our instructors

Gwen
Gwen was introduced to yoga 15 years ago, while on a retreat in Northern Virginia with Lilias Folan, one of the first Americans to bring yoga to this country from India. This profound experience began what would become a lifelong journey into the spiritual and healing practices of yoga. Through her own experience with chronic illness, debilitating pain and the feelings of frustration that are typical in mainstream medicine, she began to pursue a path of self-healing, utilizing yoga as well as other complementary healing and spiritual practices. Trusting the inner guidance that was awakened from her Sat Guru (the Guru within) during this time, she sought additional support and knowledge from the greater yogic and spiritual community. Receiving her certification and advanced teaching certificate from the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA, she began teaching in 1996.

As a teacher, Gwen embraces the attitude of gentleness and compassion with the self and respect for the subtle, yet powerful, healing processes of yoga practice. This integration of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our self allows healing to unfold slowly. With gratitude, she acknowledges as her guiding inspiration, the wonderful teachings passed down to her from Yoga Acharyas Ganga White and Tracey Rich of the White Lotus Foundation, Yoga Masters Rama Berch, Donna Farhi, Patricia Walden, Ramanand Patel, Erich Schiffman and Aadil Palkhivala. Her most recent training has been with Paul Grilley, learning Yin Yoga and his world renowned teachings of anatomy as it pertains to real bodies, their limitations and how this relates to Yoga.

Gwen is a Certified Yoga Therapist, receiving her “Yoga of the Heart” certification from Nischala Joy Devi and certification in Restorative Yoga with Yogini and healer Cheri Clampett and acupuncturist and anatomist Arturo Peal. These trainings have specifically focused on yoga practices for illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, MS, chronic fatigue and other life altering challenges. As a gifted Empath, Gwen is sensitive to the subtle energies of asana and pranayama practices and in particular how they apply to healing. She offers public yoga classes at Bella Yoga Studio. Private sessions are available. In addition to her training in yoga, Gwen is a Thai Yoga Therapist. For more information about this form of massage therapy and energy work, please visit www.thaiyoga.com.

Alexandra Kedrock LCSW, CYI

Alex is a certified TriYoga Basics instructor and has completed a 200 hour Yoga certification with Anna Pittman. She enjoys experiencing the mind, body, spirit union emerging within her Yoga practice and believes that all ages, sizes, and physical abilities can benefit from Yoga. With attention to breath and alignment, the spaces in between the bones open, the muscles relax and energy flows. With a lightness of approach and a respect for the body’s wisdom her classes encourage a sense of inner well being. Beginners and advanced students will deepen their practice as well as increase flexibility and strength. Alex is also a psychotherapist with 30 years experience using the mind/body connection for growth and transformation. She enjoys working with couples and with people in their transitional life phases. Cooking meals for friends and family, writing, social action, bicycling, dancing and serendipity awaken her soul. Alex supports the Nonviolent Peaceforce (What to say YES to when you say no to war) believing that we must offer the world new choices for resolving conflict.