Just over four years ago, newly pregnant with my fifth child (and first boy!), and with three of my four girls still pre-school age, I began teaching small group fitness classes at my home, in my backyard. After working in the health-club/spa industry as a group exercise instructor and personal trainer for over 20 years, as well as serving as an adjunct faculty member at The University of Texas in the Department of Kinesiology, I wanted a more flexible work schedule that would allow me to "stay-at-home," make that "stay-outside," with my kids. Furthermore, I wanted to offer new moms an option for exercise that included their children, babies, even newborns; the "mom and baby" market was virtually untouched at the time I started my business, completely missing from the health club industry in which I had worked for so many years. Thus, "Backyard Fitness" was born, and my clientele was and still is primarily pregnant women and mommies with babies and young children.
My 5 wonderfully rambunctious and active children, along with their
iron-man-daddy, to whom I've been married 16 years, continue to be the inspiration for "Backyard Fitness." And, even with years of experience in the fitness industry as well as a masters degree in Exercise Physiology, I attribute most of my knowledge of functional fitness to my practical life-experience as a mother and wife.
I am also continually motivated and inspired by my clients, and their children and families. I take seriously the trust they place in me to help them improve not only their personal fitness, but also their overall health and quality of life, which includes improving or enhancing the quality of their family life. In fact, "Backyard Fitness," while providing fun innovative exercise options for individuals, also fosters and deepens relationships within families, as well as among friends and neighbors, and thus strengthens our community. Furthermore, I find it exciting and fulfilling, and consider it an honor and privilege, to serve my clients, many of whom are my neighbors and all of whom I consider my friends, in this way.

Amy Pancake, M.A. and eryt-300, was first introduced to yoga in 1992 while studying Vipassana meditation at Wat Suan Mokkh Buddhist monastery in Thailand. She has been practicing yoga daily since 1998, and has taught over 3,500 yoga classes since 2002. She enjoys teaching several different styles of yoga, including hatha, pre- and post-natal, kids yoga and restorative. She completed advanced yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest in July 2006, and has been exploring Continuum Movement with Emily Conrad since 2007. Amy is currently pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Kinesiology at The University of Texas to broaden her study of movement.

Amy's yoga class is designed to awaken and enliven every cell of the body so that fresh energy can flow and old fears and blockages may be released. We do this by learning breath awareness, internal alignment, creating space in the joints and moving from the core. Learn how to balance the yoga dichotomies of stillness and movement, support and surrender, grace and structural integrity. Get rid of stiffness, old movement patterns, and tightness!

Amy has practiced yoga most of her adult life; mainly as a compliment to sports. As a lifetime runner, cyclist, swimmer and competitive triathlete she came to realize that yoga is a perfect compliment to repetitive motion sports. She considers herself a "reformed type A", mainly due to the balance and awareness yoga has brought to her life. Amy became certified through The Living Yoga Program in 2006 and went on to earn her 500 hour certification through Castle Hill Fitness. She specializes in working with athletes and teens. Amy guides her students to explore, be adventurous, and discover their own inner teacher. Her vinyasa flow style classes are designed to warm up the body, calm the mind and ignite the spirit! Amy considers her greatest life blessings to be her wonderful husband Steve along with their three teens, Sarah, Mitchell and Maggie.

A native Texan, Angela Nix first moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas, where she graduated with a BBA in Management and Marketing. She spent many years in the corporate world, in various leadership roles of increasing responsibility, until finally deciding to change her path and seek more balance in life. She has practiced yoga for more than 10 years, and in the last couple of years approached it with her usual passion and commitment. Angela enjoys teaching both kids and adult classes and brings a light hearted demeanor to her students regardless of their age. She is a certified Kids Yoga Instructor with Next Generation Yoga. She loves teaching kids classes and enjoys integrating music and creative movement into each class and summer camp session. She has completed her Teacher Training, studying under Gioconda Parker and focusing her efforts on Vinyasa Flow. She teaches with grace and a casual style, encouraging her students to find their true “yoga self” and grow their practice through consistency, fun and self awareness. Outside of the studio, she serves on the Board at ZACH Theatre and is passionate about the arts in education. Her free time is spent with family and enjoying wonderful outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and exploring all that Austin has to offer.

Barbara was first introduced to yoga at the age of 15 and has continued to deepen her practice ever since. Learning to teach from one of the best yogis in the country, Gioconda Parker, she is excited to share her knowledge of asana and her desire to sweat! She comes to yoga from an athletic and strength training background having played varsity field hockey and lacrosse in college; yet, she is deeply passionate about the more subtle and transformational aspects of yoga. She was also a high school English teacher, so she loves connecting with teen yogis, as well! Her love for intense, focused practice combined with her compassionate teaching style, leave her clients fulfilled in body, mind and spirit.

Cary grew up in a colorful and loving family, flanked by two athletic and active brothers who fostered her love of "playing" to stay healthy, and this learned playfulness is infused in both her yoga practice and teaching. She began practicing yoga when in her teens, then reignited her practice after becoming a mom. She received her yoga teaching certification from Gioconda Yoga at Castle Hill Fitness in 2009 and is also certified to teach children's yoga, which she weaves into her daily preschool classroom and her volunteer teaching at the Helping Hand Home for Children. Cary's class will offer a stretching, calming yet energizing flow that will enhance strength, flexibility and peace of mind to carry off of your mat and into your day. Smiling, laughing and being at home in your personal practice is encouraged, and you will enjoy exploring new territory in a safe way, through the use of props and partner poses - couples are welcomed and appreciated!

Off the mat and out of the classroom, Cary enjoys life with her tennis-playing husband, two teenage sons, extended family and a house full of animals.

In Dana's class, you'll receive an inspiration by which to set your intention, a gentle warm up, and traditional ashtanga sun salutations to build heat. You'll keep moving with standing and challenging poses linked with an optional vinyasa flow, then have ample time to unwind and relax, as you reflect on taking your yoga and your intention off your mat and into your life.

When Dana Wills, RYT500, took her first yoga class in 2000, it felt like coming home. In yoga, she found something to challenge her athleticism, but more importantly something deep and spiritual to call upon. Her goal is to share yoga that can ground, energize and soothe her students, especially if they can learn something to safely repeat on their own in their daily lives. Dana incorporates yoga into her life wherever she is: here she is striking a pose on her boat in the Grand Canyon. Dana is a mom of two teens, and has volunteered her time teaching yoga to about 250 teens, primarily in public school. Dana was a Champions Academy gymnastics coach for 10 years, and thrives in the outdoors. You may even find her in the neighborhood doing yoga in her treehouse!

Dido Nydick, E-RYT500
Dido completed her yoga training in ISHTA (Integrated Science of Hatha,
Tantra and Ayurveda) with Yogiraj Alan Finger in New York and the
"Therapeutic Yoga for Seniors" training at Duke Integrative Medicine
center. She is also certified as a "Relax & Renew" restorative instructor
and specializes in Joint Mobility, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Krama and Beginner
Yoga. Please consult her extensive background on www.didonydickyoga.com.

Check back later for Everitt's Bio!

James discovered yoga after 10 years of "pumping iron" at the gym left him with several bouts of tendonitis and back pain. His partner convinced him to take an Ashtanga Vinyasa class knowing it would take something challenging to keep his attention. Skepticism was replaced with a consistent 5 times a week practice. Each unique and powerful practice allows him to appreciate how much the body changes from day to day.
James completed his 200-hour Hatha teacher training program in April 2010. Additionally, he completed David Swenson's 40-hour Ashtanga teacher training program and a 25-hour Ashtanga Immersion & Adjustment Clinic with Nancy Gilgoff.
James' personal practice and teaching style have been heavily influenced by his teachers, Matt Borer and Sharon Moon. From them he has learned an appreciation for the traditions that make up the Ashtanga lineage and an understanding that sometimes traditions must be set aside in the best interest of the student.
In his free time, James enjoys spending time with his friends and family. He also enjoys cycling and participates in annual fundraising events including the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.
"Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal." - Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Matt is a full time yoga instructor mainly in the Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow traditions. He likes to call his style of instruction "yoga mutt"; taking a little bit of information from every resource possible and integrating it into each class. With over 12 years of personal practice and over 6,000 hours of teaching time, there is a lot of experiential knowledge combined with compassion and patience to be had in his classes! You will laugh as hard as you work and will enjoy a wonderful sense of community, friendship, and self awareness throughout the process!

When not teaching, Matt can be found here in Austin playing music, two-steppin, and rock climbing wherever there is available rock! Check out Matts blog for more information at... www.yoga4liberation.com

Meg is one of the founders of Austin Kula Yoga. She has a 20 year background in movement and dance. When she turned to yoga to help recuperate from a back injury, she discovered a new love. She became certified over 10 years ago in Hatha Yoga through Living Yoga and continues to learn from her teachers and students. Meg is also certified in Children's Yoga and Prenatal Yoga.

Meg flows through the postures and looks to her students in class to direct her to their needs, so each class creates a relevant experience for each student. As a result, her classes are warmhearted, fun and often times spontaneous! Meg loves teaching yoga and is grateful to all of her students and teachers for their kindness, inspiration and wisdom. Meg also has a deep interest in pregnancy and loves to share how yoga can help women through the transitions of pregnancy, birth and motherhood. She recently was honored with the Best Prenatal Yoga Teacher by Austin Birth Awards. Come check out her Core Yoga, Hip Hop Yoga or Prenatal at Austin Kula Yoga.

Meredith Paterson is a native Texan and has been practicing yoga for 11 years. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance, has an MA in English, and is a writer, editor, and educator with a passion for exploring the connections among language, yoga, movement, and art.

Bringing yoga to children, teenagers, and adults is a dream come true for her. She credits yoga and her teachers with bringing her back into a relationship with her body, an invaluable gift. "The practice of yoga has given me the confidence and strength to seek myself under all the layers of doubt and fear. My wish as an instructor is to help others seek themselves and to awaken to their own power and light."

Meredith is the Director of Yoga Trainings and Educational Partnerships for Yoginos: Yoga for Youth, a children's yoga program that combines asana (yoga poses), breathing practices, and mindfulness activities with language-learning (English, Spanish, and Sanskrit), art, literature, and the heart-based philosophy of Anusara yoga.

Michelle Thompson Ulerich has been a certified Yoga Alliance instructor since 2008. She received her 200 hours plus 100 additional hours at Castle Hill in Austin, TX. Michelle currently teaches Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, and prenatal yoga classes at Austin Kula Yoga, Dancers Shape, and Ballet Austin's Butler Community School. She recently had the great pleasure to train under prenatal specialists Sue Elkind and Anna Verwaal. In addition, Michelle has taken advanced yoga training at Dharma Yoga, prenatal workshops with Meg O'Connell voted best Prenatal Yoga instructor by Austin Birth Awards, and birth classes with Chan McDermott. Michelle believes yoga is extremely beneficial in her life as a ballet dancer and as a mom, and she found it especially empowering during her pregnancy and birth.

Currently a professional ballerina with Ballet Austin, Michelle has made a home in Austin for the last ten years. She majored in Dance and The Humanities and graduated from St. Edward's University in December 2010. She has been a Lululemon Athletica ambassador and loves taking part in community outreach. Michelle has hosted multiple yoga benefits for the SafePlace Organization, led a Yoga for Dancers workshop at Austin Kula Yoga, and has taught children's yoga at the Active Life Movement Festival. When she isn't dancing or taking yoga classes she enjoys spending time with her husband and her son.

Nikki is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance®. She discovered her love for yoga eight years ago when she began practicing in her hometown of New Orleans. Nikki accredits her sense of peace and self-awareness to her daily yoga practice, and her main goal is to share her passion for yoga with others, hoping to give them the gift that she gratefully received at a young age. Nikki especially enjoys teaching yoga to children; this is her passion, and interacting with kiddos brings her the most joy. As the oldest sibling of four, Nikki has always enjoyed taking on the role of caregiver. She is a certified safe sitter and loves the families she works with. Nikki recently completed an additional training through a program called Yogiños: Yoga for Youth®; this training focused on teaching yoga to children with the goal of promoting empowerment through art, story-telling, yoga, and music. Currently, Nikki is completing her degree in Organizational Leadership at St. Edward’s University, and in her free time, she works as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA of Travis County.

Paula has been studying yoga since 1997 and teaching for the past 8 years in Austin. She is certified through Healing In Yoga and studied and practiced with her good friend Murti. Paula has also studied with Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea, Angela Farmer, John Friend, David Swenson, Ramanda Patel, Anna Forest, Gary Craftstow, and Jason, from Acro Yoga. Her style of yoga flows from one asana to the next using the breath, and strikes a perfect blend between nurturing and challenging, in a non-competitive atmosphere. Paula incorporates many different styles together to create a unique and eclectic flow which is always new and fun. The music in the class is a mix of fast beat for flowing to inspiring meditative music to take you deeper into that sacred heart-space of love and compassion, to find that intelligent edge within. Students who take Paula's class feel happy and relaxed and at peace with themselves when they leave.

Sarah Luna, MTP, is a certified yoga teacher, spiritual psychologist, life coach, and movement artist. Her practice draws from transpersonal, somatic and creative principles to bring body, mind and spirit into union. She offers expertise in transformation and provides uplifting experiences that inspire and empower others to shift limiting beliefs and joyfully live into their full potential and vision for life. Sarah conducts individual sessions, workshops, training programs and group facilitation on various topics in spiritual growth, yoga, movement and human potential.

Sheila is inspired by many traditions of yoga, but continues to come back to Ashtanga as her moving meditation; a place for her to let go and drop into her body and mind and ultimately open into spirit. She hopes to hold a space for students to do the same. Sheila sees the practice as a beautiful dance between breath, movement and drishti. Students can expect a meditative and fluid quality in class and can hopefully find a place where they can quiet their mind and use the breath as a powerful way to connect to spirit.
Sheila loves that yoga is truly a philosophy on how to lead your life with a greater sense of awareness and intention. It goes far beyond the physical practice and helps to guide practitioners in every aspect of life. For Sheila, her yoga practice has enabled her to remain true to herself and embody a deep sense of awareness, acceptance and love through everything that life brings her way. Most importantly, Sheila continues to be a student and is inspired by the wonderful community of teachers in Austin, especially her mentor Matt Borer.
When she is not practicing or teaching yoga, Sheila loves spending time with her two girls and her husband.
www.sheilasingh.com

Come back for Stacie's Bio!

Tracy, seeking warmth, moved to Austin from Denver and has found a place to call home. She began working in the fitness realm in 1997 as the director of a children’s gymnastics center. In 2001 she moved on to the pilates world as a program director. The pilates studio also offered yoga which inspired her to learn more. Shortly thereafter she completed the Yoga Yoga Teacher Training as a Certified Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level. Tracy taught hatha classes until she began a new role in life as a mom and found it natural to become certified in prenatal yoga with Leslie Lytle. In 2005, Tracy began teaching prenatal as a new mother. Then, in 2006 she was blessed to have been on the same journey as her students, teaching prenatal yoga while pregnant with her second son.
Tracy’s fun loving teaching style is that of rhythm and flow. She encourages her students to fluidly move through vinyasa while deepening postures and finding the ease through the effort. Tracy looks to her students for direction, personalizing each class she teaches.
Tracy, her husband, two boys, and two dogs all love life in Austin. She credits yoga with giving her the energy, balance, and peace to keep up with all of them.

Zakiyyah (RYT-200) first fell in love with yoga (eight limbs and all) while studying psychology at UT Austin in the late 90s. That love blossomed into passion during an inspiring yoga class in a jungle on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2006. In 2008, Zakiyyah became a certified yoga instructor through Yoga Alliance.
"My yoga practice has carried me through so many challenges and changes. As a teacher I hope to impart to my students the joy and benefits of a personal yoga practice."