INSTRUCTORS

Stacy's Bio

Stacy began practicing yoga in 1988 before it was a household word or a kind of clothing. She teaches with humor and warmth as she adapts the practice to the class or the student in front of her. Stacy earned her MA in adult education and has extensive experience teaching postures, yoga philosophy, yoga for deep relaxation, and therapeutic yoga (for those with cancer, AIDS, depression, anxiety, back pain, and chronic fatigue). She teaches and practices in the tradition of Krishnamacharya and studies with her teacher, Kate Holcomb, a student of Mr. TKV Desikachar.

Stacy is also a founding partner, of Kavana, www.kavanaseattle.org, an open and intimate Jewish cooperative dedicated to intentional Jewish living. She lives on Queen Anne with her husband Steve and two sons, Noah and Shiah, who support and humor her in her work.

Charlie's Bio

Charlie Heffernan has practiced yoga for over thirty years and taught for five. He spent many years overseas, first in the Peace Corps and then as a U.S. diplomat. He has been blessed with the opportunity to work closely with wonderful teachers such as Don and Amba Stapelton, JJ Gormley, Cindy Lee, Anodea Judith, Kausthub Desikachar and BaxterBell. He has studied Integral, Sivananda, Ashtanga, and Iyengar Yoga styles, as well as Hatha Flow. He brings the best of many worlds to his teaching.

Charlie connects directly with students' needs and then helps them open up their practice to 'play the edge' for maximum benefit from asana and pranayama. He looks to lead students to deeper awareness and to the center of calm within. In addition to teaching Yoga, Charlie is a longtime meditator; he leads the Sunday evening meditation at the studio in the style of Thich Nhat Hahn. He is a member of and serves on the Board of the Mindfulness Community of Puget Sound (www.mindfulnesspugetsound.org)

Melissa's Bio

Melissa Middlebrook was born to move. She has over 30 years of experience in the movement arts including yoga, modern dance, improvisation, Continuum, and developmental movement patterning. She came to yoga in the late 1980’s and has studied with many teachers including one of Seattle’s best and longest reigning yoga teachers, Marie Svoboda. Most recently her teachers have been Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten, two other yoga greats. Melissa’s teaching centers on her belief that people need space to connect with their own bodies and innate wisdom. To that end, she offers tools such as playful movement with imagery to help people into the asanas in a safe and organic way.

Melissa lives in the neighborhood with her husband, daughter, and puppy. You’ll often see her sipping coffee next door at Muse and volunteering at Coe Elementary School.

website design & photography by Nityia Przewlocki, www.nityiadesign.com