how to incorporate yoga into everyday life, and wants her students to know that anyone can do yoga and benefit from the never-ending possibilities that it offers.

Inspired by her teachers from a variety of traditions, Julia Greiwe-Martínez, RYT 200, infuses her classes with a blend of challenge and playfulness to assist her students on the path of discovery and well-being. A High School World Language teacher, Julia has a passion for teaching and learning, and also draws from a background in massage therapy and the healing arts. Currently she is pursuing a 500 hour yoga certification.

Danuta Hinc, M.A., RYT 200, is a writer and a passionate yoga teacher. She is devoted to incorporate the practice of yoga in everyday life of her students. “Yoga supports living in awareness - clear understanding of oneself and interconnections in life. Yoga is Life - a harmony of a breath-full body, conscious mind, and a spirit connected with the Universe.” She completed the Yoga Center’s Teacher Training Program and has additional Teacher Training from Donna Fahri and Roger Cole; as well as training in the healing energy of the body from Rosalyn L. Bruyere, and meditation practice from Kathy Donnelly. She teaches Fundamentals of Spiritual Awareness (Health Sciences) at Howard Community College.

Jeanne Holden began her yoga journey searching for peace of mind and discovered complete joy. A student for ten years under owner/director Kathy Donnelly, Jeanne is a 2007 graduate of the Columbia YTT program. Her approach to teaching emphasizes proper alignment techniques. She encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of the body as it unfolds within the yoga practice using breath and mind awareness. Jeanne brings enthusiastic spirit to class and enjoys having fun with her students.

Katie began teaching Itsy Bitsy Yoga in the fall of 2007 after being introduced to the program through the eyes of her then 13 month old daughter. Her hope as a facilitator is to bring the loving and bonding experience to other mothers (and fathers too!). Katie began her own yoga journey with Hatha yoga 1999 while living in New York City. Her journey continued in Denver, Colorado with Bikram Yoga and Pilates as well as skiing and mountain biking. Katie also discovered the power of prenatal yoga during both of her pregnancies. She now enjoys practicing yoga with her two daughters. Katie, a trained & certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga® facilitator brings her enthusiasm to her Tots mini-session at the Yoga Center.

Bita’s approach to yoga is intelligent, playful, and heart-based. She emphasizes awareness, the breath, core principles, alignment, and integrating both movement and stillness to access our true nature. Cultivating a sacred space to open the body, free the mind, and connect with spirit, she aspires to ignite the magic of our existence and the bliss of living this presence.

Bita can appreciate all of the stress we accumulate in our fast-paced lifestyles. Her intention is to offer down to earth techniques and ways to incorporate them into our daily lives to help minimize stress, heal our bodies, and focus our minds. Practicing and teaching yoga open our hearts, minds, bodies and spirit. Self-transformation and awakening within has guided Bita to teach from a place of love, respect and integrity.

Debbie Jensen-Grubb, Registered Yoga Teacher 500 hours with Yoga Alliance (RYT500), member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, graduate of TYC's Teachers Training program, and a Registered Nurse. Debbie focuses her years of training on how yoga can heal the body through a therapeutic approach to injuries and chronic illnesses. She supports the development of her students' own awakening of body/mind awareness through poses, breath, meditation, and relaxation. Debbie is a senior teacher at The Yoga Center of Columbia.

Susan Kain, RYT/200, has been working in the fitness industry since 1992 and is a Certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise. She became Pilates certified through the Physical Mind Institute in 2000 and yoga certified in 2001. Her clients range in age from 3 to 93! Susan has studied many yoga styles such as Iyengar, Kripalu, Integrative, Kundalini, Jivamukti, Bikram and is Radiant Child certified with Shakta Khalsa. She's been most fortunate to study with wonderful and renowned yoga instructors such as Rodney Yee, Erich Schiffman, Baron Baptiste, Beryl Bender Birch, Sharon Gannon, Roger Cole, David Swenson and the Yoga Center's own Bob Glickstein! Her Pilates training has continued over the years with Stott Pilates, Peak Pilates and Leslee Bender. The most recent addition to Susan's certifications include Lifestyle and Weight Management consulting. In 2006, Susan was one of the recipients of Maryland's 2006 Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise award.

Tom Kight , Ph.D.,is a registered yoga teacher, clinical psychologist, meditation teacher and founder of the Zen Community of Columbia. His yoga arises directly out of an inquiry into the connections between our inner and outer lives and thus emphasizes alignment, flow, beauty, constant mindfulness and courageous living.

Melissa Lindon, RYT 500, brings inspiration to her teaching from the rich traditions of Anusara, Para Yoga, and Kripalu styles of yoga. A yoga student since high school, she is a graduate of The Yoga Center's Teacher Training program, and completed 500 hours of study at Golden Heart Yoga. Also a professional flutist and kirtan musician, she enjoys introducing the benefits of yoga to musicians. Melissa's teaching style is joyful, compassionate and light-hearted.

Visit her website at: www.melissalindon.com

Lucy Lomax is a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher and RYT 500. She credits yoga with keeping her balanced in a frenetic world. She retired early as a financial policy analyst to be a yoga teacher and has been teaching since 1999. Believing that yoga is a metaphor for life, she teaches the importance of moving from a position strength and inner wisdom of the body/mind. Lucy infuses her teaching with a sense of lightheartedness and enthusiasm.

Debbie Martin, RYT 500 took her first yoga class in 1977 to help her mend physically and emotionally after a serious accident. She has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and is a graduate of Willow Street's Yoga Teacher Training in the Anusara Tradition. Debbie has studied with Master Yogi John Friend and Sr. Anusara teachers Suzie Hurley and Moses Brown. She is currently studying with Master Yogi Rod Stryker. Her teaching style uniquely blends Anusara and ParaYoga styles. Debbie believes yoga can provide a pathway to a healthier mind, body and spirit, bringing more joy to the journey of life. She has a lust for life and infuses her classes with passion, caring and humor.

Susanne Meyer , RYT200, is a teacher of traditional Hatha Yoga. Susanne started her yoga journey in 1992 under the guidance of Bob Glickstein and has studied with many senior teachers, such as Donna Farhi, John Friend, and Jamie Turner Alison. In addition, Susanne is a nationally certified massage therapist and as such brings a solid knowledge of anatomy to her classes.

Rimmi Singh, Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Allicance (RYT200). Rimmi has been practicing yoga since 1996 and been teaching for over 8 years. She has studied with senior Iyengar teachers such John Schumacher, Roger Cole and Bob Glickstein. She is a dedicated teacher bringing enthusiasm and compassion to her classes, and instilling it with playfulness and Zen!

Moira Sweeney, R.Y.T., completed her Yoga Teacher Training at the Columbia Yoga Center in October 2006. Also a nationally certified interpreter in American Sign Language, Moira recognized that both yoga and ASL inspire non-verbal communication, focusing on the body, breath, and spirit. She has interpreted yoga classes for deaf practitioners in the Baltimore area, as well as workshops at Omega Institute in New York and Kripalu Center in Massachusetts. Moira’s lifelong intentions include sharing her passion for yoga and her commitment for full and equal access in the deaf community. All of her classes are open to deaf students.