Hailing from sunny San Diego, Verena (“V.”) has successfully passed on her proudest accomplishment, Bird Rock Yoga Studio, and is now excited to pursue her new endeavors with 9^th & 9^th Pilates right here in Salt Lake City. After many years working as an animal trainer, Verena’s intuitive sense of the beings around her was her inspiration to pursue a Vinyasa teaching certification through Corepower Yoga in 2006.  Having fallen head-over-heels for her new passion, she immediately began teaching full-time throughout San Diego, and has since received her E-RYT 200 accreditation.  Originally European, Verena has lived and travelled extensively throughout the world. Repeatedly adapting to new cultures and surroundings has taught her the importance of flexibility in the mind above all else.  Drawing on the mind-body connection she began practicing and instructing Power Vinyasa Flow, matching breath to movement and focusing on “being” rather than “doing”.  Amazing teachers such as Steve Ross, Budokon’s Cameron Shayne, Erich Schiffman, Michael Fukumura, Rachel Krentzman, Bhava Ram, Simon Park, the gang at White Lotus Foundation, and each and every student she has ever had the privilege of teaching have all helped to shape her path.  V’s style of teaching can be described as light-hearted and personal.  Caring deeply about her students’ growth and well-being, her classes will allow you to flourish in your own personal yoga journey at a pace that works for you.  Her goal is to create a welcoming and supportive community at 9^th & 9^th Pilates (and beyond), where everyBODY is celebrated on and off the mat.  V. is STOTT trained and the owner and creator of the barrEVOLUTION brand.

Johnnae attended her first yoga class in 2003 at a Yogaworks studio in Orange County, California where she grew up.   For the first time in her life her mind was quiet.  This newly found experience pulled her in and there began the transformation of yoga.  In 2008 Johnnae completed Yogaworks Teacher Training 200hr in San Francisco with Annie Carpenter and Julie Kleinman. For adventure and love she moved to Virginia where she taught at Angela Phillips Yoga studio in Virginia Beach. She presently calls Salt Lake home while she completes her Masters in Communication at the University of Utah.

Johnnae believes that for many of us the way we know peace is through the physical body, the practice of mindful movement. She hopes you find some of that peace in her class.