Blue Moon Arts

Carmen Viola, E-RYT500, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (1995),
Certified Web Designer (2009)

Certified as an Iyengar Yoga Teacher in August of 1995, Carmen is registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT500. She teaches and coordinates the Yoga program for the City of Maple Valley Parks and Recreation at Lake Wilderness Lodge. Carmen also teaches for the YMCA in Newcastle and in Seattle, and will start classes in September through the Northwest Arts Center in Bellevue!

Carmen began teaching Iyengar Yoga in 1989, although her in-depth study of Iyengar Yoga began five years earlier. She has been a practitioner since 1976 when she was first introduced to Hatha Yoga by a co-worker .

Studying/Training:
When residing in San Francisco, she attended the IYISF two year Teacher Training Program where her two most influential teachers were Manouso Manos and Kofi Busia. After moving to Seattle, she studied with Felicity Green and Aadil Palkhivala with whom she also apprenticed. In 2005 she had the pleasure of studying with B.K.S. Iyengar in Estes Park, Colorado during his Light on Life tour. She has attended two IYNAUS conventions with Dr. Geeta Iyengar in May, 2007 and most recently in Portland on therapeutics in May, 2010. She studies regularly with Joan White and Dean Lerner.

Carmen journeyed to India in November/December 2008 to participate in the 90th birthday celebrations for Yogacharya BKS Iyengar where she was the US liaison to India for IYNAUS. She had the honor of studying with one of BKS Iyengar's most senior teachers, Mr. Shah at the KARE facility. Read her lengthy, descriptive India Journal (pdf)

Seva:
Secretary of the Working Party committee formed to explore the viability of an International Iyengar Yoga Association (07-08); board member of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States,IYNAUS, (2002-06) serving as the By-Laws and Website Chair as well as committe member for the Outreach, Newsletter and Store committees; Secretary (1993-95) and Newsletter Editor (1994-97) of the Iyengar Yoga Association of the Northwest, IYANW.

Yoga was instrumental in helping her to manage and ultimately heal a low back and hip injury, whiplash, ankle and knee sprains, and a shoulder injury.With more than two decades of teaching experience, the novice to the intermediate student is guided and challenged with her warmth, compassion, and sense of humor.

Contact Carmen by cell phone 206.300.7123 or carmen at blue moon arts yoga . com

Carmen's Blog

Frances Brent

Frances started practicing Hatha Yoga in 1975. It wasn't until she was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in 1990,that Yoga finally struck a chord that resonated deeply within her, both mentally and physically. Her mind enjoyed and understood the structured progression of the practice while her body benefited by becoming stronger. She began teaching Yoga in 1997 to help others reap the benefits she so enjoyed.

Frances has been a teacher since 1978, specializing in Adult Basic Education. Her gift  is her ability to provide clear, concise instruction while teaching gentle and supportive adaptations of poses for individuals who need a milder, slower paced class. She endeavors to help others relieve and manage chronic pain, develop strength, flexibility, balance and focus. 

 

Ann Freeman, Certified Fitness Trainer ('08)

Ann, an avid athlete since the 70’s, incorporated weight training into her workout and was interested in the way that the body reacts to certain types of training.  In the 1980’s she was a high energy aerobics teacher.

In 2001 she discovered Iyengar Yoga.  Ann was particularly drawn to the principles of body alignment and fell in love with the mixture of strength and flexibility that Yoga develops in students.  Her interest in anatomy  and kinesiology propelled her to embark in a year long course of study at Ashmead College. In 2007 she attained a national certification with the American College of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer. She began teaching Yoga in 2007, working closely with Carmen to follow the Iyengar style of teaching. 

Ann volunteers to coach and assist on various youth sports teams, training athletes in speed and agility and core strength, aspiring to make them strong and keep them safe.  She shares her love of fitness to strengthen dancers and improve their technique by combining Yoga, Pilates and basic core exercises. She enjoys helping students of any age discover the benefits of Yoga and fitness in their lives.