Kathy Donnelly, eRYT500, is the Director and Owner of the Yoga Center of Columbia and has been teaching since 1999. 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 advanced Qigong Healing of others (hands off the body healing techniques) and provides private individual sessions in Qigong and Zero Balancing.

After receiving a BA in Physical Therapy from The Ohio State University, Regina began studying Yoga. She completed a 200hr teacher training in Vinyasa flow, a 9 month Anusara Immersion and a 200 hr teacher training in Anusara Yoga. She has studied and apprenticed with many Anusara Certified teachers including: Suzie Hurley, Moses Brown, Kathy Donnelly, Kate Miller, Vivian Campagna, Maria Hamburger, as well as studying with philosopher Douglas Brooks and Olga Rasmussen. Regina blends her knowledge of anatomy, kinesiology and the five Universal Principles of Alignment with her gentle philosophy of self exploration. With her beautiful array of knowledge she creates a safe environment for her students to learn and explore the basics of a Yoga practice. Regina has worked with seniors, teens and beginners and has had the privilege of witnessing transformations of, not only strength, flexibility and balance but most of all, the improvements in the quality of life, of her students.

Darlene Bergener, RYT500, LMT, completed her 500 hr training through the Himalayan Institute in traditional Hatha Yoga and holds an additional 200 hr certification in prenatal and postnatal yoga through Colette Crawford of the Seattle Holistic Center. Darlene is also a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) with certification in prenatal and postnatal massage and is completing her training as a Birth Doula though DONA International. 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 effect 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 for life, not just in the classroom.

www.yoga-massage.com

Karen Best, an ACE certified instructor, has over 22 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 received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate at the Yoga Center of Columbia. She continues her studies and has completed teacher training courses in Therapeutics Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Children's Yoga. She has had the opportunity to study with numerous world renowned Yoga Masters. Her genuine enthusiasm, playfulness, and passion for yoga is contagious. Bonnie feels grateful for the opportunities to share the empowering and transformative gifts of yoga with ALL ages.

Cheryl Catranbone, E-RYT 500 and Certified Anusara Yoga® Teacher, has been studying and practicing yoga in earnest since 1993. A certified yoga teacher since 1996, Cheryl found her way into the family of Anusara Yoga in 2000. Cheryl continues to evolve in her practice and teaching by spending as much time as possible with her primary teacher, John Friend. With a deep focus on the Therapeutic aspects of yoga Cheryl is deeply rooted in the benefits of the Universal Principles of Alignment of Anusara Yoga. Cheryl is also a student of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Douglas Brooks. Cheryl shares her deep love and passion for yoga with genuine warmth, humor and joyful expression.

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.

Yoga means more than just the beauty of the pose, it is about "feeling". What do you feel about the poses? Does it calm you physically, mentally? Are you comfortable and safe? Those questions parallel Barbara's journey with yoga and led her to become passionate about inspiring and empowering students to let go and discover their inner balance. With Barbara's remarkable communication style in a language that resonates with the deaf students, she brings enthusiasm and clarity that connects the deaf students' ability to see and feel the inner beauty within themselves. Barbara completed her RYT200 Teacher Training at the Yoga Center of Columbia with Kathy Donnelly, Cheryl Catranbone and Lucy Lomax. She is certified with Yoga Alliance.

Melinda, RYT 500 and certified Body Balance Yoga® therapy teacher, brings a rich background in gentle and therapeutic yoga to her students. An educator for 35+ years, including teaching at Loyola University Maryland since 2000, she began her own yoga practice in 2004 in a therapeutic class when seeking help for a debilitating disease. Also certified to teach yoga therapy by Nischala Joy Devi in Yoga of the Heart®, by Lakshmi Voelker in Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga™, and by Jacci Reynolds in Pranakriya™ Prenatal Yoga, Melinda continues to study weekly with her mentor, Jenny Otto, founder of Body Balance Yoga®. 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.

www.ucandoyoga.com

Inspired by her teachers from a variety of traditions, Julia Greiwe-Martínez, RYT 500, 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 Julia is pursuing her certification in Pranakriya yoga therapy.

Jeri calls both Columbia and Qigong home. Deepening her personal Qigong practice of 16 years, Jeri has been teaching Qigong privately to interested clients. She's delighted for the opportunity to expand her love of Qigong, now with the special emphasis on Women's Health. Jeri is a cooperative health care professional, blending Biodynamic Cranial Sacral, Energy Balancing and Flower-Nature Essences most recently studying the ancient art of Apitherapy, to deepen her understanding and appreciation of the hive. Jeri practices Treatment Free Beekeeping providing a chemical free environment for bees at her home.

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 Huber, RYT, RCYT, began her study of yoga in 1999 and has explored various styles of yoga. Katie feels we are never too old or young to begin practicing yoga. In 2007 Katie became certified to teach Itsy Bitsy Yoga® and has shared yoga with infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their parents. Katie has studied Yoga Kids® programs for pre-teens and teens. In 2010, Katie graduated from The Yoga Center of Columbia's teacher training program. Katie has two daughters and enjoys practicing yoga with them.

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 is a Registered Yoga Teacher 500 hours with Yoga Alliance (RYT500) and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. 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.

www.theyogateacher.net
Debbie's Newsletter

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.

Jessica Koch is a certified Five Element Medical QiGong instructor. She began studying QiGong shortly after her introduction to the benefits of meditation over ten years ago. She continues to study and explore the healing effects of qi through energy balancing modalities such as Zero Balancing and External Qi Healing. She enjoys providing the opportunity for others to experience healing in both the classroom and one-on-one sessions.

Melissa Lindon approaches yoga as an opportunity to find relaxation and balance in a busy life, cultivate flexibility of body and mind, and reconnect to our innate joy. A 2004 graduate of The Yoga Center's Teacher Training program, she completed 500 hours of study (RYT 500) at Golden Heart Yoga. Also a professional flutist, Melissa enjoys teaching others to listen to and be in tune with their bodies, and to breathe deeply. She seeks to make yoga practical and fun, and her teaching style is compassionate and light-hearted.

www.melissalindon.com

Lucy Lomax, E-RYT 500, Certified Yoga Teacher, began meditating and practicing yoga in the 70's and teaching yoga in 1999. From 13 years of study in alignment-based yoga her teaching focuses on anatomy, biomechanics, and integrative body/mind principles. Ever the student, she continues to study practical applications integrating therapeutic alignment-based yoga with Western medical approaches to healing. Lucy teaches with an enthusiastic light-heartedness grounded in strength.

www.serenitybayyoga.com

Debbie Martin, RYT 500 took her first yoga class in 1977 to help her mend physically and emotionally after a serious accident. Yoga has allowed Debbie to completely transform her mind, body and spirit. She has been practicing yoga for over 25 years and is a graduate of Willow Street's Yoga Teacher Training in the Anusara Tradition. Studying ParaYoga since 2005 with Master teacher Yogarupa, Rod Stryker, Debbie has completed all 9 ParaYoga Master Trainings and is currently pursuing ParaYoga certification. Her classes include pranayama practices and the deepening of asana through explicitly clear and detailed alignment instructions and hands-on assists. Debbie believes yoga can help everyone transform themselves bringing great joy and inner peace to the journey of life. She has a feisty lust for life and infuses her classes with passion, caring and humor.

I have found peace and health through my yoga practice, and am honored to get to share yoga with others.

I've been teaching hatha yoga for 5 years and practicing for 8. I'm certified and registered with the Yoga Alliance (YA), and am pursuing my passion for helping people get out of pain by apprenticing with Lucy Lomax in Therapeutic Yoga, and via in-depth studies with Doug Keller, John Schumacher, Robin Carnes, Roger Cole, and Suzie Hurley. I'll complete advanced teacher training (RYT-500) later this year. Studying intensively with Kathy Donnelly and Lucy Lomax is a richly rewarding experience that invites me to take what I'm learning right back into the studio when I teach!

I'm passionate about sharing yoga with others to help them relieve pain and live more fully. I teach Therapeutic, Gentle, Yoga 1 and Yoga 1 Plus classes, with an emphasis on good alignment, breath awareness, and making an asana practice grown-up play time! I hope that students who practice with me learn how to carry their yoga bliss off the mat and into their lives.

www.newspirityoga.com

Donna Querido, RYT200, started her yoga journey in 2000, and completed yoga teacher training in 2005 and 2011. She learned early on that the practice of yoga is transformative – a path to find healing, a way to access joy, and a place to feel connected. A student of Zen meditation and Anusara Yoga® has taught her the power and beauty of ancient wisdom and the modern yoga practice. She has found that yoga is an inner practice that radiates far beyond the yogi as the practice continues. Her guidance leads her students playfully with proper alignment through a yoga practice that is joyfully led from the heart.

Tracey Rattner started her yoga journey in 2005, practicing a variety of yoga styles at several studios throughout the Washington D.C. area. Tracey originally started yoga for the "exercise," but quickly learned yoga is more than just exercise. Since beginning her practice at the Yoga Center of Columbia, she has been able to eliminate body pains and alignment issues she had been experiencing for years. Tracey is very excited to share what she has learned and help transform from the inside out. She also is fluent in sign language and teaches both hearing and deaf students. She received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate at the Yoga Center of Columbia in November 2012.

Christine Ruane is a MD State, and Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, specializing in soft tissue mobilization and efficient movement mechanics, to reduce pain, and increase your range of movement. She has worked in the Columbia and Baltimore areas in the field of bodywork for the last 11 years, earning her degree from The Baltimore School of Massage in 2001. Chris is an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Her specialties include Swedish, Deep Tissue, & Myofascial Massage, Infant Massage Instruction, Prenatal Massage, Heated Stone, and Sports Massage. In addition to bodywork, Chris holds certifications in Pilates Mat & Tower Instruction through Powerhouse Pilates, and a mentorship under Master Pilates Trainer Michele Brodsky, a 200 hour Yoga Instruction through the Yoga Center of Columbia, and Qigong Instruction with Supreme Science.

A lifelong passion for movement, fitness, dance, and music drives Chris's research in the field. Her background as an athlete, dancer, and musician have taught invaluable life lessons about dealing with pain, and the physical limitations caused by repetitive movement. She continues to study the human body in, and out of the classroom, and is currently working on furthering her education with Selective Functional Movement Assessment, Zero Balancing, and Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification. Her approach is compassionate, and her number one priority is her client's well being.

www.unwindmassageandwellness.com

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

Jean Tillman, Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hours with Yoga Alliance (RYT 200). Jean received her teacher training from YCC in 2008 under the guidance of Kathy Donnelly. Her love for yoga was established as a teenager and she taught yoga while she received her degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at SUNY at Buffalo. She strives for quality instruction and to serve her students by cultivating the mind-body connection through asanas, pranayama and meditation. An interest in sports has inspired her to work extensively with golfers and tennis players.