RUTH YOUNG

For years, my exercise regimen consisted of stretching and working out with weights at my local gym. Then one day in 2006, I ventured into the group fitness room at my health club and discovered yoga. I fell in love. At the suggestion of the club’s yoga instructor, I began my yoga teacher training, and I’ve been teaching regularly ever since. In January 2009 I discovered this wonderful little studio around the corner, Twist Power Yoga. I’ve been a regular here ever since. In fact when I was house hunting, my main criteria (after price of course) was that it be within reasonable distance to Twist! I found this studio at a very difficult time in my life and I believe that’s no mistake. Coming to classes at Twist helped me to maintain a somewhat even-keel in the face of tremendous personal strife, particularly over the last three years when my mother became ill and then died in February, 2011. During that time, I was under a heightened level of stress for a sustained period of time, all the while working as a paralegal in a very stressful environment. I’m sure my regular yoga practice helped stave off the more damaging effects that stress can cause. But it was the months following my mother’s death that really took its toll on me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I had lost touch with myself and my zest for life was gone. I could no longer taste the sweetness of life. At the urging of a dear friend, I enrolled in the Maha Shakti teacher training program here at Twist Power Yoga. My teachers, Amy Johnson and Adri Kyser, helped me use the tools I had in myself all along to dig out of my spiritual hole. This is how I truly discovered that yoga is not just a physical exercise. What’s different? I’ve woken up to myself. I no longer work for lawyers (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), and I no longer lift iron (nor that – just not for me). I’ve realized how damaging stress can be and feel fortunate my practice has helped me to stave off the worst of its effects. That discovery has allowed me to confidently leave behind a 25 year paralegal career in pursuit of my passion and dream...teaching yoga and connecting with others on their journey. My greatest pleasure and passion is to help others discover the multitude of health benefits – physical, mental and spiritual – from the regular practice of yoga. I hope to see you on the mat at Twist!

Training and Education
Yoga Fit - Levels 1, 2, 3 and Anatomy and Alignment (64 hrs.)

Kundalini Yoga training, Namah Shivaya with Tej Monga (16 hrs.)

200 Hour RYT, Maha Shakti teacher training with Amy Johnson (200 E-RYT) and Adri Kyser (500 E-RYT).

In addition to formal training, countless hours in self study of the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Light on Yoga (B.K.S. Iyengar), Heart of Yoga (T.K.V. Desakachar), Kundalini Yoga (Swami Sivananda) and other spiritual/mystical teachings.