Rosie took her first yoga class in Coconut Grove, Florida at the age of 14.  Her instructor was Eve Diskin-then the Director of the American Institute of Yoga.  Following her training from Ms. Diskin, Rosie started teaching the lower school students as part of her own high school curriculum.

During college and for a short time after, Rosie concentrated on her ballet studies, incorporating her yogic knowledge into her ballet exercises.  Finding herself on bed-rest during two pregnancies, Rosie resumed her practice in a new way- learning the restorative and healing aspects of yoga.

For the next ten years, she began an intense practice incorporating Bikram and The Barkan Method under the guidance of Jimmy Barkan in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Rosie and her family moved to Asheville in the summer of 2005.  Since that time she has taught Power Yoga at the Reuter YMCA and enjoys volunteering at her sons’ schools where she has taught yoga to the students and the athletic teams.

Rosie is certified in Pre-natal yoga, Vinyasa Flow yoga, and has her 230 hour YA certification from Stephanie Keach at Asheville Yoga Center.  Additonally, Rosie has her 500-hour EYT from Yoga Alliance.

She saw the need for a place where the South Asheville community could come together to practice yoga under the guidance of qualified, caring teachers.  Her hopes are for South Asheville Yoga to fill that niche.  Rosie likes to offer students a way to incorporate yoga into their daily lives by teaching the students tools to practice in the class room and then successfully use in the real world.

Donna Pratt has been teaching Yoga since 1999, has over 500 hours of instructor training (beginner-intermediate-advanced as well as master and therapeutic/restorative), and is certified locally through The Asheville Yoga Center and nationally through The National Yoga Alliance.  Trained in a wide range of Yoga styles/traditions, her favorite is Flow Yoga which is best described as “Meditation in Movement”.  Donna’s passion for Yoga and love of people is reflected in her heart-led teaching style which incorporates a variety of styles/techniques blended into each class, creating an environment where practitioners of all levels can safely and successfully create their own Yoga path unique to their individual circumstances.

Her greatest joy comes from watching the students grow and stretch in their own practice while, at the same time, seeing them cultivate a sense of peace, well-being, and equanimity that extends into their every day lives and relationships. A native of WNC, Donna is married to high-school Sweetheart, Fred.  They have two grown sons, Jay and Justin.

Dawson has been practicing yoga (off and on), since college and received her 200 hr. teacher training certificate in Iyengar style yoga from Yoga Alliance at Lighten Up Yoga with Lillah Swartz. She is continuing her education and will be studying for my 500 hour certification in the future. Dawson offers a compassionate and clear instruction into the Iyengar method of yoga.

Kristine Chandler Madera is a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor with five years of teaching/training experience, including three years in the mind/body fitness program at the Ritz Carlton in Kapalua, Maui. She has practiced meditation for sixteen years, has taught meditation for three years, and is the co-author of How to Meditate with Your Dog: An Introduction to Meditation for Dog Lovers.

Kris’s interest in Pilates was sparked in the spring of 2002 after taking several classes in Sacramento, California. Though she had been practicing various forms of dance and yoga since her youth, through Pilates she gained strength, stability, and a better understanding of her body. From Sacramento, Kris moved to the Bay Area in California where she began training intensively with Ellie Herman Studios in San Francisco and discovered a passion for teaching. She completed her teacher certification in April 2006 and became an instructor for Ellie Herman Studios teaching all levels of group classes and working privately with clients including those recovering from injuries or experiencing pain, athletes looking to enhance their performance, and pre and post natal women.

She continues to develop her repertoire by attending various workshops and trainings, including rehabilitation trainings. She most recently attended the Balanced Body University Pilates on Tour Conference in Washington, D.C. There, she attended several workshops including one on pelvic imbalances with “Pilates Elder” Mary Bowen, one of only 5 remaining teachers who studied directly with Joseph and Clara Pilates. Kris also remains an active member of the Pilates Method Alliance.

In addition to being a Certified Pilates Instructor, Kris holds a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Her emphasis was on social and economic development with a specialization in business and she completed her degree while studying and working in Nepal. Before beginning her teaching career as a Pilates instructor she worked for a small business development firm helping low to moderate income people start their own businesses.

ONDINE

Ondine is a recovering desk-potato whose life was changed at age 40-something by the discovery of the Nia Fitness Technique. Desiring to age-gracefully she wanted a fun way to exercise, not another chore. A former athlete told her about this joyful, expressive movement class, and Ondine knew it was for her .  "Nia awakened my creativity and made my heart soar. Within a few weeks of starting classes I began to drop excess weight, felt stronger, more toned, and my chronically strained ankle was healing. Best of all I felt happier and healthier."   Ondine is a Certified White Belt Nia Instructor.

TANYA

Tanya Triber is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist (NC #4970) and freelance wellness writer. She has practiced yoga for more than a decade and will receive her YA 230 teaching certification through Asheville Yoga Center in May. Having practiced various styles including Bikram, Anusara and Power yoga, she has found her passion in both Vinyasa and Yin. Originally from New Mexico, she has lived in Portland, Oregon; Denver, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina before making Asheville her home. She is humbled and inspired by the depth, breadth and possibility of yoga practice and has been blessed to have had inspiring teachers all along her path. Tanya's classes are characterized by an emphasis on pranayama and alignment and by bringing the wisdom of yoga to everyday life.

CANDRA

Candra is a graduate from UNCW with a degree in Exercise Science and a certified personal trainer through NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association). While living in Boone, Candra's growing love of yoga inspired her dive deeper into her own practice and attend the 9 month teacher training program at the Asheville Yoga Center. Upon graduating she began teaching at Neighborhood Yoga Studio in Boone. Candra moved to Asheville to attend the Asheville School of Massage and Yoga and now has a successful practice as a certified LMBT. Candra loves ALL aspects of yoga and enjoys including several traditions into her class. She links the asanas through a vinyasa flow while including components of Kundalini, Anusara and Yin Yoga. She encourages her students to use their breath to create ease in the body and mind while also listening to their greatest teacher which lies within.

JANE ANNE

I always enjoy the opportunity to introduce children to Pretzel Kids yoga classes. My name is Jane Anne Tager and I have been practicing yoga for over a decade. It has really changed me physically and mentally. I would have to say all of the changes are positive.

I began to explore kids yoga when my daughter developed asthma. I thought breath control might benefit her when her asthma would flare. It definitely does help her when she remembers to use the exercises.

I have three children of my own, ages thirteen, ten, and six. All three kids enjoy Yoga, especially stretching; the boys are fond of down dog races. I love teaching kids yoga and hope that classes are not only fun, but also improve strength, balance, flexibility and offer a heightened awareness to their young minds and bodies. Over the past years, I have noticed that most kids make significant progress in a short period of time with regards to their balance and strength, especially core strength (belly). Best of all, they seem to be very proud of what their bodies can do.

I have trained with Marsha Wenig, featured on Oprah, in Time Magazine and in Yoga Journal and Sonia Sumar, an amazing yogi whose gift is using yoga as physical (and emotional) therapy for special needs children. I have been teaching kids yoga in yoga centers, pre-schools elementary schools, and dance studios for ten years now. Every class is different, as is each student. I have enjoyed most every one of them. Teaching kids yoga has been a continuous learning experience and it is just plain fun for me too!
Keep Breathing,
Jane Anne Tager