Erin Hansbrough began studying yoga and meditation in 1998, and has been teaching since 2001. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the ERYT-500 hour level, and a certified Corrective Exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She is also a certified Thai Yoga Massage practitioner. Erin’s yoga studies have focused on both alignment and vinyasa-based traditions, as well as yoga philosophy. Dedicated to making yoga accessible and empowering for everyone, Erin is skilled in communicating alignment principles, philosophy, and attention to the inner state in ways that uplift and support each student. In addition to teaching regular public classes, Erin offers Yoga Therapeutics for both groups and individuals, using the alignment, breathwork, and strength-building aspects of yoga to help students heal from injuries and illness. She is also trained in making yoga accessible to people with disabilities. Erin offers a heart full of gratitude to her teachers, family, colleagues and students at Grassroots.
Stephanie Kroak ERYT-200 and Ayurvedic Practitioner, received her 300 hour vinyasa flow training at Yoga Flow in Tucson. Her students find her passion and energy both inspirational and contagious. A student of yoga for the last 12 years, Stephanie has studied ashtanga, hatha, yin, power vinyasa flow, acro yoga and taoist yoga. Within her dynamic class flow she also inspires laughter and fun. She deeply believes that yoga should be accessible to everybody and works hard at creating a class environment that is all-inclusive. She is currently studying at Dr. Vasant Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute here in Albuquerque. Her teaching is deepened by her studies in Ayurveda, meditation, relaxation, thai yoga massage and visualization. Stephanie gives eternal thanks to all of the teachers and teachings that continue to support her in her journey.
Joe Barnett ERYT-500, has been teaching for over a decade. He travels nationally and internationally year round, teaching many styles of movement and has certifications in Yang (Vinyasa) Yoga, Yin Yoga and Acro Yoga. His main focus of study is Functional Anatomy for Yoga and all forms of movement. Joe is a senior student of Paul Grilley, a true Yoga Scientist who is largely responsible for the current rise in the popularity of Yin Yoga and Functional Alignment. Using Paul’s Taoist Analysis of Yoga and the Body, Joe recently began traveling the country training yoga teachers and students how to understand and feel the full range of motion of their joints and their students’ joints; and how to use this wisdom to effectively and therapeutically build the postures in yoga. His play time is usually spent practicing, teaching and drawing others into AcroYoga which he has been playing since 2006 when he met Jason Magness (yogaslackers.com) with whom he continues to train/play whenever he can. In 2010, Joe traveled to Montreal to receive both levels of certification through the original AcroYogis Eugene Poku and Jessie Goldberg (acroyoga.com).
Stephanie Cottrell recently completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Grassroots Yoga. She began teaching dance fitness in 2012, and started teaching yoga fitness in 2014, and was humbled to see the difference (both physically and emotionally) that just one yoga class a week made for her diehard cardio students. She now teaches a vinyasa flow style in her classes, and is passionate about helping students find not only what works for them in class, but how how their time on the mat can enhance their lives off of the mat.
Jackie Evans is a RYT-500 hour certified yoga instructor. Her classes emphasize finding joy and personalization in your practice. Jackie teaches a vinyasa flow style in her classes linking breathe, movement, and laughter. She is honored to be a part of the Albuquerque yoga community and looks forward to bringing the benefits of yoga to a variety of people.
Mariah Galaz offers a blend of techniques in her class to provide a great workout and spiritual experience. She began her yogic journey with the Bikram method and Hot Yoga, but has expanded her practice to Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Iyengar, Acrobatic Yoga, and alignment based yoga. With her yoga practice, and her education in anatomy, physiology and dance she is diverse and well-rounded teacher. Her heartfelt and goofy nature provides a joyful experience during class. She loves to share her concept of self-healing with all individuals and practitioners, and for whatever your reason to practice is this art form, Mariah will help meet your needs and also lead you to further engage your curiosity and potential!
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
-Hippocrate
Jessica Jeffcoat attended her first yoga class in 2005 in the Pacific Northwest and expanded her practice while living in Hawaii. She sees her yoga practice as an essential part of her life. Jessica completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Grassroots Yoga under the training of Erin Hansbrough and Stephanie Kroack in order to share the joys and benefits of a yoga practice with as many people as possible.
Jessica brings a fun, supportive and non-judgmental attitude to her class and welcomes students of all abilities and experience. She enjoys living in Albuquerque with her husband Nathan and their dog Jack. Besides yoga and meditation, she loves to cycle, run, hike, camp, garden, and travel as much as possible. She thanks you for this opportunity to share her yoga practice.
Emily Lee has been a student of yoga for over ten years and received her RYT-500 hour teaching certification at Grassroots Yoga. Emily’s classes are taught in the vinyasa flow style. She is passionate about integrating music and asana, and encouraging students to find creativity and personal expression in their yoga practice.
Emily is also a Masters level Mental Health Clinician and Art Therapist. She is interested in offering yoga to those who struggle with anxiety and depression. She is enthusiastic to share yoga with the Albuquerque community and beyond.
Bill Lowrey started yoga at the age of 57 hoping to get relief from some severe lower back problems. Not only did that succeed beyond his expectations, he found that yoga was a great complement to his other forms of exercise, has significantly increased his flexibility, and most of all, is just a heck of a lot of fun. Bill concentrates primarily on the alignment-based approach in yoga asana and that is reflected in his classes. He is an RYT-500 certified teacher, and is proud to have been a part of the first 200 hour and the first 300 hour teacher training classes at GRY. Thanks to his teachers and the community at Grassroots Yoga, he has developed a deep interest in all aspects of yoga, especially yoga philosophy. He looks forward to the opportunity to share his experiences with others, especially those who, as he did, came to this practice later in life.
Sara Niedbalski began practicing yoga in 2011 primarily as a means to complement her distance running hobby. Through yoga, Sara found that she was healing much more than sore hamstrings or a tight hip flexor. Over time, she gained a deep understanding and relationship with her body, mind and inner self. This awesome self-realization is what inspired her to pursue the 200 hour certification through Grassroots Yoga.
Sara teaches yoga by linking breath and movement with a strong focus on alignment so that students may safely access all benefits of the postures. She gives hands-on adjustments but also encourages students to develop an instinctual awareness of their own bodies in space. Sara’s classes combine music and asana for an all-levels friendly vinyasa flow.
With several marathon finishes under her belt, Sara also has a special knowledge and interest in yoga as cross training for endurance running.
Kristin Reeder is a ERYT-200 and has a deep love of functional anatomy, vinyasa flow, yin yoga, mind-body-spirit connection, and playful discovery. Kristin creates a safe, compassionate space to challenge your edge and explore how subtle alignment changes can make differences in your practice. She believes that yoga can be a path to self-healing and transformation and is a way to feel at home in your own body. Kristin is also a master’s level mental health clinician and believes that there is no problem or experience that your mat can’t handle. Sometimes all you have to do is step on your mat and you will come home to yourself.
Cory Tixier (pronounced Tu-shay) has a BS in Biology, is a registered Ayurvedic Practitioner and ERYT- 500. Cory has been teaching and practicing yoga for over 12 years. She is a native of NM but has lived in NYC most of her adult life. In 2011 Cory retuned to NM to study with Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute. After graduation she was asked to stay on and teach, which she has been doing for two years now going on three. She also has a small home office where she see clients privately.
While living in NYC Cory started an eco-friendly cleaning and consulting business. It was her goal to audit homes and business to see how they could be more nature friendly. From toothpaste to office supplies Cory helped to green NYC for over 10 years. She also taught yoga mainly with disenfranchised youth and women in halfway houses. Her goals with yoga have mostly been therapy based and not merely just as exercise. As Yoga addresses the whole system, physical, mental and spritual it is a great tool to share, as is its sister science Ayurveda!
Cory loves to share and discuss yoga and Ayurveda in relation to just about anything. In her daily life she is really focused on practicing humility and honesty. Cory enjoys teaching Yoga and Ayurveda because she love to help people realize that we are nature working, not in charge of or the master of but actually part of nature. If we can bring this relationship into balance we will be healthier and happier beings who are better able to achieve our goals and serve our comunites. Please join Cory for a dynamic class filled with useful information about this body and how to maintains our balance with nature.
Lauren Turner Dolan is a Registered Yoga Teacher and completed her 500 hour teacher training at Grassroots Yoga here in Albuquerque under the guidance of Erin Hansbrough and Stephanie Kroack. She first encountered yoga at a Bikram Hot Yoga studio near Vanderbilt University, where she completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Lauren discovered that she left class much more energized, grounded, and calm, and since then has practiced Iyengar, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin yoga. Lauren is fascinated by the relief in both physical and mental tension that even a short yoga practice creates, and she is passionate about offering students opportunities to relate compassionately with themselves. She holds a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and loves incorporating mindfulness, visualization, and breath awareness her classes.
Joni Young noticed that her neck and shoulders were in knots and she was unable to touch her toes, and finally made her way to a yoga class at age 40. Through years of practice guided by wonderful teachers in Albuquerque and elsewhere, she has gained flexibility and strength and, most importantly, a passion for yoga. She recently completed the RYT-500 hour teacher training program at Grassroots and wishes to share her continuing yoga journey with others. Her classes encourage the merging of alignment with breath and flow and provide a space in which students are encouraged to modify poses as needed to enjoy yoga’s benefits and fun.