Purna Yoga East Staff Bios, Clayton, NC | Yoga Studio near me in Clayton, NC

Martha

With over 35 years of formal exercise experience, Martha's extensive knowledge of a variety of fitness disciplines has provided a strong foundation as she has pursed formal yoga training. Originally from Pennsylvania, Martha moved to North Carolina in 1984 where she taught aerobics for several years. Martha then became interested in Tai Chi after being introduced to the practice by her mother in law. Martha has practiced Tai Chi for over 15 years; her Tai Chi journey includes a teaching certification received in 2014. In 2016, Martha moved to Clayton to be closer to her daughter and grandson; Martha joined Purna Yoga shortly after moving and has developed a love for both the people and the practice. Focusing on physical, mental, and emotional wellness through the practice of yoga and Tai Chi is Martha's passion.

Aundrea

Aundrea discovered Purna Yoga East in the Summer of 2017, while in the middle of building a house in Clayton. Aundrea enjoyed the community she found in her first class. Since growing up in a military family Aundrea moved a round every few years, she finally had found a place to make her home. Aundrea graduated from the Purna Yoga College 200 hour teacher training in August 2019. In her free time, Aundrea loves to run and travel with her wife.

Catharine

Catharine began her study of yoga in 1996 as a way to reduce the effects of stress in her life. Through her practice and teaching she found yoga to be a guiding force for her physical, mental and spiritual well-being. She feels better, is stronger, laughs more and enjoys the gifts of each and every day. She studies regularly with the founders of Purna Yoga, Aadil Palkhivala and Savitri, with whom she has travelled to India. She is on faculty at the Purna Yoga College at Alive and Shine Centers in Bellevue, WA where she teaches a Yoga Alliance 500 hour teacher training course, she also teaches the 200 hour Yoga Alliance teacher training course in Clayton, NC at Purna Yoga East. She is a Certified Purna Yoga Instructor with over 2,000 hours of training, an Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500) and a registered IAYT Yoga Therapist as well as the director of Purna Yoga East. She holds a masters degree in education.
She is a NC Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist #2034 with specialized training in trigger point therapy, deep tissue massage and relaxation massage and has practiced massage therapy since 2001.
Trusted and caring, she is honored to share her knowledge, skill and experience with others.

Shari

Shari earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology in 1990 and started her career in the mental health field. In 2007 she shifted her focus from mental health to physical health and healing and completed her licensure in massage and bodywork.

Once she started classes at Purna Yoga East in 2018 she found that yoga was a perfect natural progression for bringing the mental, physical and spiritual together. In an ongoing quest to go deeper, Shari completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2019.

Shari currently lives with her husband and youngest son in Garner and lives spending time in the mountains!

April

April began studying yoga out of an interest in fitness. She was taking a break from “boot camp” and the gym mentality, and after finding Purna Yoga East, she never went back. From the first class, she felt she had found the perfect solution to an integration of health, fitness and overall well-being. By the end of the beginner sessions, Purna Yoga East felt like her home away from home. She couldn’t get enough. Bob would jokingly tell Catharine that she needed her own key since she was always there.”She enrolled in the 200-hour Purna Yoga teacher training to deepen her own practice, not intending to teach. Since graduating she has felt called to share with others the deep love and joy she has found in yoga. She then enrolled in the 500-hour Purna Yoga College and graduated in 2017. She and her husband, Steve, who is now a student at Purna Yoga East and enrolled in the 200-hour Purna Yoga College, live in Raleigh with their five border collies, two horses and two cats. April graduated from Auburn University with a BS in education. After teaching preschool and elementary students for several years, she made a career shift and is now the Senior Veterinary Technician at Town and Country Veterinary Hospital in Apex. Teaching yoga gives her a way to utilize her degree in education and love for teaching.

Bob

Bob began his study of yoga in 2001 out of an interest in athletics and health. Living an active life-style for over 60 years, he appreciated the positive energy and welcoming community in his yoga classes. While studying regularly with Catharine at Purna Yoga East (formerly East Second Street Yoga and Massage), he also attends Purna Yoga Workshops with Aadil Palkhivala and Savitri and with Bryan Legere, one of the inventors of the Great Yoga Wall.
In June 2009 Bob graduated from the Purna Yoga College 200 hour Yoga Alliance teacher training intensive at Yoga Centers in Bellevue, WA. In September 2010 he completed the 500 hour level of training at the College of Purna Yoga. Bob is now a 500 Hour Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and has since completed the 2,000 hour Purna Yoga College training with Aadil and Savitri to become a Certified Purna Yoga Instructor.
Bob is eager to share yoga with his students. He has a light energetic teaching style, is extremely sincere and incorporates humor in his classes while maintaining an atmosphere of safety and relaxation.
Bob has four grown children and four grandchildren. He loves the beach, grilling out, playing music and learning how to train his dogs, Eula who are now 10!

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