Teaching Team

Sam & Mama, alleyCat Yoga cats
Sam and Mama are experts in the art of doing nothing. With approximately 11 years of practice between them, they excel at stretching, basking in the sun and relaxing. With their equanimity and serene quality of presence, they serve as models for all aspiring alleyCat Yoga students. Click to see photos of the alley kittens. Thanks to all who helped with their rescue and to those who are providing them with good homes! And thanks also to everyone involved in the capture and spaying of Mama.

In memory of Sam
May 2006
He lived a contented life in the alley inspiring us all to relax, take it easy and enjoy the simple gifts... such as a sunny corner and a friend's offer of a special treat. His sweet presence is sorely missed.

Ken McRae, Director of alleyCat Yoga
A nationally-registered E-RYT500 professional-level yoga teacher, Ken's teaching combines the precision of the Iyengar system with the powerful heart-centered, meditative aspects of Kripalu Yoga. Known for his meticulous good-humored instruction, he has been studying, practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for 30 years.

Monday 5:30-7:00 pm Kripalu

Wednesdays 7:30-8:45 pm Yoga 101 STARTS Jan 13

Thursdays 9:15 -10:45 am Kripalu

Thursdays 5:30-7:00 pm Kripalu

Friday 4:30-6:00 pm Happy Hour Yoga

Saturdays 3:00-4:15 pm Yoga 101 STARTS Jan 9

Susan Cooperstock
Susan has practiced Kripalu Yoga for 6 years and delights in sharing the joys of yoga, movement and children in her classes. As an early childhood educator for the past 19 years, Susan has a deep understanding of a child's natural desire for exploration and movement. Her kids classes are centered around teaching yoga through play and imagination. Stories, songs, and games will help children explore simple relaxation and meditation exercises and will offer yoga as a playful and enjoyable experience. Check out Susan's website.

Thursdays 11:00- 11:45 am Kids Yoga 3-6 year olds

Saturday 12:30-1:30 pm Kids Yoga 5-10 year olds

Tuesdays 9:15-10:45 am adult Kripalu Yoga

Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 pm adult Kripalu Yoga

Alicia Metcalf
After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Interdisciplinary Degree focused on Health Sciences, Alicia immediately proceeded to gain certification in the Kripalu Yoga tradition from Deva Parnell. No matter whether it’s a first time student, or a long time Yogi, Alicia has a gift for creating a peaceful and joyous environment for her classes to practice in.

Alicia’s class mixes varying levels of asanas and deep, meditative savasanas. Her goal is to take each student to a state of being, as she puts it, “blissed out”. With each class, she spreads her warm, inviting, positive energy to everyone present. From there she encourages everyone to take their Yogic practices from the studio, into their everyday lives.

Monday 7:30-9:00 pm Vigorous and Strengthening STARTS Jan 4
This class is designed specifically for the athletic yogi.  In this class we will include deeper more “body-origami” stretches (but all the good basics still included).  There will also be conditioning movements between yoga poses and flows to build heat and strength in the body.  The asanas will include more arm balances, headstands, handstands and longer holding of familiar poses.  This is going to be a great “tapas” class.  Patanjali (known as the father of the yoga sutras) explains tapas as the acceptance of challenges as a catalyst for purification. This is also a great class for people who are physically ready to try more challenging asanas but need some guidance on steps into handstands for example. The last half hour we will always include a meditation and savasana.  You may find yourself in between being able to keep up and finding that you need to modify or take breaks during long holds, know that the most important thing to do is to listen to your body’s limitations in a class where challenge will be met at different spots for every body.  Bring your own water bottle.

Thursday 7:30-9:00 pm Kripalu Yoga

Saturday 10:30 am -12 Deep Stretch

Lynn Maloney
Lynn is a Licensed Acupuncturist and a Registered Kripalu Yoga Teacher. Her class begins with sanskrit chanting followed by a few basic postures, pranayama, savasana and seated meditation. The class is designed to develop awareness of pran, the subtle energy that all yogic practice is based upon. The class is appropriate for beginners as well as more advanced students seeking a more internal practice. Lynn can be reached by phone at 424-6108.
Read more about Lynn. Also check out Lynn's beautiful website!

Wednesday 5:30-7:00 pm Meditative Yoga.

Jan Wheeler
As a licensed psychologist, in addition to being a certified yoga teacher, Jan brings to the yoga mat a keen understanding of how the mind affects the body. Her teaching style is warm and down-to-earth, inviting you to be more truly you. Read more about Jan.

Monday 9-10:15 am Senior Yoga
A very gentle, slow-paced chair class designed to strengthen the body, improve balance and steadiness, increase range of motion and promote calming of the mind.

Wednesday noon-1:00 pm Yoga Nidra

Meagan Ciesla
Meagan has been practicing a variety of yoga styles for the past 6 years and received her yoga teacher certification at Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja, Mexico. Meagan offers detailed alignment instruction as a way for her students to become more aware of their bodies and the sensations that exist within them. This philosophy comes from the idea that a greater awareness of ourselves can then lead to a greater awareness of those around us.

Meagan is a fiction writer and PhD student at the University of Missouri.

Wednesday 7:30-9:00pm STARTS February10

Sunday 11:15 am-12:15 Community Yoga

Rebecca Peters
Rebecca took her first yoga class in college in the fall of 2000, and has since been influenced by the Iyengar, Kripalu and Vinyasa Flow styles. She obtained her vinyasa flow teacher certification from Kansas Siddhi Yoga in Kansas City, Missouri. Rebecca is also a licensed massage therapist at Bellelune Massage Therapy in Columbia. Check out her website here.

Rebecca's classes emphasize linking breath with movement in dance-like posture flows. At times vigorous, Rebecca's classes seek to invite a curiosity about the body to explore the inner workings of the mind in order to practice being consciously aware, on and off the mat.

Saturdays 9-10:00 am Vinyasa Flow Yoga

Erica Kroll
Wholebirth Prenatal
Erica is a certified Whole Birth Prenatal Yoga educator, trained in mindfulness meditation and childbirth education. Yoga is the perfect metaphor for birth; both embodying a sense of letting go and whole body/mind awareness. Erica also teaches couples yoga retreats in preparation for birth, mom and baby yoga, parent and child yoga and now offers kids yoga.

Tuesdays 7:30-9:30 pm Prenatal Yoga STARTING Jan 5

Pack Matthews
Pack’s yoga class is built around the principles of Kripalu Yoga and integrates the best practices of body mechanics, physiology and body work. You will reconnect with your body’s inherent capacity to heal and grow. Greater awareness, flexibility, balance and confidence are the fruits of a regular Kripalu practice. Pack’s fun and creative approach to teaching will help you take the insights and lessons of Yoga from the mat and blend them into your entire schedule of work and play.

Pack Matthews M. Ed. has been teaching Yoga since 1989. He received his Kripalu Yoga Teacher certification in 1993 studying with Tom Gillette and Deva Parnell. Over the years he has inspired hundreds of students to connect with their body’s inherent wisdom. He applies the Kripalu principles of Meditation in Motion at the piano as well, performing regularly throughout the Midwest and can be heard on Jeff Tarrant’s meditation CD.

Christy Hutton
Deep Rest Therapeutic Yoga specialist,

Melinda Staley
Devotional Chanting & Mantra. Melinda is a board member of the American Haidakhan Samaj (www.babajisamaj.org) offering devotional chanting, worship opportunities and library access to the community at the Heartland Haidakhandi Center near Rock Bridge State Park. She has been practicing yoga since childhood. Melinda leads kirtan at alleyCat Yoga

Peter Holmes
Next session September 2010
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. Peter is a licensed psychologist who has over 25 years experience with meditation and mindfulness.