Teachers at Florence Yoga
Michelle Ryan, CYI, RYT, Owner/Director
Michelle took her first hatha yoga classes as part of a corporate wellness program in 1992. Work and child-rearing pushed yoga to the background after a few years, but she returned to yoga shortly after the birth of her third child in 1997. She immediately embraced the Ashtanga classes at a local studio, Heartsong Yoga in East Longmeadow. Since that time, Michelle has deepened her commitment to practice and made it a part of daily life. She began teacher training in the early '00s with David and Doug Swenson, and has studied every year since 2001 with Beryl Bender Birch, completing her yoga teacher certification through The Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute. She began studying Ashtanga with Nancy Gilgoff, the first American female student of Ashtanga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, in 2006, and continues to study with both Nancy and Beryl annually, along with Christine Hoar of Bristol Yoga. She also had the great fortune to meet and practice with the late, great Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in New York City during his last visit to the States in 2006. Michelle seeks out outstanding Ashtanga teachers, and has had the opportunity to study with Tim Miller, Tim Feldman and Richard Freeman. These brilliant teachers, along with her study of anatomy, have helped Michelle develop a teaching style that has both a therapeutic approach and an anatomical focus, helping all students find the best way to practice Ashtanga for their body. Michelle was an Ashtanga Yoga teacher at Heartsong Yoga from 2004 until 2008, when she and her family moved to the Hilltown area of Western Massachusetts. She's grateful to be given the opportunity to create an Ashtanga community and share the joy of the Ashtanga practice with the greater Northampton area. Email her with any questions.
Michelle took her first hatha yoga classes as part of a corporate wellness program in 1992. Work and child-rearing pushed yoga to the background after a few years, but she returned to yoga shortly after the birth of her third child in 1997. She immediately embraced the Ashtanga classes at a local studio, Heartsong Yoga in East Longmeadow. Since that time, Michelle has deepened her commitment to practice and made it a part of daily life. She began teacher training in the early '00s with David and Doug Swenson, and has studied every year since 2001 with Beryl Bender Birch, completing her yoga teacher certification through The Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute. She began studying Ashtanga with Nancy Gilgoff, the first American female student of Ashtanga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, in 2006, and continues to study with both Nancy and Beryl annually, along with Christine Hoar of Bristol Yoga. She also had the great fortune to meet and practice with the late, great Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in New York City during his last visit to the States in 2006. Michelle seeks out outstanding Ashtanga teachers, and has had the opportunity to study with Tim Miller, Tim Feldman and Richard Freeman. These brilliant teachers, along with her study of anatomy, have helped Michelle develop a teaching style that has both a therapeutic approach and an anatomical focus, helping all students find the best way to practice Ashtanga for their body. Michelle was an Ashtanga Yoga teacher at Heartsong Yoga from 2004 until 2008, when she and her family moved to the Hilltown area of Western Massachusetts. She's grateful to be given the opportunity to create an Ashtanga community and share the joy of the Ashtanga practice with the greater Northampton area. Email her with any questions.
Georgiann Kristek, CYI
Georgiann began studying yoga in 1997, primarily practicing in the Kripalu tradition. In 2005 she was introduced to Ashtanga yoga at Yoga East in Portsmouth, NH. Since then she has maintained a daily Ashtanga practice and has studied with many influential teachers including Beryl Bender Birch, Nancy Gilgoff, Christine Hoar, David Swenson, Tim Miller, Richard Freeman, and David Williams. Georgiann completed her 200-hour certification through The Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute in 2011 and completed training in Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans Coping with Trauma through The Veterans Yoga Project. She is currently pursuing her interests in restorative yoga and Sanskrit. Ashtanga yoga has enriched Georgiann's life in every way, and she's grateful for the opportunity to share the practice with the Florence Yoga community. Georgiann resides in Leeds with her beloved husband and her sweet dachshund. Email her with any questions.
Georgiann began studying yoga in 1997, primarily practicing in the Kripalu tradition. In 2005 she was introduced to Ashtanga yoga at Yoga East in Portsmouth, NH. Since then she has maintained a daily Ashtanga practice and has studied with many influential teachers including Beryl Bender Birch, Nancy Gilgoff, Christine Hoar, David Swenson, Tim Miller, Richard Freeman, and David Williams. Georgiann completed her 200-hour certification through The Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute in 2011 and completed training in Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans Coping with Trauma through The Veterans Yoga Project. She is currently pursuing her interests in restorative yoga and Sanskrit. Ashtanga yoga has enriched Georgiann's life in every way, and she's grateful for the opportunity to share the practice with the Florence Yoga community. Georgiann resides in Leeds with her beloved husband and her sweet dachshund. Email her with any questions.
Eric Salus
Eric transplanted to the Valley from Chicago, where he taught Mysore style and led Primary classes in the Ashtanga tradition. Through the discipline of self-practice, he discovered the transformative power of yoga as a means to promote physical and mental well-being. Eric studied Primary series adjustments with David Swenson in 2004, and deepened his technique with authorized ashtanginis, Terri Smith and Amy Beth Treciokas. Through additional workshops with Tim Miller, Manju Pattabhi Jois, Kino Macgregor, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty, Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, Petri Raisanen, Tim Feldman, and Matthew Sweeney, Eric hopes to channel his inspirations to others. Eric is pleased to join the Pioneer Valley yoga community, and glad that his interests in natural food-gardening are equally at home here. He is grateful to Michelle for inviting him into the Florence Yoga family, and is confident his hands-on approach to teaching will encourage others to daily practice. He lives in South Hadley with his wife Shona Macdonald, daughter Isla, and sons Bram and Fenno.
Eric transplanted to the Valley from Chicago, where he taught Mysore style and led Primary classes in the Ashtanga tradition. Through the discipline of self-practice, he discovered the transformative power of yoga as a means to promote physical and mental well-being. Eric studied Primary series adjustments with David Swenson in 2004, and deepened his technique with authorized ashtanginis, Terri Smith and Amy Beth Treciokas. Through additional workshops with Tim Miller, Manju Pattabhi Jois, Kino Macgregor, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty, Nancy Gilgoff, David Williams, Petri Raisanen, Tim Feldman, and Matthew Sweeney, Eric hopes to channel his inspirations to others. Eric is pleased to join the Pioneer Valley yoga community, and glad that his interests in natural food-gardening are equally at home here. He is grateful to Michelle for inviting him into the Florence Yoga family, and is confident his hands-on approach to teaching will encourage others to daily practice. He lives in South Hadley with his wife Shona Macdonald, daughter Isla, and sons Bram and Fenno.
