Teachers

Ana Hough is a certified Yoga instructor and a certified black belt Nia instructor at A2 Yoga in Ann Arbor. She emits a positive aura fed by an elixir of yoga-unifying and dance-releasing power. Rooted in yoga and trained by some of its famous practitioners, Ana entered the complimentary realm of Nia around the time of the new millennium. Nia, or Neuromuscular Integrated Action combines nine different techniques including martial arts, dance, healing arts, and yoga. “It’s really all about moving your body in your body’s own way.” She said, “It’s learning to reconnect with yourself through movement, dance, and creativity.

Wendy Dolen began teaching yoga in 2000. She has practiced many different styles with talented Instructors Including: Rafael Adams, Kino MacGregor, Mathew Darling, Richard Freeman, and Manju Jois. Wendy believes that yoga gives us the opportunity to explore our body’s capabilities through movement while expanding our minds through meditation and breathe work, guiding us to discover the core of our being. Wendy is an exercise physiologist for MFit, Health Promotion Division at the University of Michigan Health System. She has focused her professional efforts on teaching people how to reach their healthy lifestyle potential. She has been featured in the Ann Arbor News, Detroit News and on CNN and as a physical activity expert. Wendy also enjoys healthy cooking, outdoor adventures, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Jo, was introduced to yoga in 1994, while recovering from a dance injury. Since that time, she has explored numerous styles, and her teaching reflects a strong foundation in Hatha-based Vinyasa yoga. Having studied intensively in Sri Lanka, India, Mexico and the US, Jo’s unique approach combines strength, breath awareness and alignment with the laughter and creativity inherent in connecting with our higher selves.

With a Master’s degree in Social Work and Community Organizing, Jo also believes strongly in creating a spiritually supportive community; where people from all walks of life can live, learn and practice their yoga off the mat. As a lover of all things music and all things funny, Jo is known for her humor, laughter and song filled classes. She rejoices! in creative sequencing, and continues to learn from amazing teachers throughout the country, including David Life, Sharon Gannon, Shiva Rea, Dana Flynn, and Kate Olafson.

In Jo’s Words: “I practice yoga because it brings a synchronicity, a serenity, and a deep spiritual presence into my life. Seeking and connecting and seeking out again that unified presence– that ultimate yoga of breath and body and mind and spirit– allows me to jump into that flow of life that is the joyfulness of surrender. The world is inherently good, filled with love and happiness at its core. People are inherently good, filled with love and happiness in their soul. Yoga- learning, sharing, and practicing- gives me the daily opportunity to explore and encourage this omnipresent goodness.”

Deanna resides in Manchester with her husband Mark and 4 children. She has a nursing degree and began practicing yoga 10 years ago after the birth of her youngest son. She became hooked and has done countless trainings and workshops with Yoga Fit, Twee, and Stott Pilates. She has also trained with Gail Mondry, Sara Davidson and David Swenson. In December of 2006, she completed the Teacher training with Jonny Kest at the Center for Yoga.

She is certified through Yoga Alliance. Her primary practice is Ashtanga and is working through the Primary series with Janice Hallquist. She loves the creativity and flow of Vinyasa. She continues to educate herself through workshops and different types of classes throughout the area. She can be found at A2Yoga in Ann Arbor teaching hot and sweaty power classes as well as Vinyasa.

After the birth of her second child, Rachel discovered the profound physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that yoga had to offer. She completed her teacher training program at the Johnny Kest Center for Yoga in West Bloomfield in 2006 and has been teaching ever since. She enjoys sharing her love of yoga with her students and hopes to help them unwrap the same beautiful gifts that yoga has brought to her life

I have practiced ashtanga yoga six days a week continuously since 2003. I first used the practice to recover from a car accident, and to open an unusually inflexible body. Ashtanga saw me through a PhD, bringing an awkward young woman alive to the delights and limitations of having a body. Tempted by moments of equanimity, I began to engage ashtanga contemplatively, and committed both to a pranayama practice and to a meditation practice that includes annual silent retreats.

Megan Sims has been dancing most of her life, starting as early as five years old dancing around the living room. As a certified Nia instructor she brings a special Zen to the classes she teaches.  With a degree in Dance from the University of Michigan, and currently enrolled in a Masters program in Counseling and Psychology at Goddard College, Megan combines her education and experiences to bring dance and music together as a healing force.  She believes that Nia is a way to let loose, spiritually connect, let your creativity flow and to sweat sweet sweat!

Sandra has been practicing yoga for over 10 years with her instructor Katrina Gonn. She was certified to teach Ashtanga Yoga by David Swenson and continues to grow as a teacher by participating in workshops and training by Yogafit, Beryl Bender Birch and Desirée Rumbaugh. 

 
Sandra lives in Canton with her husband and two daughters. "I am thankful daily for the growth and challenges I receive as a teacher and practitioner of yoga."
 

Amy is a Hatha and Vinyasa teacher and has been practicing yoga for 10 years. Her exploration of yoga has grown into a deeper study of the philosophy and commitment to a sincere practice. Amy is a registered yoga teacher. Her goal is to offer a practice that brings physical, spiritual and emotional benefits to students - all benefits she has enjoyed. "I am blessed to be part of such a rich yoga community in Ann Arbor, MI."

Mark is an Anusara-inspired yoga teacher. When he is not teaching, he spends his time practicing asana, playing music, reflecting on his experience in the world, and connecting with the people he loves.

Todd Tesen, a Certified Anusara Yoga Instructor, was already practicing yoga for 10 years when he met his primary Anusara teachers, Naime Jezzeny and Noah Maze. Under their tutorage, he assisted both in this two-year period, exploding his personal
practice and so began his teaching journey. Soon to
follow was his meeting founder John Friend in 2002. At the same time, he embarked on his philosophy studies with Dr. Douglas Brooks, one of the world’s leading scholars of Tantra. Todd has taught nationally in the USA and Mexico, as well as in the UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Greece and Turkey. After 4 years abroad, in 2009, Todd returned to the United States and opened Rasa Yoga, his studio in Novi, Michigan. His teaching is playful and uplifting, creating a supportive foundation where the student can discover what is truly possible and how deeply they wish to manifest their infinite potential.

Heather Foster is a dedicated student of John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga, and received her Anusara-Inspired status in 2003. She has been teaching yoga for 10 years with over 350 hours of training in the Anusara method and continues to study all around the country with top Anusara teachers, namely Desiree Rumbaugh and Jaime Turner Allison.

Anusara yoga reminds Heather to open her heart to the powers of grace and she invites her students to participate in the endless source of growth, wisdom and inspiration that this practice has to offer.

After becoming a mother to two beautiful children Heather's yoga and meditation practice was deeply renewed. She has recently been studying the tantric philosophical and therapeutic components of Anusara to weave into her teachings.

Heather was also certified as a birth doula by Creative Health Arts in Galesburg, MI in 1999 and attended over 50 home births. She has been teaching prenatal and postnatal for many years and considers yoga an integral part of preparation for labor and motherhood. Heather has a deep connection with nature and whether it's gardening, hiking, dancing, knitting, singing, eating locally or playing with her children, yoga is imbued in every aspect of her life. She is so grateful to all of her teachers including her students and looks forward to many more jewels being uncovered in the seat of her heart as she journeys with the kula on this path.