Teachers

Teachers
Gretchen Robinson, Cindy Perley, and Jennifer Mies


Gretchen Robinson
Owner/Director

After 20 years of being a fitness enthusiast and personal trainer, I came to yoga in 2000 because I thought it was important to stretch - I just didn't know what was going to be stretched! I have scoliosis and wore a back brace as a teenager. I was fortunate to be sent to a very progressive physical therapist who had me doing many of the things we do in yoga to become stronger in the core and more flexible to correct my curvature. Yoga relieved the pain in my hips and shoulders caused by the scoliosis, and it has brought so much more balance into my body and mind. I feel like I have come full circle with my understanding of what it means to be truly fit and healthy.

In 2001 , my incredible teacher, Genevieve Crosslin, encouraged and prompted me to teach yoga. I owe a debt of gratitude to her for leading me to this path of teaching and practicing - a beautiful combination for me. Besides studying with Genevieve, I consider Mark Blanchard and David Lipschutz as major influences in my yoga. I have attended many workshops with Doug Swenson, Max Strom, Bhavani Maki, Kim Schwartz, David Williams, Govin Das, Bryan Kest, Jeffrey Cohen, Mark Whitwell, Anna Forrest, and Keith Crosslin. Additionally, I travel to Los Angeles on a regular basis to attend classes with teachers there, as well as taking classes from many wonderful local teachers.

My teaching is an honest and true expression of what I feel and learn in my own personal practice, combined with what I have learned (and will continue to learn) from others. The greatest teacher we all have resides inside ourselves. Yoga can teach each person how to tune in and listen to their own voice, as well as how to learn from it.

I believe yoga is for everybody and every body, and encourage each person to work at his or her own level and be happy in the practice, wherever that may be, on any given day. I teach with a gentle spirit and a lot of love, sharing my passion for yoga.

Cindy Perley

Cindy has been practicing yoga since 1998 and has been teaching since 2001. She loves teaching the dynamic, intense form of yoga known as Power/Vinyasas, but appreciates the need for a soft approach to yoga as well. Cindy brings a caring, gentle energy to her classes with compassion and empathy for each person on the mat.

Having a husband who has pursued athletics all his life, Cindy is sensitive to the toll conventional sport (and life in general) take on the body. Having experienced several physical setback herself, ie. back surgery, she knows that with time and patience, a regular yoga practice is a wonderful way to reverse imbalances by opening up the body and increasing it's range of motion and help to heal the body. She also loves how yoga gives everyone an opportunity to gain an overall greater awareness of the body, mind, spirit complex, and can, if we allow it, make us aware of the quality and direction of our lives.

Mentored by Genevieve Crosslin and Gretchen Robinson, Cindy continues to enrich her practice and teaching by attending workshops with such notables as Doug and David Swenson, Bhavani Maki, Max Strom, David Williams, Mark Blanchard, Bryan Kest, Govin Das, Kim Schwartz, and David Lipschutz.

Jennifer Mies

Jennifer is a true (commited) athlete. She has completed dozens of marathons, ultraruns, and triathlons. She also trains athletes in running, biking, and swimming, as well as overall health and fitness. She considers Gretchen Robinson to be her primary teacher and influence and has learned from all of the many teachers with whom she has practiced.

Jennifer loves yoga. It has enhanced her athletic performances, but more importantly, yoga has shown her how to be more present, alive, and joyful as she moves through all experiences.

A natural with her students, Jennifer knows how to make everyone feel at home in her classes. She encourages each student to reach his or her personal best, and always takes into account each student's individual needs, and strengths. To Jennifer, child's pose is as beautiful and powerful as the trickiest arm balance. Jennifer always practices with honesty to where she is on that day in her body, expressing the true practice of yoga and sharing that with her students.