Annette Armstrong, Director

Annette hails from California and has been calling Melbourne home since early 1999. She was introduced to the practice of yoga by her husband Scott as a means to briefly "check-out" from the hectic world of soccer into a space that provided stillness and serenity... yoga simply began as extra-curricular therapy.

She practiced yoga for over eight years (on both coasts and across Europe) and during that time gradually felt the inevitable draw towards a more spiritual path. She participated in her first teacher training with Bobbi Goldin, Certified by BKS Iyengar, in Miami. Six months later, she headed to Seattle to participate in Collette Crawford's Pre and Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training Program at Seattle Holistic Center. Upon her return to Melbourne, she was introduced to David Swenson and participated in several of David's Ashtanga Teacher Trainings. After completing her yoga training, she began teaching yoga in Melbourne, Brevard Community College and Orlando.

After teaching yoga for a few years, she returned to Los Angeles for the Bikram Yoga Certification. After completing her certification, she traveled to Europe. While living in Paris, France, she traveled to Rome, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Madrid and London, gaining knowledge and experience that would guide her in the development of a successful yoga studio.

Annette's teaching style is joyful and sweet. She believes wholeheartedly in each student's potential and she challenges students of all levels: physically, mentally and spiritually. During her detailed-oriented classes, she encourages students to continually reflect on why we practice yoga; her flow class always has a unique musical soundtrack to keep students moving. Filling her classes with warmth and humor, Annette draws on her broad yoga experience to teach the benefits of yoga.

Annette's Teacher Trainings Include

Ashtanga Yoga
David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga Training: (Naples2001, 2003, 2006), Winter Park 2007
Pattabhi Jois: New York City September 9, 10, 11, 2001

Bikram Yoga
Bikram Yoga (Certification 2004) (Extra Training: Participated in Bikram Teacher Training Program 2005, Bikram Re-certification Retreat Hawaii 2005, Assisted/Manager at Funky Door Yoga Berkeley 2007, Bikram Re-certification Retreat San Francisco 2007

Iyengar
Bobbi Goldin: Certified Iyengar Instructor South Beach, Miami 2000

Prenatal and Postnatal
Collette Crawford's Teacher Training: Seattle Holistic Center 2003

Yoga Conferences:
Yoga Journal Denver 2007
Omega Conference 2006 & 2007

Rosalba Diaz

Rosalba took her first yoga class in San Clemente, California. After experiencing the powerful mental, physical and spiritual benefits yoga had to offer, she began her yoga journey. While working and living in California, she began her yoga journey with inspirational teachers who provided a platform through which she transformed her life. Yoga became a source of strength and healing from the inside out. As she became more flexible in her body she became more flexible in her mind.

Rosalba believes that yoga is a way to free our minds, hearts and bodies from the physical and mental barriers we create. As she continued on her path, she has participated in workshops, teacher training's and completed her 200-hour Teacher Training in 2010.

Teacher Trainings & Workshops

• 2009 Ashtanga Yoga Joanne and Mark Darby Miami
• 2009-2010 200-hour Teacher Training Downtown Yoga
• 2010 Intro to Yoga Workshop
• 2010 Intro to Ashtanga Yoga 2nd Series
• 2010 Yoga Philosophy & Spinal Alignment
(Greg Nardi)

Laurie Finnegan

Laurie is a certified, professional level, yoga teacher. She was raised in New England and has taught hatha yoga in Melbourne for the past 5 years. She trained and was certified as a 200 hour yoga instructor at the Kripalu Yoga Center in Massachusetts, in 2004. Laurie continued her studies and earned her 500 hour professional yoga teacher certificate from Discovery Yoga Center in St. Augustine, Florida, where she studied intensively with Deva Parnell and Christopher Baxter, developers of Kripalu Yoga. Laurie also holds a pregnancy yoga certification and has enjoyed teaching prenatal yoga and yoga for children. Laurie's background is Kripalu yoga, yet she has been influenced by a variety of teachers within the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions. Off the mat, Laurie is a full time second grade schoolteacher here in Melbourne. On the mat, she combines her love of teaching and yoga to guide her yoga students through an energetic and compassionate yoga experience. Laurie encourages students to breathe, stay present and move inward toward the heart.

Marti Watts

Marti is a 200-hour RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher), has been practicing yoga for almost 10 years, and teaching for the last three. She has explored many different styles of yoga, and as a result, her teaching style is an eclectic blend of traditions, incorporating smooth, flowing movements and breathwork that allow for an invigorating yet relaxing experience. Students are encouraged to make each class their own, learning when and how to challenge themselves and when to rest. Marti's passion for yoga is reflected in her enthusiasm and ability to make everyone feel welcome and at ease, regardless of skill level. Her classes are designed to "strengthen the body, calm the mind, and soothe the spirit" in an enjoyable and non-competitive atmosphere.

Jennifer Hoffman

Fascinated by the ability to influence the mind through physical exploration and discipline, Jennifer believes that yoga practice is a metaphor for life; as yoga practitioners, we are scientists: in the lab, we strip everything down and investigate, question, probe, hypothesize, theorize. What we discover on the mat, we create in the world.

Cultivating mindfulness, grace, compassion, wisdom, and FUN through these ancient techniques. Jennifer's classes are infused with aromatherapy and soothing yoga postures to balance the physical with the spiritual aspect of the practice.

Her guided meditations go beyond just teaching a good class and instead strives to create and uplifting and inspiring experience for as many people as possible.

Jennifer teaches Karma Yoga Classes: Tuesday Yoga en Espanol and Sunday morning Yoga and Aromatherapy Flow.

Susan Leitz

Susan Cordrey Leitz Susan took her first Downtown Yoga class over 1½ years ago. She knew nothing about this mysterious thing called yoga. But after finding herself in a deep state of mind, she was compelled to discover what could bring her to such a powerful and emotional place. So, Susan, being the inquisitive and curious person that she is, began her 200-hour teacher training journey with Annette at Downtown Yoga.

She practiced yoga daily and began a journey of discovery that is still ongoing and continues to develop her teaching foundation with some of the best teachers in the world, such as Bryan Kest, Mark and Joanne Darby. Susan is offering classes on the Donation Yoga Schedule to help benefit local charities. Her Gentle Yoga sequence will soothe your mind and body, creating a relaxed state of balance, equanimity and contentment.

Trainings

• 2009 20-hour Teacher Workshop Downtown Yoga
• 2009 Weekend Workshop Mark and Joanne Darby Ashtanga Yoga Miami
• 2009-10 200-hour Teacher Training Downtown Yoga
• 2010 Intro to Yoga Workshop 2010 Intro to Ashtanga Yoga
• 2010 Intro to Ashtanga Yoga 2nd Series
• Certifications: 200-Hour RYT*

Marcela Bowie

Marcela was born in Prague, Czech Republic and immigrated as a young girl to Australia. As a result of growing up in Queensland, Australia she was surrounded by and learned to appreciate the beauty of nature. Marcela's formal studies included both Japanese and Chinese language and culture, which led her to enjoy living and studying in both Japan and China. She was introduced to yoga, in Australia, after a traumatic car accident and realized personally the healing powers of this ancient art. 1

After moving to the Melbourne, Florida area 7 years ago, Marcela combined her love of Asian languages and culture with holistic healing and completed a Masters of Oriental Medicine. After being a student at Downtown Yoga, Marcela very much appreciated and enjoyed the mindful, spiritual and diverse classes. As a result she began her yoga teacher training journey at Downtown Yoga. She now has a busy practice in Rockledge combining acupuncture, herbal medicine and yoga to promote healing in her patients. Her classes are gentle, mindful and focus on keeping the heart open to receive and give love and compassion. Breath, move and centre your way to health and happiness!

Trainings

• 2009-10 200-hour Teacher Training Downtown Yoga
• 2010 Intro to Yoga Workshop 2010
• Intro to Ashtanga Yoga Workshop
• Certifications: 200-hour Yoga Alliance RYT*3