All Triangle Yoga Instructors are available for private sessions.
Please email them if you are interested.
Laura Baron, a recent transplant from NYC, came to yoga for the awesome, constantly intriguing workout--unable to touch her toes and much more interested in learning cool yoga tricks than in meditation or spirituality. Several years later (after, of course, mastering some very cool yoga tricks), she realized that yoga had quietly and relentlessly changed her life. Laura completed her teacher training at Sonic Yoga in New York and has since worked with Connected Warriors to create programs for veterans and active-duty military personnel at the Brooklyn Vet Center as well as the Durham VA. She brings humor and a fierce joy in practice to her classes and encouragesstudents to challenge themselves. Email Laura
David Beadle, MFA, is a professional dancer, movement
teacher, licensed massage therapist,and certified practitioner of
Body-Mind Centering. Influenced and inspired by many years of study
with outstanding teachers in Somatics, Meditation, Iyengar, Vinyasa,
and Kripalu Yoga, he has been seeing private clients and teaching yoga
in various settings since 1984.
David's teaching
approaches asana mindfully, gently, and deeply. He is interested in
helping students embody a unique blend of alignment, movement, and
breathing principles. David's classes will enrich your yoga
practice with insight, subtlety and depth. Shedding new light on the
inner workings of the poses, his approach offers an embodied
exploration of the transformative and creative potential of Hatha Yoga.
David's students can gain new levels of awareness resulting in a
radiance that is both clearly and profoundly experienced. Email
David
Tracy
Bogart, E-R.Y.T., has yoga roots that stretch back to
her Waldorf School kindergarden curriculum when she was introduced to Eurythmy (the art of speaking
and singing through movements and gestures that are intended to reveal
to the eye what language and music bring to the ears). Tracy's personal
teaching style is directly connected to these roots. She creatively
emphasizes the liquid- like coordination of breath and movement, along
with the direct connection of expressionof oneself through the heart
and the body as a whole. When she teaches, each class organically unravels a unique sequence of poses
designed to unleash the movement of energy within, tap into the energy
around the body, and connect with the infinite space outside the room. A yoga instructor for over 25yrs, Tracy's traditional teaching
experience was adopted in Southern California where she lived, studied
and practiced yoga at the renowned YogaWorks in a variety of styles with teachers Erich
Schiffmann, Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, Brian Kest, Rod Stryker, Ana Forrest, Lisa Walford, Max Strom, Steve Ross, Remy O'Neal and
Robyn Shumacher. Looking for a way to continue studying with her
teachers, find new teachers to study with, and stay close to home to raise her two daughters, Tracy
opened Triangle Yoga. Through the years she has hosted (and studied with) over three dozen master teachers at the studio.
Tracy has been Co-founder
and Director of Triangle Yoga since 1995. Prior to that time, yoga was
not openly accessible in
'The
Triangle', and it was difficult establishing classes for the public, so
in 1992 she developed yoga programs in a number
of
local gyms and fitness centers thus creating a new awareness for 'the
practice' in the area. In addition to Tracy's teaching,
and
managerial duties at the studio she has also taught yoga to the Men's
Football and Women's Lacrosse teams at UNC
Chapel
Hill and to students at the American Dance Festival in Durham. Tracy is
certified as an Advanced Yoga Teacher
by
the White Lotus Foundation, an Advanced Yoga Alliance
Teacher, in Thai Yoga Therapy with Saul David Raye and has a
certificate
of completion in Anatomy and Physiology with Carol Verner's 'Form
& Flow' program. As senior teacher at Triangle
Yoga, Tracy
recognizes howprofoundly yoga
transformed her life and
gave it a purpose. Grateful for everything the practice
has provided, sheis
dedicated to sharingher
enthusiasm for as long as she can through mentoring teachers,
empowering new students, and
motivating continuing students to keep their yoga practice authentic.
Scott
Campbell took his first yoga class in Texas more than 40 years ago. Although fascinated and moved by the experience, he took a very long detour to L.A. for a career in acting. Amidst the craziness and excess that is L.A.., through the craft of acting, the occasiona yoga class, and the reading of many esoteric books, Scott explored the relationship between the body, mind, and emotions. Eventually seeking greater balance in his life, he returned to regular yoga practice some 15 years ago, and used his practice to heal, ground, deepen, and expand what he learned as an actor in L.A.. He is a student of Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Indian style of yoga. His teaching reflects the eclectic mix of his background, using what works, with encouragement, compassion, and humor to help each student to uncover and move closer to their truth and the peace and acceptance that eventually comes. He is grateful for the many teachers who have helped alon the way, including Gabriel Halpern, Ti Harmony, Vincent Bridges and the Dalai Lama to name just a few. Email
Scott
Margaret Chesson,PT,
RYT graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in Physical Therapy in 1976.
She has worked most of her PT career in orthopedic or
geriatric physical therapy, working
the past ten years at Carol Woods Retirement Center part time
where she also teaches senior
gentle yoga classes. Her attraction to yoga was a natural extension of
her interest in intersection
of
western and eastern thought. She first trained with Ginger Garner, MPT,
RYT, ATC, a long time physical
therapist
and yoga teacher who specializes in chronic pain management. Most
recently she successfully
completed
the 220 hours of Yoga Teacher Training with Body, Mind and Spirit of
Chapel Hill.
Margaret also credits the
nurturing and attentive tutelage from the instructors of Triangle Yoga
with the
development of
her own personal practice. It is Margaret's desire to share
her enthusiasm for the health
benefits of
yoga with every Body and reassure you that it is never too late and you
are never too old
to begin
the yogic exploration. With the ample aid of props and supports, her
classes meet
you
where you are and invite you to experience the benefits of merging the
therapeutics
of movements of your own body and breath
with the focus of your mind. Email
Margaret
Nicole Dagesse, has an MFA in dance, and is a 200hr CYT, currently completing her 300hr training. She teaches a vinyasa style class that explores physical alignment and energetic embodiment in the flow. Nicole helps students re-engage with the power of the moving body in a sustainable practice. From the beginner to the advanced practitioner, sheI finds great joy in witnessing the progression of her students as they navigate the weaving together of mind, body and spirit. She also has developed workshops that emphasize the chakras, as well as Wildwomen Workshops that are designed to help access the divine feminine and the wild nature of the soul, through movement, breath work, kriyas, and myth.Nicole also teaches Aerial Dance, having taught at Frequent Flyers Productions in Boulder, Co. She is especially interested inspecializing in fabric foundations and technique, as well as choreography and improvisation in the air.
Molly Drakehas been practicing yoga since 1973. Through studying, practicing,
and teaching Iyengar yoga, she gained respect for the intensity and awareness
that one brings to practice. In pursuit of her own authentic expression of the spirit of
Hatha Yoga, Molly has explored and studied with many nationally known teachers
and has particpated in dozens of workshops and teacher trainings. Particularly
inspired by the teachings of Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten, Molly now
teaches ina gentle, yet powerfully fluid, internal, open, and playful manner.
Her classes are not about rigid discipline or intense striving;
she teaches the poses as a means to explore and study
our inner selves. She sees yoga as being about the empowerment of our inner being through the vehicle of our personal body--an internal exploration, a journey, a continual unfolding and revelation of our true self. Email Molly
Rebecca Drake, Vinyasa Flow Teacher and YogaWorks certified, began practicing yoga while attending the American Dance Festival in 1999. Rebecca has had the privilege of studying with many master teachers, and has been deeply influenced by Sarah Powers, Shiva Rea, Andrey Lappa, and Tracy Bogart. She is committed to everyone in her classes, and aspires to create a safe and supportive environment for her students. She has a sweet sense of humor, and encourages a playful approach to practice,
while gently and lovingly challenging her students.
Rebecca was the first Aerial Dance and Aerial Yoga teacher in North Carolina, and continues to teach Aerial fabric techniques to students of all levels at Triangle Yoga. She specializes in Aerial Dance choreography, having had her work performed by varied artists such as Archipelago Theatre, Playmakers Repertory Company, and the Carolina Friends School dance program. She also has performed at the
NC Museum of Art, Fletcher Opera Theater, and National Music Festivals.
Dara Fort's first yoga class brought new-found physical and mental awakenings for her. Being a competetive gymnast and dancer for years, yoga was a refreshingly non-competitive way to feed her body while nurtring her soul. She found a sense of balance between having always pushed her edge and learning to be where she was in a moment. Through this balance Dara began to realize yoga's ripple effect within herself and within her community. Her relationships became stronger, her grip on life was softer and her appreciation for the connectedness of the universe was finally realized. After a year of practice Dara decided she wanted to teach. She wanted to spread the word, to share the gifts of this practice that others may not have experienced. Erich Shiffmann was one of her first inspirations to teach and take her personal practice further. She became a certified Level 1 and Level 2 Yoga Instructor and continued her education by attending classes and workshops. Over the next few years Dara's life and learning was enriched further by teacher trainings and the births of my her daughters. Dara's favorite "gurus" are David Swenson, Beryl Bender Birch, Ana Forrest, and Seane Corn. Over the last nine years of teaching, Dara has learned more about life and people through the giving and recieving of this practice than any book, teacher or formal education could ever provide. It has been a strong, continuous thread that has weaved itself into her life and connected her to others...
and for this, she is thankful for yoga. Email Dara
Kaity Granda, professional dancer, yoga teacher and aerialist, started dancing at the age of five and hasn’t ever really stopped. After college she moved to Philadelphia where she danced and choreographed both as an independent artist and also with several modern dance companies. It is during this time that she started studying and teaching yoga. With the help of a choreographic grant from the American Dance Festival, she moved to the triangle in 1996. She began teaching dance at Ninth Street Dance and the Durham Arts Council and yoga at Triangle Yoga. During this time she began preparing to become a Physician Assistant, (PA) and became certified at Philadelphia University in 2000. Currently she works as a PA in Durham caring for low income and uninsured families. She began studying Aerial dance with Rebecca Drake in 2009, and is excited to be bringing her choreographic skills to the fabrics. Email Kaity
Julia Horn began yoga at an early age by crawling around on a practicing mama in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. This was the beginning of a life-long study and curiosity. In addition to her family and origin of birth, some of her most influential teachers along the way have been Genny Kapuler, Richard Freeman, Shri Dharma Mittra, Jack Kornfield, Kofi Busia, and Edward Clark. Julia performed worldwide as a principal member of the Yoga-Dance troupe Tripsichore Yoga Theater. Since then, she has become a teacher and choreographer of great merit. She has created original yogic performances for a world tour of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Thailand, Paris, and Iceland. She is also a Graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts, and North Carolina School of the Arts. Her diverse performance background and small mountain-town upbringing infuse her teaching and performance with a rich, artistic, and nature-driven vision that inspires students of all levels. Julia specializes in creative vinyasa flow, restorative/ yin/ therapeutic yoga, practices to foster the divine feminine, womens’ wisdom and seasonal alignment, wilderness and farm retreats, yoga for cancer care, pranayama, and meditation. Email Juliaand visite her website.
Danielle Koppel has dedicated the majority of her life to the study of the performing, fine, and healing arts. She focuses her yoga practice on the cultivation of creativity, vitality, and inspiration. Danielle was introduced to Hatha Yoga in 6th grade by her very wise mother, and continued to study yoga, Tai Chi, music, drama, gymnastics, and dance throughout high school and college. Danielle most recently underwent a formal teacher training program in Anusara with Sommer and Paul Sobin in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has also studied with Gabriel Halpern, Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Saul David Raye, John Friend, Sarah Powers, and Andrey Lappa. She began teaching yoga in 2002, and considers herself to be a perpetual studentas well. Danielle is grateful to all of her teachers of yoga, both formal and informal.She believes there are many windows into the temple that is yoga, and that they all contribute something to the yogic experience. Her practice has been heavily influenced by many limbs of the yoga treincluding Vinyasa, Iyengar,Yin, Anusara, and Restorative Yoga. Her classes are also noteworthy in that they incorporate chanting, guided meditation, and extended relaxation techniques in addition to traditional asana instruction.
Danielle is also a classically trained stage actor, opera singer, and visual artist. She received her degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts where she studied Theater and Opera. Recently, she completed her first album as a singer/song writer, entitled "Looking through Illusion" with her Chapel Hill band Buddhacat. She also sings kirtan, a form of meditative devotional chanting. As a healing artist, Danielle's primary focus is Reiki, a gratitude-based meditation that promotes stress reduction and healing. She is a Reiki Master-Teacher, and provides both Reiki treatments and attunements. Email Danielle
Brittny Lowe, a Fitness Instructor, was recently certified in both Yoga and Aerial Yoga. Sharing the practice of yoga, whether on the floor or in the air, has allowed her to find a peaceful place which carries her through everyday life. Brittny is constantly learning more about the human body to understand how the muscles directly connect to your emotions, thoughts and spirituality. Everyday is a practice both as a student and as an instructor.
Brittny spent June 2012 in Kerala, South India traveling to India as a volunteer with Volunteers for Peace & FSL-India where she worked with children at the Marian School for the Differentially-abled. She studied daily with Yoga Master T.V. Padmanabhan from the University of Bihar Yoga Bharathi and also studied at the Parassinikkadavu Ayurveda Medical College. Experiencing the culture of India and having the opportunity to learn Yoga and Ayurveda from the source is thus far been the greatest blessing of her life. Yoga was a fun hobby in the beginning, but is now her way of life
Becca Moss Kratky, RYT discovered the practice of yoga in 1997 and began teaching in 2002. Since that first day on the mat she has been interested and curious as to how this practice can support and open the physical body, how the mind can be trained to slow down, and how the spirit can be nourished. This ancient system is a valuable tool for health & happiness that begins with the simplicity of the breath. Becca has completed a 200hour teacher training with Lisa Clark & David Beadle based on the Body-Mind Centering and embodiment principles of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen as well as a 48 hour Vinyasa Flow teacher training with Shiva Rea. She is grateful for the following teachers and their positive influences over the years: Erich Shiffman, Donna Farhi, Gabriel Halpern, Shiva Rea, Patty Townsend, Angela Farmer, and Victor van Kooten and Ti Harmony. After practicing massage therapy for close to a decade, Becca is now exploring the joys & challenges of motherhood as well as sharing this precious gift of yoga with others.
It was Martha Najera's love for Rebecca Drake’s yoga classes and teaching style that inspired her to sign up for her first Aerial Dance class. It proved to be a wonderful challenge and exhilarating experience. Through classes, workshops, and her own exploration, she discovered the many benefits that Aerial Dance offers. It cultivates strength, flexibility, flow, and focus. Martha has been fortunate to learn and dance alongside many talented and gifted aerialists in the local area. Her movement history includes long distance running, cycling, swimming, yoga, and hoopdance. She has attendend teacher training programs on Aerial Fabric, Trapeze, and other specialty workshops at the New England Center for Circus Arts.Martha's teaching style focuses on building a solid foundation and helping her students discover and cultivate their Aerial Dance artistry. She looks forward to guiding and supporting students on their first Aerial Dance adventure! ! Email Martha
Natalie Sablina, our in-house Massage Therapist, has spent most of her adult life serving the community with her healing energy work and massage therapy, life coaching, volunteering with local ambulance shifts, and disseminating the ancient knowledge of how to achieve radiant health and spiritual development through the classical system of Yoga. Natalie was born and raised in Russia where she started her path of “unity”. Her yoga practice is influenced by Paul Grilley, Andrey Lapp and
Sri Dharma Mittra. Natalie’s classes at Triangle Yoga are dynamic, fun, accessible to most people, beginning with a short informative dharma talk, emphasizing the teachings of traditional yoga. Every class is different and inspired by her students. Email Natalie and visit her website.
Sage Santmier is 200-hour certified twice in Power Yoga from Corepower Colorado, and Hatha Yoga from Kristin Cooper-Gulak and the Wilmington Yoga Center. Having fallen in love with the practice of yoga in college, Sage as since been exploring the many yogic practices and completing her 500-hour advanced training. AcroYoga, Kunga Vinyasa Flow (Vinyasa with the motivation of service behind the
posturing), Gentle Yoga and Meditation, as well as Pre and Post Natal Yoga have al played important roles in Sage's life as a practitioner and growing teacher. Practicing yoga as moving meditation, as a body prayer, and as a way to reconnect to the infinite energy we all flow inside of gives Sage the most joy and inspires her to share her knowledge. Open your heart, break a sweat and reach beyond yourself in Sage's powerful classes. Email Sage
Faith Towner began her aerial silks practice under the tutelage of Rebecca Drake here, at the Triangle Yoga Shala. Once she learned to climb she never looked back (or down!). Faith completed her Fabric Teacher Training at the New England Center for Circus Arts, and continues to attend workshops on a regular basis with them. She also completed Jill Menard’s Aerial Teacher Training and has takenl workshops with Caroline Calouche (Aerial Dance), Susan Murphy (Laban Movement), and Kelly Jo Stull (Aerial Lyra-Hoop). Faith has a passion for the Aerial Arts because they produce strength, flexibility, endurance and prove to be a wonderful creative outlet. Email Faith
Anne Wrightgrew up moving every few years from Berkeley to Philadelphia, Kansas City to Chicago, New York to Toronto. She studied Art History and Educational Psychology at R.M.W.C in Virginia and was the first female student to attend Washington & Lee University. She received her M.Ed. in Counseling from Duke University and began work on her doctorate in Education before realizing she really belonged in design school! Anne taught grades 3-5 and oversaw the Homebound Program for Durham County. She also taught Visual Arts in middle school for many years. Today she is a professional painter. She loves color and lives for light.
Diagnosed with Premature Osteoporosis and instable joints, at a young age, she credits yoga and Pilates with allowing her to toss aside her handicapped placard and live pain-free. A series of injuries led her ultimately to yoga. In recent years she has studied with Master Teachers Gabriel Halpern, Paul & Suzee Grilley, Doug Keller and Ray Long. Philosophically, Anne finds that yoga resonates with the beauty she sees in the world and the goodness in each of us. Yoga teaches us to pay attention, to be awake/aware for each moment, and to live our lives to the fullest. This helps foster a sense of well-being, relaxation and calm even in a stressful and competitive world. Anne believes that though we come to our mats for physical reasons, we are gifted with much more. Through simple being, attention, acceptance and love, we meet ourselves there and learn how to live. Email Anne
Kim Zdanowiczthas practiced yoga for over 10 years. She became a certified yoga instructor through a teacher training at Lighten Up Yoga in Asheville while living in her long-time home in the mountains of Western NC. Her certification is in alignment-based yoga and she has taught therapeutic, back care and other yoga classes—including classes at the Asheville Art Museum. Kim also has degrees in English, Creative Writing and Women’s Studies and an advanced degree in Comparative Literature. A mom, writer and avid runner, she enjoys the perspective, mindfulness and mental clarity that yoga brings to all aspects of life. Kim brings sincerity, friendliness and joy to her teaching and appreciates sharing yoga and all its benefits with others whenever she can.
Morris Arthur, creator of Triangle Yoga's database, 'Mula Bandha'.
'Mula
Bandha' The
application of Mula Bandha means drawing up the muscles of the perineum. Although difficult,
one practices contracting and relaxing the whole of the pelvic floor until
muscle tone is gained. The
importance of Mula Bandha is the foundation for core strength in the
body. On
a psychic level, the contraction of Mula Bandha also activates the
base chakra, muladhara. This
is the chakra for spiritual awakening and earth energy, and its
activation can lead to rapid progress
in the spiritual
aspects of yoga when the energy released is channelled
in the right direction.
