A little bit about our co-founders and instructors....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 yoga loft olympia

 

 

 

 

 

  

Patti Moore, co-founder of YOGA Loft , R.Y.T. (Registered Yoga Teacher) is a certified Radiant Health Yoga teacher and is registered with the National Yoga Alliance.  She has been teaching in health related fields for over 20 years.  She was a Childbirth Educator, teaching Birth Preparation and related classes at Providence St. Peter hospital and Group Health Cooperative.  She has been teaching Yoga classes for five years.  Patti began her Yoga journey earlier in her life, set it aside as family became her primary focus and returned seven years ago to find a whole new perspective and enthusiasm for this tradition of health, wellness and self exploration.  She loves working with Beginners and teaches noon and evening classes.  She is a long time resident of Olympia (since birth) and is so excited to be offering Yoga classes in downtown Olympia.

Her personal philosophy statement is this:

The process of being human presents many challenges at both the physical and emotional levels.

Yoga allows us to reconnect with who we are and what we have to give to the universe. 

 

  

Maureen Oar, co-founder of YOGA Loft  is a graduate of  Radiant Health Yoga® Teacher Training Program and a National Yoga Alliance  registered instructor. Maureen began studying Hatha  yoga more than 25 years ago, but it was her breast cancer diagnosis in 2000 that gave her a greater appreciation of the power of yoga to transform the body, mind, and spirit. To this day, Maureen credits Cancer Lifeline's yoga classes as an integral part of her healing journey.

  Following her successful treatment and recovery, Maureen and her husband Gerald sold their home and worldly goods to explore the far corners of the earth. Unexpectedly, the further Maureen traveled away from the familiar the closer she felt to humanity and the common bond shared by all. And it was during her time in Nepal years ago and more than 20 countries later-where Maureen felt an awakening and the call to follow the path of yoga.
 Bringing the journey full circle, Maureen currently teaches yoga classes offered by Providence Integrative Cancer Care in Olympia. She also teaches a chair yoga at the Olympia Senior Center. Maureen has deepened her appreciation of yoga as therapy attending numerous workshops and conferences on this subject.

Maureen teaches a variety of levels of yoga, and promotes the uses of props and modifications to make yoga accessible to all.

 
Annie Barrett,   M.A., R.Y.T., is an Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher, certified public educator with an M.A. in Education and a homeschooling mother of two young boys.  She began studying yoga in 1992 as an undergraduate at U.C. San Diego.   Since then, she has studied with influential teachers from several yoga traditions including Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara.  She honors as her mentors and teachers: Rena Dubin (Santa Cruz, CA), Kofi Busia (Santa Cruz, CA), Janet Hochfeld (Corvallis, OR), John Friend (Founder of Anusara Yoga), Denise Benitez (Seattle, WA) and Elizabeth Rainey (Seattle, WA). 

Annie teaches from the Anusara tradition which she has studied for over a decade and taught to others since 2000.  Annie Barrett's Anusara-inspired yoga classes are a heartfelt exploration of body, mind and spirit.  Drawing on universal body alignment principles, yoga philosophy and practical wisdom, Annie creates a safe, supportive environment where students can explore the their bodies, minds and hearts, discovering how to live with greater authenticity,  joy, flexibility and grace on and off the yoga mat. 

Annie offers yoga classes, workshops and private yoga sessions in the greater Olympia area where she resides with her husband Steve and their two children River and Sage.

About Anusara Yoga:

Anusara means "flowing with grace" and "following your heart."  Anusara Yoga is a powerful system Hatha Yoga that unifies Universal Principles of Alignment with the heart opening philosophy of Tantric Yoga.

 Anusara Inspired Yoga Level I-II
Well suited for strong beginners and continuing yoga students, this heart-oriented class combines yoga philosophy and body alignment principles to support greater physical well-being and joy.  Students will gain greater confidence in Standing Poses, Sun Salutations, backbends, inversions and seated postures and will explore breath practices (pranayama) and meditation.  This practice cultivates strength and flexibility alongside the inner qualities of focus, courage and an open heart.
Jennifer Croley   BA, LMP.  Jennifer Graduated with a BA from The Evergreen State College in 1992 with a focus on Human Development and Education as well as a splash of the theatrical arts. In 2007 she graduated from Brenneke School of Massage.. 

Jennifer was introduced to yoga by a good friend in 1998.  She slowly came to love the time on the mat, exploring several different methods. These include Bikram, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vinyasa-yoga, Vini-yoga, and most recently Radiant Health Yoga.

 Jennifer is honored and blessed to have so many amazing teachers. Jennifer has had the opportunity to travel far and wide, learning from those who have devoted their lives to teaching and living the life of yoga.  In 2004 Jennifer studied with TKV Desikachar in India. A transformative time that brought a new understanding to the depths of yoga’s potential for healing of mind and of body.   Other master teachers Jennifer has studied with, and have influenced her greatly, are Baron Baptiste, Lisa Black , Ana Forrest, and Sean Corn, Shannon Gannon and David Life

Jennifer’s classes are light hearted, alignment aware, and a time for each person to renew their own sense of self.  A time to reconnect with the ever dwelling inner stillness we all have.

Jennifer’s massage practice is adjacent to YOGA Loft Studio

 

 

Robyn Regula, B.A., RYT
Olympia/Shelton, WA.

Robyn is a certified yoga instructor with the Yoga Alliance at the 500 hour level. She obtained her certification after doing a three month Yoga Teacher Training in Thailand.

A dedicated student since 1997 and teaching since 2001. She has been influenced by many different teachers and styles mostly from the Krishnamacharya lineage including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinni, Vinyasa, Bikram and Yin.

Most recently she has studied with Erich Schiffmann and has been deeply inspired by his Freedom Style Yoga. Robyn blends all of these styles of hatha yoga making her classes dynamic… challenging yet relaxing.

Her students appreciate her calm, peaceful, respectful style with an emphasis on clear instruction, proper alignment and awareness of breath while allowing the inner teacher to come through.

Robyn graduated from The Evergreen State College in the spring of 2000, completed the three levels of Reiki certification in 1999 and received training as a Thai Yoga Therapist from Saul David Raye in the fall of 2000. Contact Robyn by email… yogava@gmail.com

 

 

 Penny Black     Philosophy: I have practiced yoga for over 30 years.  As a yoga instructor I strive to lead and assist my students in maintaining, developing and increasing their flexibility and strength. This allows the student to continue or begin to do the activities in their lives that  are important to them.  This means different things to different people, so when constructing classes, I try to incorporate emotional balance, stress reduction, increased strength, flexibility and restoration.  This means tailoring classes to the needs and interests of a particular age and/or ability group.

Formal Training:  

January 2006-Completed and certified as RTY 200 through the “Radiant Health Yoga Teacher Training Program”.

 2006- Completed instruction under Kristen Rubis on prenatal yoga.

 2006-Attended  a workshop on “Yoga For Depression”; Johanna Cashman, instructor.

 2007-Attended the first symposium on “Yoga Therapy and Research” in Los Angeles.

 2007-Attended a workshop on “Yoga Nidra”; Richard Miller, instructor.

 2008-Attended a five day course on “Restorative Back Care”; Donna Farhi, instructor.

 2009-Completed YMCA sponsored training on; CPR, safety, First Aid, and Blood Borne Pathogens.

 Employment History:

 March 2006 to date-Yoga Instructor for the Olympia YMCA downtown branch and Jubilee; Essential Yoga, Basic Yoga and Gentle Yoga.

 Currently the outreach instructor to GA State agencies and substitute at YOGA Loft

 REGISTERED YOGA TEACHER AT THE RYT 200 LEVEL-YOGA ALLIANCE.

 

 

 

Meg O’Leary

Meg has been practicing since 1998 and teaching since 2005. She incorporates a variety of styles in her classes, including Hatha, Anusara and Ashtanga. Meg teaches with appreciation and calm, inviting students of all levels to share in the benefits of yoga. Meg’s approach to teaching reflects her interest in the physiological aspects of the poses. She incorporates flowing sequences that slowly build in intensity during the class. Yoga is a personal path of discovery. Meg acknowledges that individualism by supporting an increased kinesthetic awareness.

In 2005 Meg received her Radiant Health Yoga® teacher certification. In 2008 she completed a month-long teacher intensive with Donna Farhi in New Zealand. Meg regularly participates in workshops and classes to deepen her own practice and build her teaching skills. In her free time, Meg teaches yoga at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor and enjoys hiking and ultimate Frisbee.

 

 

 

 Kristen Rubis

Kristen has been studying and practicing the healing arts through reiki, yoga, sound acutonics , developmental movement therapy, chakra healing, therapeutic massage and labor support for the last 17 years.

She enjoys incorporating brain based movement patterns along with various yoga postures within her compassionate teaching style. Kristen believes that yoga is a great tool through all of life's sacred transitions.

Her yoga path began in 1994 and she is a certified teacher through Radiant Health Yoga and registered through The Yoga Alliance

Kristen is a child education specialist with 13 years experience in the field of education.  She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree from TESC in 2001 while focusing on child development and alternative education.  Her interest in supporting children with neurodevelopmental challenges led her to study development movement work.

 

 

Shanon Leonard   B.A.  RN

 

Shanon has 15 years of teaching experience and holds degrees in both Asian Studies and Nursing.  She is known for providing expert science-based, individualized instruction.  Her work demonstrates a strong understanding of anatomy, kinesiology, and assessment skills.  While she draws inspiration from training in many traditions, her work in yoga therapeutics is heavily influenced by the somatic arts and by the work of BKS Iyengar.  She is experienced in working with students with musculoskeletal concerns including low back, knee, and shoulder joint issues.  Shanon's classes are "workshop style" with a strong focus on education and individual attention. 
 

In addition to her work with yoga, she has taught experiential anatomy and physiology, PNF technique, yoga bodywork, and mindful parenting. She loves learning new skills and keeps her nursing knowledge current by filling in at the pediatrics clinic for Group Health.