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.

Bridgett — Bridgett’s teaching reflects her belief in the premise that to learn, we often have to forget what we know. Since her introduction to yoga more than 6 years ago, she has experienced many life changes both as a student and a teacher.
Becoming a mother is her most recent life change – one that has deepened her compassion for others and her appreciation for the miracle called life. These discoveries are evident in her energetic and thoughtful teaching style.
Bridgett received her yoga teacher certification in 2005 from Corepower Yoga. Her classes reflect personal lessons from the teachers at Corepower, as well as highlights from workshops she’s attended. Recently, she was inspired by the Budokon Method as taught by Cameron Shayne. Her practice was transformed by Shane’s insight that Yoga and life are opportunities to play and have fun. Bridgett is grateful for the classes she’s taken form Rolf Gates and Seane Corn, two yogi’s who inspired her teaching style.

Todd — After twenty-five years of waiting tables, Todd was having trouble managing back pain and sciatica. Chiropractors, massage, stretching and exercise helped, but it wasn’t until he began a rigorous power yoga routine that he found lasting relief. Recognizing the benefits of making yoga more of a lifestyle, Todd became a certified yoga instructor from CorePower Yoga and now teaches full time. He also went through an intensive Viniyoga training designed by Gary Kraftsow of The American Viniyoga Institute, and he draws on 16 years of Vipassana, or &! lsquo;insight’ meditation experience to infuse his power yoga classes with pranayama and meditation. His classes include the upbeat Eastern music of Krishna Das, Arno Elias, Girish and others, and he recommends Baron Baptiste’s “Journey into Power” as most closely aligned with his power yoga philosophy. Todd strives to make his class accessible for beginners, yet challenging for experienced yogis- a great practice for anyone desiring more strength, balance and flexibility- or those who simply have some pain to manage.

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.

Ben — Benjamin Bartlein's introduction to yoga and meditation was at the age of 8 when he began training in professional theatre in Milwaukee, WI. As years passed and doing ≴stuff≵ became more prevalent – yoga temporarily stepped aside. While completing a Bachelor of Science in &8820;Western Cultural Relations to Ecology≵ at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities he observed connections between strong, healthy communities and mind-body-spirit practices. This led to the realization that the holistic cultivation of self-awareness and spiritual fulfillment through the ancient sciences of chi kung and yoga provide the foundations for a peaceful and just society.
For the past 4 years Ben has studied chi kung, calligraphy, Chinese medicine and soft style kung fu with 5th Generation Master Gin Foon Mark. Encouraged by Master Mark's “coyote” teaching, Ben has embraced a life-long journey into the healing arts. He is a practitioner of Chinese Medical Massage and Connective Tissue Therapy. His work is strongly grounded in the healing principles of chi kung. After recently re-integrating yoga into his practice Ben finds balance and harmony between the physical emphasis of vinyasa yoga and the more energy-based postures and meditations of chi kung. Ben believes that one great miracle of creation is the ability to cultivate the healing energy that is within and around all of us. He hopes that as people connect to themselves through yoga and chi kung that they can begin to create new and healthier relationships with the “self”, others and the global ecology.