Lee Wedeberg: Teacher/Location Contact/Operations Manager

Certifications: Yoga West Teacher Training Program – Houston , TX Background: I began practicing yoga in 2002 and fell in love with it immediately. I loved not only what it did to my body (weight loss, toned muscles, lowered cholesterol), but also what it could do to my mind (calm, relax, revitalize). I found that I am at my best in all aspects of life when I am practicing yoga regularly.

Why be a Yoga Teacher? After several years of practicing yoga regularly, I realized that I needed to share the experience I was having with other people. I began to think about teacher training and eventually found a time and place to train that fit my schedule. I love helping others rediscover their bodies and minds through yoga. I feel that the benefits of yoga in my life are too great to not share them.

Describe your class: In my class, I want everyone to really get into their bodies through the poses and know what the poses are doing for them physically, mentally and emotionally. I like to walk through the benefits of each pose with my class as they are engaged in it. We start with a few breathing exercises and poses to warm up the body from the inside out and them move on to standing postures as well as postures on the floor. To end the class, several minutes are provided for savasana or final relaxation pose so that the class can reap the benefits of their practice that night. I strive to provide the class with poses that can cater to all levels so that beginners and advanced student alike are challenged. If you leave my class feeling relaxed yet invigorated and like you have given your body and mind a good work out, I am happy.

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Lisa Nersesova: Teacher

Certifications: Dallas Yoga Center 200 hour RYT - Dallas, TX
MFA in Studio Art from Southern Methodist University, and currently working on an MA in Art History at University of North Texas.
Additional Training: Workshops with: Roger Cole, Manorama, Seane Corn, Francois Raoult and Jaya Water.

Background: A few years ago I had a lower back injury that eventually led to sciatica. I had to go through 6 months of chiropractic therapy and eventually began a beginner Hatha yoga class at the Denton Yoga Hut. At the time child's pose was a very painful pose for me. Thankfully, the therapy and the yoga eventually led to full recovery. I have been practicing yoga ever since, exploring different styles of yoga and going to different studios in DFW. I began teaching a year ago at the Denton Yoga Hut where I began my journey.

Why be a Yoga Teacher?I believe that the ultimate teacher is inside each individual so as a teacher I attempt to facilitate the process of self-discovery and awareness so that the true teacher can be awakened. Through yoga I connect with other human beings. I have an intense desire to share with others what I have learned and experienced through yoga. The most rewarding thing about teaching yoga is when a student shares with me how they have changed mentally and emotionally. My favorite part of class is when at the end we chant AUM together. Unlike at the beginning of class, the voices sound clear, unobstructed; they all merge into one voice. It is in that moment that I can really see us all as one.

Describe your class: I teach a slow Vinyasa style class that is suitable for any level. There is focus on correct alignment as well as increasing body awareness. Every class begins and ends with chanting a Sanskrit mantra together. There is also emphasis on practicing ahimsa - non vilence - towards the body, to adopt the attitude of allowing the body to do the best it can without forcing it to go beyond its limitations.

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Kathleen Hale: Teacher

Certifications: 500 hour RYT, Alpha Omega, Dallas, TX 2008.
Additional Training: Prenatal yoga with Ginger Garner, Anusara workshop with Kelly Haas, Ashtanga workshop with Doug Eagle.

Background: I returned to yoga practice in 2003 when seeking an alternative to high-impact exercise programs and a way to reduce stress in my life. Always active in sports, yoga offers strength, endurance and flexibility, and is age appropriate for everyone.

Why be a Yoga Teacher? It was the right thing at the right time, and, after a few years as a student, my desire to incorporate more of the eight limbs to my asana practice drew me to teacher training. My personal practice has brought  major changes in to my life experience. Now I continue to deepen my practice, understanding and training while also encouraging others to seek and find their own paths.

Describe your class: I offer an Astanga/Hatha instruction style. My goal is to provide a varied sequence incorporating progression within asanas to allow students of all experience levels to meet their need for the day.

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Kyle Wadsworth: Teacher

Kyle's story will be posted soon

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M.E. Ramcke: Teacher

Certifications: American Power Yoga -APY Studio, Dallas, TX.
Additional Training: Living Yoga Dallas Workshops with- Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, Anna Forrest, John Friend, Tim Miller, David Romanelli, and Rod Stryker.

Background: I started taking yoga not long after my mom passed away in 2002. A friend, now my mentor, recommended yoga to help with the sadness and allow me to heal. Little did I know how much it was going to change my life. As my practice grew so did I, mind, body and spirit. I was able to forgive and forget the past, find my inner self and live for the present moment in peace and calm. There are true lessons to be learned through yoga, you just have to be patient and it will come.I began taking weekend workshops through Living Yoga Dallas to learn more. Eventually, I took the 200 hour certification to teach through APY.

Why be a Yoga Teacher? I want to give back the gift that has been given to me, the gift that heals. To help others get to a place of peace, too many of us walk around in emotional pain or have past issues. I want to help them find the root of it all and work through it until they see their true light.

Describe your class: I try to keep my class balanced for all levels. Giving modifications and intensifications to keep all students challenged. Along with the physical, the most important part of the class is the state of mind. I will try to guide you and help you stay completely present and focused, so you can begin your journey to self-awareness and acceptance.

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Mary Armstrong

Certifications: 200 hour YA certified Alpha Omega Yoga Shala, 2008
Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts (Creative Writing): The New School University, New York, NY 1997.
Additional Training:

Back Ground: A lengthy and painful bout of Bell's Palsy in late 2007 and early 2008, brought her back to her mat more and more. No therapy worked as well as yoga to bring her back to health in mind, body and spirit. In spring 2008, she enrolled in the Alpha Omega Yoga school and with the help of her mentor, Sheri Cherokee, is now happily teaching Hatha Fusion classes at Zounds Sounds, Chi Yoga & Dirt Cheap Yoga.

Why be a Yoga Teacher? Mary’s philosophy about music and yoga dovetail. She believes that you don't need to be an advanced musician to play something or hear something meaningful, just as you don't need to be an advanced practitioner of yoga to greatly benefit from its beauty. She feels her yoga path and her musical path are different sides of the same coin, and loves to share her time and attention with those in need of healing.

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Jonathan McCurry

Certifications: RYT 200 hour YA - Alpha Omega Yoga Shala, 2008. Actor's Equity Member Candiddate
Additional Training: Vocal Performance and Theater Arts at the University of Oklahoma.  While there, I studied Jazz and Modern Dance as part of the curriculum.

Background: My first yoga class was on a first date back in 2004.  While the romantic sparks did not ultimately fly with my date, it was love at first sight for yoga.  I am a semi-professional actor and yoga started as a natural extension of my dance background and grew to be a natural extension of my life.  I started practice with 24 hour fitness under Jaye Evans.  When she left the Dallas area, my practice moved to Cosmic Café’s studio where I studied with Rogelio Chapa and Douchka Loucot.  I have since followed their practices over to Chi Studios.  Rogelio brought me under his yogic wing and bought me into the Alpha Omega yoga shala where I started my instructor training with him and finished under Sherri Cherokee December, 2008.

Why be a yoga teacher? I became a yoga teacher so that I could pass on the gift of yoga that I have been given.

Describe your class: My practice is tends to err on the rajastic side.  Building heat from the core and giving students an opportunity to challenge themselves.  However, my class is adaptive and I will change the class based on the experience and physical needs of the students.  Some classes may be a challenging power type, others will be a more grounded restorative class.

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That Nameless Guy: Teacher inside all of us

Certifications: Your birth certificate
Additional Training: Everything you do after opening your eyes in the morning.

Background: Inside all of us are the remaining bits of a stiff-jointed, rigided-minded person that is slow with acceptance and quick to critcize. Many of us seek to banish this inner teacher by pushing ourselves to greater physical flexibility and total mental quiet. But, what we need to realize is that Brickman can be our guide and mentor. Learning to hear his voice with discerning compassion and patience will teach us more about ourselves than any other teacher.

Describe your class: Class with Brickman as your teacher starts out as some of the most difficult sessions you will ever attend. You will be faced with every dislike, every limitation, and every dysfunction of yourself. After the realization that perfection is not the ultimate goal of yoga or life we seek only to improve rather than prove ourselves, and then the whole world becomes a more tolerable place. After this turning point, classes with Brickman as your teacher are some of the most humorous and joyful sessions you will ever attend. Think of him as the one teacher growing up that you despized for jumping on you at every turn, but later became your most honored teacher when you learned that the reason they were hard on you is that they believed in your potential for greatness more than any other. While we lament tight hamstrings and clumsy feet Brickman smiles and says to himself, "One day they will get it and when they do, no thanks needed."

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