Purna Yoga East

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 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!

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.

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 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!

Cathy has been studying yoga at Purna Yoga East (formerly East
Second Street Yoga) since 2006. She began to learn more about yoga
after interviewing Catharine Eberhart (PYE director) for an article
for the local newspaper, The Clayton News-Star, back in 2002.
Although her busy work schedule as news editor at the newspaper and
an even busier family life initially kept her from pursuing a yoga
practice, once she attended her first yoga class she was hooked!
Over the years, Cathy has experienced the many benefits of yoga,
including increased strength and flexibility and a greater sense of
well-being that comes with taking time to care for oneself.
However, she believes the greatest gift of studying yoga at Purna
Yoga East has been the wonderful friendships she has developed with
her “yoga buddies” – caring instructors and fellow students. She
also has had the privilege of attending workshops with Purna Yoga
co-founder and master teacher Aadil Palkhivala as well as Bryan
Legere, co-inventor of the Great Yoga Wall. Originally from Long
Island, N.Y., Cathy and her husband, Jerry, moved to North Carolina
in 1988 and to Clayton in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree
in journalism and communications from Buffalo State College, and
works as box office manager at The Clayton Center. Cathy received
her RYT-200 certification in April 2013, and she is eager to see
where this new path on her yoga journey will lead.

Cindy began taking Purna Yoga classes in 2010 and has been a
dedicated student ever since. She has enjoyed workshops with Aadil
Palkhivala, co-founder of Purna Yoga, and Bryan Legere,co- inventor
of The Great Yoga Wall. Cindy is eager to share her yoga experience
with others, as she finds yoga a necessary part of her life.
Keeping one’s body toned and healthy is crucial to the aging
process.
Cindy is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Dean.They
have two grown sons who are always close at heart. In her free time
Cindy enjoys painting, decorating, shopping, going to the beach,
playing with her retrievers, McKenzie, Stella and Libbie and
cheering for the Wolfpack. Cindy is a graduate from Peace College
and NC State University. An active member of Horne Memorial United
Methodist Church, Cindy is involved in weekly Bible Study and
United Methodist Women.
Cindy is currently studying in The College of Purna Yoga for the
200 hour teacher certification. She is very excited to share her
love of Yoga and enthusiasm for a happy, healthy life.

Through her yoga practice Gayle has discovered another aspect
of her deep calling. “I knew at age 12 I would be a teacher….”
Having taught in Wake County Schools for 30 years she is excited to
expand her teaching into the wonderful world of Yoga. “When I walk
in to Purna Yoga East I get such a feeling of being home. My wish
is to help others feel welcomed and at home as they too, discover
the joy I have found practicing Purna Yoga." Gayle is an avid cat
fan and lives in Clayton with her 2 furry friends Gracie and
P’nut. She enjoys reading, and cooking. All of her activities have
been brought to a more enjoyable level by the teachings at Purna
Yoga East. “Being more present and focused in each moment really
brings out a better flavor to everything I do!” She is graduate of
the 200 and the 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training course at Purna Yoga
East and loves the depth the training brought to her understanding
of yoga. Gayle has also studied with Judith H. Lasater, a guru of
Restorative Yoga and she truly enjoys sharing that relaxing
practice with her students. 

Leslie Waugh, RYT 200, started exploring yoga in high school.
Her
relationship with the practice took a meandering path, but she
has
been a dedicated student for 12 years. After studying with
Jane
Barrett at Raleigh Yoga Center for five years, she moved to
Washington, D.C., where she studied at John Schumacher’s Unity
Woods
Center and other studios and gyms. Leslie completed her first
teacher-training program in 2008 with Iyengar-certified
instructor
Bobbi Goldin in Miami. In 2010, while working full-time as a
journalist, she completed a 200-hour course and received her
certification from Boundless Yoga in Washington, D.C., where
she
taught before moving back to North Carolina in late 2011. Back in
the
Tar Heel state and enjoying the Peak of Good Living (Apex) with
her
husband, Leslie is happy to be teaching yoga and working as a
freelance editor and writer. She is strongly influenced by the
Iyengar
tradition but also draws on other styles and has enjoyed
workshops
with Aadil Palkhivala. From the first commandment of ahimsa
and
through a focus on alignment and open-hearted practice, she seeks
to
help students cultivate a deeper awareness of themselves and
others
and an appreciation for the benefits of the practice, on and off
the
mat.

Megan was introduced to yoga on the recommendation of a physical therapist to help alleviate pain caused by ice skating. Megan loved yoga from her very first class. She practiced yoga off and on for many years before finding a home-base studio. After finding Purna Yoga East in September 2017, she began a regular practice. Megan graduated from the Purna Yoga College 200 hour teacher training in August 2018. In her free time, Megan enjoys going on adventures with her husband and their two fur babies.

Rebecca Sprowl began her study of yoga in 2010 as part of her
exercise routine. She came to Purna Yoga East in 2016 in search of
a teacher training course and fell in love with it. “It is so
different than any other yoga I have practiced and incorporates all
of the things I am passionate about...spirituality, wellness,
nutrition, and mindfulness.” Rebecca has discovered the benefits of
Purna Yoga in all aspects of her life. “It has greatly reduced my
stress level and allowed me to be present and efficient in the many
roles I have in life...wife, mother, teacher, etc.”
Active all her life, Rebecca played competitive soccer growing
up. She has run two marathons and several half marathons. She has
also participated in several sprint triathlons. While playing coed
soccer in Atlanta, Rebecca met her husband. They now have two
little soccer players of their own, as their children have carried
on their love of the sport.
Rebecca has been an elementary school teacher since 1997. She is
passionate about working with children and empowering them to be
their best self. “As an instructor at Purna Yoga East, I am excited
to empower my yoga students to open their hearts and be their best
self.”

Teressa has been active all of her life, enjoying sports,
fitness programs, martial arts and scuba diving. Scuba diving
excursions to exotic locations brings the family together, her
husband and daughter share her love of the ocean and all the
creatures that call it home. As a Marine Scientist, her daughter is
traveling the world to bring awareness to the conservation needs of
our oceans. Teressa has been working with elementary school
students for the past twenty years. “My students make my heart
smile every day.” An invitation to Purna Yoga East began an
awakening that has brought a beautiful calming peace to her spirit,
mind and body. As a life-long learner with a desire to acquire a
deeper understanding of Purna Yoga, Asana, Meditation, Nutrition
and Yogic Philosophy, she embarked on the path of teacher, at the
College of Purna Yoga. HeartFull Meditation has brought a crystal
clear awareness of Love and Light, asana developed strength and
flexibility as well as relieved her body of stiffness and pain, the
yogic path opened her mind to all life has to offer. Teressa has
had the pleasure of attending workshops with Aadil Palkhivala,
co-founder of Purna Yoga as well as Brad Waites. “ Purna Yoga has
been a gift to my life, with joy and gratitude in my heart it is an
honor to share these gifts.”