Teachers
Susan Mathis
Susan loves to explore energy, breath and movement in life and in her yoga practice. After discovering the Kripalu Yoga Center 10 years ago, she found a home at alleyCat Yoga as a regular student. Now a certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Susan brings the elements of Kripalu yoga to each class as she encourages students to use yoga poses as a means to explore the space on the inside, using yoga poses as a bridge between the body and the mind.
Susan’s Kripalu Yoga and Kripalu Flow class offers a unique combination of energy and meditation through meditaion, pranayama , yoga poses, and yoga posture flows. An avid hiker, scuba diver, rock climber and traveler, Susan brings her love of experiences to each Kripalu Yoga Class.
As an early childhood educator for 20 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 help children explore simple relaxation and meditation exercises and will offer yoga as a playful and enjoyable experience. Susan delights in sharing the joys of yoga and movement and children in her classes.
Check out kids yoga at alleyCat on the Yoga to Grow website.
Tuesday 9:15-10:30 am Kripalu Yoga
Tuesday 5:30-6:45 pm Moderate Kripalu Yoga Flow
Wednesday 9:15-10:30 am Yoga Basics
Thursday 12-1 pm Moderate Kripalu Flow
Ken McRae
A nationally-registered E-RYT500 professional-level yoga & iRest Yoga Nidra 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. He draws from a repertoire of over 80 poses that are accessible to beginners and challenging for more experienced practitioners. All are welcomed into his classes.
His journey to Columbia included living and teaching at the Kripalu Yoga Center for five years as well as a journey to the origins of Kripalu in Kayavarohan, India. He currently has a keen interest in non dual philosophy - "we are not two". His favourite teachers are Richard Miller, Jean Klein, Pari Laskaridis, Osho and Adyashanti.
Ken also organizes and leads week-long yoga retreats in exotic locations around the world. Check the next trip out here.
Ken also offers private yoga sessions. To find out more click here.
For many years Ken was involved in training teachers at the advanced level as they worked toward their 500 hour certification. During that time he collaborated and wrote two
articles on "How to Teach a Kripalu Style Yoga Class. If you are interested click here and here.
Thursday 5:30-6:45 pm Kripalu Yoga
Friday 4:30-5:45 pm TGIF Happy Hour Kripalu Yoga
Saturday 10:30-11:45 am Deep Stretch
Meagan CieslaMeagan has been practicing a variety of yoga styles for the past 8 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.
Thursday 7:30-8:30 pm Student Yoga
Sundays 11 -12 noon
& 9:30 - 10:30 am starting February 5
Olivia Hudek-Foss Olivia has practiced in the traditions of Bikram, Iyengar, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Anusara and Kripalu just to name a few. When Olivia met the Dharma Yoga Teachers she realized there was no going back. “I remember meeting Dharma in person and I started to cry because I felt this infinite love—I knew I found my guru. “
Olivia travels very regularly to Manhattan to be in the presence of her teacher, the illumined master Sri Dharma Mittra and his senior students who are also her teachers. She has completed both the 200 and 500 hour Life of a Yogi Teacher Training Immersions in New York City and has plans to attend the 800 hour immersion in the summer of 2012.
Olivia believes that being a yogi is one of life’s highest paths, and is known for her non-judgmental and sattvic (calm) teaching style, her ability to offer suitable variations to all levels of practitioners, and her dedication to maintaining the purity of the lineage of Dharma Yoga.
Mondays 7-8:15 pm Dharma Yoga
Lynn MaloneyLynn 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 prana, 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.
Check out Lynn's beautiful website! Lynn also leads Third Friday kirtan at alleyCat Yoga. Check the schedule for specific dates.
Second Saturdays 2:00-4:00 pm Meditative Yoga
Rebecca PetersRebecca 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. 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.
Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30-7:30 am Sunrise Yoga
Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 Yoga Basics Starts February 8
Wednesdays 7-8:15 Deep Stretch Restorative
Thursdays 9:15-10:30 am Hatha Flow
Saturdays 9-10:15 am Hatha Flow Yoga
Sunday 4-5 pm Community 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.
Discover more about Jan here.
Monday 5:30-6:45 pm Gentle Yoga
Tuesday 7-8 pm Yoga Nidra
Wednesday noon-1 pm Yoga Nidra
Substitute yoga teachers at alleyCat
Roxana C. Carlo, MCRoxana is a new substitute teacher at alleyCat yoga. She received her 200 hour yoga teacher certification from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Aluenda, Spain and has been teaching and practicing yoga in the United States for over 15 years.
With her background in counseling psychology and dance, Roxana integrates the connection between the mind and body through the various breathing techniques to reduce stress and induce relaxation.
She looks forward to sharing her yoga experience with the people of Columbia whenever she has the opportunity to substitute at the alleyCat yoga studio.
Lynn RossyLynn is a frequent substitute teacher at alleyCat. She obtained her yoga teacher certification at the Kripalu Center and has taught and researched the MBSR Program for over ten years. She has trained extensively at the Center for Mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Jill WondelJill began taking yoga several years ago for the health and fitness benefits, and, after being asked to teach at a friend's church, has found it to be an amazing complement to her spiritual life.
As a certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance, Jill enjoys and teaches an eclectic mix of sequences and postures in each class, and provides options for all levels. Her classes are both energizing and relaxing, as she emphasizes the combination of breath and movement. She appreciates the challenge of finding the balance between effort and surrender, and loves the way that yoga connects mind, body and soul.
Jill is a frequent substitute teacher at alleyCat and has created a short Sun Salutation video to support her students' home practice.
Melinda Staley
Melinda is a board member of the American Haidakhan Samaj 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 Third Friday kirtan at alleyCat Yoga. Check the schedule for specific dates.