Meet the Team

FOUNDER

RYT 500 Instructor

Michelle Greenfield is a Kripalu and Radiant Body Yoga instructor and has been teaching classes since 2009, in Athens, Ohio and Carbondale, Colorado. She has been practicing various forms of yoga since she was in graduate school in 1993, starting with her Iyengar teachers and adding Integral, Vinyasa, Kripalu and most recently Kundalini.

Michelle received her 200-hour training with Michelle Stobart at Inhale Yoga in Athens, and her 300-hour at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts. She is currently studying Radiant Body Yoga Kundalini and will receive another 500 hour certification in Radiant Body Yoga with Kia Miller in 2025.

Her classes integrate alignment oriented flowing or held poses, pranayama breath practices and meditations in movement and stillness. As a Mindful Outdoor Guide, Michelle also leads groups in mindful outdoor experiences to immerse themselves in and connect with the natural world. She will receive her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification in 2025, through Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield’s 2 year training program. 

TCTSY-F Instructor

Erin has been practicing yoga for over 15 years. She is a certified TCTSY-F through the 300 hour Trauma Center - Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) program. She has over 500 hours of Yoga Teacher Training; including yoga for addiction, mental health, criminal justice, and stress relief. She's studied prenatal yoga, yin yoga, iRest, and trauma sensitive mindfulness. She has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and is in pursuit of a master's degree in Integral Health with a concentration in Yoga Therapy.

Erin’s gentle sessions are centered around what it's like to be in a certain shape, rather than trying to get into a certain shape. She invites participants to cultivate a balance between steadiness and ease, using the breath as a pathway between mind and body; unifying mind, body, and spirit - the essence of yoga." 

If you want to learn more about Erin, go to her blog about her yoga journey https://www.tsyproject.com/blog/my-yoga-life-s-journey

RYT 200 Yoga and Meditation instructor

“When I was growing up, it was understood that I needed to be quiet when I got up every morning. Not because I would wake someone, but because my dad was meditating. I was raised to practice meditation and explore my own personal spirituality. It was just a normal every day part of life. When I was in 6th grade, dad was diagnosed with cancer. His meditation practice became his greatest comfort.

My Yoga journey began in 2008 at the age of 20, when I signed up for yoga classes at my local Rec Center. I immediately fell in love and have been practicing nearly every day since. As I learned more, my practice deepened. I found that what Yoga offers is all encompassing and can enhance every aspect of our lives. A deep and well-rounded yoga practice offers physical health, mental wellness and deep spirituality. Yoga is an essential part of my life.

Over the years, my life’s journey has dealt me many tragedies and trials. My practice has given me the insight to recognize the gifts and lessons hidden within even the most difficult circumstances. This allowed me to prevent lasting trauma and overcome clinical depression. My practice brings me strength, focus, balance, gratitude and inner peace. That is something that I want to share with others.

I am an artist of various mediums, including painting, drawing, sewing and interior design. I enjoy mountain biking, hiking and being outdoors. Most of all, I love being a mom.

MA, E-RYT 500 Yoga and Meditation Instructor

Yoga came to me twice. The 1st time, I was in my 20s and a boyfriend introduced me to the practice through Ram Das’s book, Be Here Now. The 2nd time, many years later, after falling away from yoga, after birthing 4 kids and eventually leaving a marriage of 16 years, yoga helped me regain my center.

In 1995, I began teaching weekly classes at Hocking College and sharing a nascent Ashtanga practice with friends. In 2001, I left my position as a writing instructor at Hocking College and moved to metro Detroit to pursue yoga full time. While there I taught weekly drop-in classes, assisted with teacher trainings, led local and international retreats, co-managed a thriving studio, and honed my teaching skills. I returned to SE Ohio in the spring of 2024 to be close to family.

I have over 1000 hours of training in disciplines as varied as Ashtanga-Vinyasa, Kundalini, Yin, Katonah, Forrest Yoga, Vipassana Meditation and Yoga for Eating Disorders. Formally trained in Detroit with Jonny Kest’s Center for Yoga and at Kripalu with Joseph and Lilian LePage’s Integrative Yoga Therapy, I also hold Level 1 and Level 2 certificates from KRI and have studied shamanic journey techniques through The Foundation for Shamanic Studies workshops. In 2008, I published Yoga at the Wall.

My teaching is an eclectic mix of precepts, practices, and traditions. Primarily however, I teach breath and awareness, tailoring instruction to my students. Overall, I believe that yoga is more than the sum of its techniques. It’s a way of Being.

nancymccaochan.com

RYT 200 Yoga Instructor

I welcome all kinds of students and practitioners, regardless of ability or experience. I originally took up yoga in 2009 after an autoimmune diagnosis. Introduced to the practice in the Hatha tradition, I delved into Vinyasa, Yin and Iyengar Yoga to deepen my understanding.  Through the discipline of yoga, Ii continue to cultivate resilience, strength, and ease of presence especially during challenging times. Using a combination of modalities, I invite students to become more body and mind aware while improving mobility, flexibility, and strength. My teaching also incorporates mindful breathing practices to nurture the self and awaken gratitude.

Besides being a full-time Program Officer at the Sisters Health Foundation, I teach for the Federal Valley Resource Center in Stewart and for Village Productions in Amesville.  I’ve also led sessions for Leadership Athens County and other nonprofit cohorts. I write and publish poetry, love to hike and spend time in woods and prairies, and try to be a good human to others and the earth. In my spare time, I help take care of goats and other animals on my farm outside of Athens. I believe that yoga is accessible to all as it is "a journey of the self, through the self, and to the self.”  By practicing yoga, we are able to better serve others. 

Level 1 Qi Gong certification

David has been practicing Qi Gong for over 13 years and is a certified instructor through Holden Qi Gong for the past five years. Teachers include: Lee holden, Mater Mingtong Gu, Robert Pang, and Crow Swimsaway

A theatrical designer and professor by profession specializing in scenic and costume design, puppetry and props, David uses his practice of Qi Gong to manage stress and bring balance and focus to his work. He is thrilled to offer this powerful yet subtle practice to the Athens community.

David leads his class from vigorous warm-ups to relaxing flowing movements, and finishes with guided or quiet mediation.

His hobbies include Kayaking ,Painting, and Gardening.

INSTRUCTOR