Teacher Bios
Meet the Body Balance Yoga Instructors — Our yoga teachers are certified in Body Balance Yoga Therapy (or Associates working toward certification), highly trained, skillful and extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of yoga. Poses are creatively adapted to serve every student’s potential and journey into their own embodiment. All of our instructors are certified through the nationally recognized Yoga Alliance and are involved in ongoing yogic studies and trainings. To find out more information about their classes, please contact them directly by email. The classes listed on this page are held at Balanced Life Skills in Annapolis, Maryland; unless otherwise noted.
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Barbara Devitt, RYT200
Associate Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher
Barbara began studying yoga in the anusara style in 1998 with Jenny Otto. In 2008, she completed the 200-hour teacher training at Golden Heart Yoga. She is currently engaged in a 500-hour program incorporating Therapeutic Yoga and Yin/Yang Yoga. A long-term student of sacred literature and spirituality, she leads workshops on the philosophical aspects of Yoga. She is a traditional Usui Reiki Master and has a special interest in sacred dance. She bases her classes on gratitude and respect: for the wisdom of yoga, for the flexibility and well-being it brings, for the miracle of the body and the breath. She works closely with the anatomical principles of classical asana practice to help students discover its energizing, healing power. She loves encouraging students to stretch their minds and hearts along with their bodies.
Classes:
Yoga Level I/II
MONDAYS @ 9:30am
Email: bdevitt@verizon.net |
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Melinda Frisch MA, RYT500
Certified Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher
Certified Yoga of the Heart® Teacher
Certified Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga®
Certified Pranakriya™ Prenatal Teacher
Yoga Heals Us, Adaptive Yoga for People with MS Practitioner
International Association of Yoga Therapists, member
Melinda brings a rich background in gentle and
therapeutic yoga to her students. An educator for 35+ years, including teaching at Loyola University Maryland since 2000, she began her own yoga practice in 2004 in
a therapeutic class when seeking help for a debilitating disease. Melinda continues to study weekly with her mentor, Jenny Otto. Melinda teaches how to incorporate yoga into everyday life and wants her students to know that
anyone can do yoga and benefit from the never-ending possibilities that it offers.
Classes:
Gentle/Beginner Yoga
TUESDAYS @ 11:30am
Email: melinda@bodybalanceyoga.com
Website: www.ucandoyoga.com |
Utthita Parsvakonasana
(Extended Side Angle Pose)
with Chair |
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Janelle Jones, E-RYT200, E-RYT500
Certified Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher
International Association of Yoga Therapists, member
Janelle was first introduced to yoga in 1997, and has been teaching yoga since 2005. She has completed two separate 200-hour teacher trainings, a 500-hour teacher training, and is registered through Yoga Alliance as an
E-RYT 200 and RYT 500. Janelle is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). She continues her studies with Jenny Otto, and is most proud of her recent certification as a Body Balance Yoga Therapy Teacher. Before becoming a yoga teacher, Janelle spent 5 years as an Open Water SCUBA Instructor. Through this experience she gained insight into the various learning styles and abilities of each individual. In her yoga classes she honors this individuality in each of her students, and through her love of teaching creates a space where students feel empowered to safely explore the gifts their yoga practice can offer, both on and off the mat. Janelle is also studying Respiratory Therapy and is looking forward to seeing how respiratory therapy and yoga can enhance one another, as well as her joy of teaching and helping others.
Email: janelle@bodybalanceyoga.com |
Parighasana
(Gate Pose)
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Sandra Moore, RYT500
Certified Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher
Sandy began studying yoga in 2004 in an effort to find healing for physical ailments and bring peace to her busy life. A former health and physical education teacher, she now directs a radiography program in Baltimore. Her background and education enable her to bring a strong knowledge of anatomy and human movement to her teaching, where she believes the practice of yoga contributes to the wellness of body and mind. Sandy completed both her 200 and 500 teacher trainings at Golden Heart Yoga. As a certified Body
Balance Yoga Teacher, Sandy brings a new dimension of
caring and healing into her teaching which allows her to
individualize the practice for students of all ability levels.
Classes:
Yoga Level I
MONDAYS @ 5:45pm
Yoga Level I/II
MONDAYS @ 7:00pm (alternates with Jenny)
Email: sandy@bodybalanceyoga.com |
Supta Padangusthasana I
(Reclining Big Toe Pose) |
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Jenny Otto, E-RYT500
Founder of Body Balance Yoga
Certified Anusara® Yoga Teacher
Senior Anusara® Yoga Teacher Trainer
Certified Professional KMI Structural Integrator
International Association of Yoga Therapists, member/member school
Teaching workshops, teacher trainings, yoga therapy trainings and teacher certification courses, Jenny also teaches Body Balance Yoga classes weekly at Balanced Life Skills (Annapolis, MD), Willow Street Yoga Center (Silver Spring, MD), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD) and at other locations in the greater Annapolis, Maryland area. For Jenny's complete bio, read more here.
Classes:
Yoga All Levels
MONDAYS @ 5:00pm
(at NASA Goddard Yoga Club)
Yoga Level I/II
MONDAYS @ 7:00pm (alternates with Sandy)
Yoga Level II
TUESDAYS @ 9:30am
Yoga Level I/II
WEDNESDAYS @ 5:30pm
Yoga Level II/III
WEDNESDAYS @ 7:15pm
Yoga for Injuries & Special Conditions
THURSDAYS @ 6:00pm
(at Willow Street Yoga Center)
Yoga Level II
THURSDAYS @ 7:30pm
(at Willow Street Yoga Center)
Email: jenny@bodybalanceyoga.com |
Anjenayasana
(Low Lunge) |
Body Balance Yoga®, Body Balance Yoga® Therapy Teacher and Body Balance Yoga®
for Functional & Structural Therapy are trademarks of Body Balance Yoga, Inc. and Jenny Otto.
Anusara®, Anusara® yoga, Anusara-Inspired™ yoga, Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher
and Universal Principles of Alignment are trademarks of Anusara® yoga.
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