teachers

Laura Bonkosky has been practicing yoga, pranayama and meditation for many years. She received her Yoga teacher training at the at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA,. She is also a state and nationally certified massage therapist. Laura strongly believes in the innate wisdom of the body, and that we are each capable of creating positive transformation, vibrant health, balanced lives and abundant joy through the practice of yoga. Yoga has been an integral part of her own path to wholeness, and it is with great enthusiasm that she shares it with her students.

Laura teaches Mixed Level Kripalu Yoga on Thursday morning, 7:30-8:30 am; and Community Yoga on Friday, 12:00-1:00 pm.

Brecken Chinn-Swartz is a certified Life in Yoga instructor, integrating movement, breath, sound, visualization, and meditation to help students who may be new to yoga or looking to deepen the spiritual elements of their practice. She has had years of training in various Asian schools of energy work (qigong, tai chi, and reiki) in both China and Japan, and discovered yoga through its role in helping her overcome a serious muscular disorder that made it difficult for her to walk. With a Masters in Education and a PhD in Communication, Brecken is an expert at tailoring learning environments to individuals with special needs of all kinds, and she brings humor and acceptance to helping students find their own flow and integrate aspects of the yoga path into daily life with grace and ease.

Brecken teaches Ashtanga Yoga on Thursday, 7:00 - 8:00 pm. and Sunday Market Yoga on Sunday, 10:00-11:15 am.

Karl Gary became a certified Integral Yoga instructor in 2007. His interest in yoga developed while taking martial arts classes at Hillside Martial Arts in Bowie, Maryland under the instruction of Master Al Gauthier. Karl has been interested in the self exploratory arts for over 10 years and when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 he decided to become knowledgeable in how one can manage their health through proper breathing, deep relaxation, and simple yoga postures. He is a level one instructor who includes traditional yoga postures and motion techniques intended to be moving, breathing meditations. Karl lives in Greenbelt with his wife Alison, their infant daughter, and their three dogs.

Karl teaches Gentle Yoga on Monday, 7:00-8:15 pm, Integral Hatha Yoga on Tuesday, 7:00-8:15 pm, and Integral Hatha Yoga on Saturday, 10:15-11:30 am.

Sharon McCraney RYT, is a graduate of ISHTA Yoga and an Anusara "inspired" teacher. She began her study of yoga in 2004 and soon realized that, not only did she love her own yogic experience, she needed to share this amazing gift. She infuses and supports her class with enthusiasm and clarity. She hopes her students will experience the joy that comes from integrating yoga into daily life!

Sharon McCraney teaches Level 1 Yoga on Wednesday, 7-8 pm. (Note that this is a 4-week session, April 19 through May 12.)