GUNNAR BERGKAMP
Gunnar began practicing breath focused yoga in Alaska where he was born. As a young adult he discovered the Art of Living Foundation, and later went on to practice the Integral Yoga teachings of Sri Aurobindo. Gunnar received his 200hr Yoga Alliance certification from Yoga Durango, but has learned from an array of different traditions in his quest for spiritual realization. Currently Gunnar enjoys sharing an experiential approach to cultivating energy and awareness, while practicing yoga and meditation.
*Currently on sabbatical!*
Gunnar began practicing breath focused yoga in Alaska where he was born. As a young adult he discovered the Art of Living Foundation, and later went on to practice the Integral Yoga teachings of Sri Aurobindo. Gunnar received his 200hr Yoga Alliance certification from Yoga Durango, but has learned from an array of different traditions in his quest for spiritual realization. Currently Gunnar enjoys sharing an experiential approach to cultivating energy and awareness, while practicing yoga and meditation.
*Currently on sabbatical!*
BECCA DIANN
My love of yoga began in 2006, the day I walked into my first yoga class at the local YMCA in Greenville, South Carolina.
As my excitement for yoga grew, so did my desire to teach. I longed for the opportunity to hold space for others and to share what I had so graciously been given.
In 2019 I went to India for a month-long intensive and completed my 200 hour certification, along with a 50 hour certificate in Yin Yoga Therapy.
Throughout the years, my yoga practice has grown and waned and evolved with me. I have practiced in studios, YMCA’s, community centers, at home, in parks, in airports, on the beach, and in the snow. I have practiced at all times of the day and night.
I have practiced through joy and grief, heartache and every emotion in between.
I have practiced with fibromyalgia, injuries, braces and broken bones. I practiced yoga when I weighed 200 lbs.
Yoga is about presence. It’s about the breath. It’s about showing up on your mat; it’s about showing up for yourself. It’s all about you.
A wise yogi once said, “Yoga is an internal practice. The rest is just a circus.”
I still can’t do a headstand, by the way. I’m working on it, but being a yogi isn’t about standing on your head or touching your toes; it’s all about who you become in the process.
My favorite yoga to teach is Yin yoga. Yin is a slow-paced, meditative practice, targeting the inner connective tissues of the body. A Yin practice helps to calm the nervous system and bring us back to a state of inner balance.
Come join me on the mat. We’ll breathe, we’ll stretch, release some tension, and maybe drink a little kombucha or healthy tonic together.
And like me, you just might fall in love!
My love of yoga began in 2006, the day I walked into my first yoga class at the local YMCA in Greenville, South Carolina.
As my excitement for yoga grew, so did my desire to teach. I longed for the opportunity to hold space for others and to share what I had so graciously been given.
In 2019 I went to India for a month-long intensive and completed my 200 hour certification, along with a 50 hour certificate in Yin Yoga Therapy.
Throughout the years, my yoga practice has grown and waned and evolved with me. I have practiced in studios, YMCA’s, community centers, at home, in parks, in airports, on the beach, and in the snow. I have practiced at all times of the day and night.
I have practiced through joy and grief, heartache and every emotion in between.
I have practiced with fibromyalgia, injuries, braces and broken bones. I practiced yoga when I weighed 200 lbs.
Yoga is about presence. It’s about the breath. It’s about showing up on your mat; it’s about showing up for yourself. It’s all about you.
A wise yogi once said, “Yoga is an internal practice. The rest is just a circus.”
I still can’t do a headstand, by the way. I’m working on it, but being a yogi isn’t about standing on your head or touching your toes; it’s all about who you become in the process.
My favorite yoga to teach is Yin yoga. Yin is a slow-paced, meditative practice, targeting the inner connective tissues of the body. A Yin practice helps to calm the nervous system and bring us back to a state of inner balance.
Come join me on the mat. We’ll breathe, we’ll stretch, release some tension, and maybe drink a little kombucha or healthy tonic together.
And like me, you just might fall in love!
MARIA LOUIZE
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist (CMT since 1990) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (since 2010).
My curiosity about yoga was sparked when I was a child and my Mom was a yoga teacher. The spark ignited into a passion as I took yoga and meditation classes and workshops over many years, integrating the teachings into my heart and life. In 2010 I completed a 200 hour Hatha yoga teacher training, followed by many additional yoga teacher trainings including three Aerial Yoga teacher trainings (Aircat Aerial Arts, Born to Fly, and Yoga Swing), Restorative Yoga (with Judith Hanson Lasater at Mount Madonna Yoga Center), Yin Yoga, Energy Medicine Yoga, and Yoga Movement Screen. I'm very grateful to have taken workshops with Seane Corn (Spirit Speak), Shiva Rae (Yoga Trance Dance), Anodea Judith (Seven Windows To The Soul: Chakra Awakening) and Saul David Raye (Heart Centered Yoga). I enjoyed being a volunteer for Aerial yoga classes at a Wanderlust Yoga Festival. I also studied Qi Gong Healing Touch with Damaris Jarboux, and I have practiced and taught Qi Gong for many years.
Maria is also a massage therapist here at the studio - check out her therapist bio here!
I am a Licensed Massage Therapist (CMT since 1990) and a Registered Yoga Teacher (since 2010).
My curiosity about yoga was sparked when I was a child and my Mom was a yoga teacher. The spark ignited into a passion as I took yoga and meditation classes and workshops over many years, integrating the teachings into my heart and life. In 2010 I completed a 200 hour Hatha yoga teacher training, followed by many additional yoga teacher trainings including three Aerial Yoga teacher trainings (Aircat Aerial Arts, Born to Fly, and Yoga Swing), Restorative Yoga (with Judith Hanson Lasater at Mount Madonna Yoga Center), Yin Yoga, Energy Medicine Yoga, and Yoga Movement Screen. I'm very grateful to have taken workshops with Seane Corn (Spirit Speak), Shiva Rae (Yoga Trance Dance), Anodea Judith (Seven Windows To The Soul: Chakra Awakening) and Saul David Raye (Heart Centered Yoga). I enjoyed being a volunteer for Aerial yoga classes at a Wanderlust Yoga Festival. I also studied Qi Gong Healing Touch with Damaris Jarboux, and I have practiced and taught Qi Gong for many years.
Maria is also a massage therapist here at the studio - check out her therapist bio here!
ANDREA PELTIER
I started practicing yoga 15 years ago after 2 mountain bike accidents. It helped so much that I continued practicing yoga and meditation, and I went on to get my 200hr YTT certificate from The Center for Natural Living in Costa Rica. Six years ago I was introduced to Iyengar yoga, and right away I felt like I was home. The alignment and modifications one can use in Iyengar yoga made a huge difference in my practice, my body, and my mind. I started connecting more to my body and was able to meet it exactly where it was at.
I was led to take teacher training with Leslie Bradley & Craig Kurtz in 2019. I have also studied with Lisa Beckwith Wolf. In the Fall of 2020 I took the Autumn Sanghe with Abhijata Iyengar (B.K.S. Iyengar's granddaughter from India) called "Strength in Asana and Community," and this workshop reaffirmed for me that my path of study of yoga is Iyengar.
I love teaching this style of yoga, and am looking forward to practicing with all who come to class in Pagosa Springs!
NICOLE SHAFFER
Dance has always been a part of my life, taking ballet through high school and attending a few hip hop and breakdancing classes after college. Trying to fill that "dance void", I looked to dance fitness classes at local gyms, but nothing really fit until I found U-Jam Fitness®. The choreo is easy to follow, and leaves room for the students to add their own style. After taking classes for a few months, I decided to become an instructor and have been teaching ever since.
"Peace, love, unity and acceptance" is one of the commonly used phrases that really resonates with me. U-Jam Fitness® has helped me through some truly tough life experiences and I hope I can provide the same for my students. It is a welcoming place for people who want to come together and share a love of dance, fitness and community.
Dance has always been a part of my life, taking ballet through high school and attending a few hip hop and breakdancing classes after college. Trying to fill that "dance void", I looked to dance fitness classes at local gyms, but nothing really fit until I found U-Jam Fitness®. The choreo is easy to follow, and leaves room for the students to add their own style. After taking classes for a few months, I decided to become an instructor and have been teaching ever since.
"Peace, love, unity and acceptance" is one of the commonly used phrases that really resonates with me. U-Jam Fitness® has helped me through some truly tough life experiences and I hope I can provide the same for my students. It is a welcoming place for people who want to come together and share a love of dance, fitness and community.
ADRIENNE "DRIE" YOUNG
Burlesque Performer, aerialist, costume/fashion designer, and certified yoga instructor! I find a lot of passion in self love & care. I wanted to create a fitness class for everyone in a refreshing fun art form! I have been doing aerial for over a decade. I originally
trained at Cirque School in LA as I wanted to incorporate aerial arts into my burlesque performances. I have been performing under my stage
name, Sass A Frass. I instantly fell in love with all aerial arts as another form of creative self expression and physical meditative workout using only your body weight, my favorite type of fitness! I have practiced yoga since I was a young girl and finally got my
certificate as an instructor back in 2015 to be able to share my passion with others! To this day I continue to perform and practice aerial and yoga and figure out new ways of creatively incorporating them into all of my creative self expressions. As a designer and someone who just loves to dance, play, and have fun I wanted to create this class as a dance party! Incorporating aerial yoga and circus conditioning into a fun one hour ‘Friday Night Fever’ Disco Dance Party. We will be working out to Disco House Music in costume! Costumes and stretchy clothes are suggested but not required!
Let’s just have fun, dance, and play!
Drie is available for private aerial yoga sessions - Call us to reserve your time with her!
970-903-9278