{ lynette pellegrini }  
Breathing Room founder Lynette Pellegrini is a “city girl” at heart. She discovered yoga in San Francisco during her first pregnancy and deepened her practice at the Mindful Body Studio under the tutelage of Devorah, her favorite teacher. Lynette says, “Yoga is my rock!” She credits yoga for helping her soften from a self-described “fitness maniac” to approaching her body with kindness and love. She is also grateful for the lessons of helping her move through life – by allowing things to unravel at their own pace instead of pushing to make things happen.

Lynette’s background in urban planning drew her to the space in the Historic South End. She earned her degree from UC-Irvine and worked for the city of Irvine; she next moved on to engineering and consulting in San Francisco where she met her husband, Joe. She’s eager to bring her city girl expertise to Breathing Room and is confident the South End will be soon hot, hot, hot “though we keep our yoga cool!” Lynette is the proud mother of handsome sons Joey, 8, and Nicky, 5. Also, lucky yogis may encounter Ruby, Lynette’s beloved Airdale and studio mascot on the way to class …


{ carolyn klimas }
Native Charlottean Carolyn Klimas began her yoga path in watching a DVD on the floor of her sister’s apartment in Boston. It was challenging, it was fascinating, it was .. a little hard to see from that vantage point on the carpet. But mostly it was love! She earned her first teacher training from Be Yoga in New York in 2002 and completed her next installment in Boston – five hundred hours from Barbara Benagh’s Art of Teaching program. In 2004, she moved back to Charlotte and opened up Peaceful Poses Yoga in Myers Park. She also began studying with reknown instructor Tias Little in 2006, completing Level I training; she’s heading back to Santa Fe in March to tackle Level II. Though she will always be proud of Peaceful Poses, a “cult classic”, it was time for a change; in the summer of 2007, she signed on to partner with Lynette for the launch Breathing Room! Carolyn’s playful classes include a slow flow interpretation of Hatha yoga. While she is pleased as punch when students find new freedom in body and mind, she is even more hopeful students learn to relax and look at the lighter side of things. In her free time, she enjoys dorking out with sweetheart Kevin, creative writing, meandering with cairn terrier Phoebe, learning guitar, Meerkat Manor, and trying samples at Earth Fare.


{ reid kutrow }
Reid Kutrow is a Myers Park Mustang. A Renaissance man, he excels in his studies while pursuing his many creative interests — art, music, fashion, writing, and acupuncture. He is dutifully earning and saving money for his trip to Thailand this summer, which sadly, will not include the rest of the BR staff in his suitcase. Breathing Room is grateful to Reid for his contribution of comic relief, especially at our holiday dinner, and his colorful impressions!


{ pat joslyn }
This year Pat celebrates her thirtieth year practicing and teaching yoga. In 1977, she started taking Yoga classes in French (which she didn't speak) while she was living in Brussels, Belgium. Her silent instructions were observing her teacher's movements and alignment. As her studies progressed, she had a near fatal car accident where she broke most of her right ribs in her back; she had a collapsed lung as well as a broken shoulder blade, and collar bone. When she left the hospital her right arm was useless. Her personal yoga practice was her only source of rehabilitation which she thought was complete until about ten years ago when she started using small balls to release her muscles.

Much to her surprise she discovered all her old injuries were still in her body, hiding out in her muscles. In 1983, she became a student of Swami Satchidinanda, founder of the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City and a teacher trainee where she received her teaching certification. Since 1977, she has taught more than 10,000 hours. She is an ERYT registered with the Yoga Alliance. In her classes, Pat aims helps students release tension: “Through my teaching I help students become aware of the sources of their chronic pain or discomfort, but more importantly, how they can leave it all behind.”

She has three married daughters. Two of her daughters and their husbands live in Charlotte and have provided her with an abundance of joy by blessing her with two grandsons. Life is grand.


{ sharan downes }
Sharan Downes is a Georgia peach who has traveled all over the world — Europe, Costa Rica, Australia, the list goes on! She has many careers. Not only does she assist at Breathing Room and supermodel, she is also an accomplished photographer and photo editor. When she is not using her skills to pay the bills, she spends time with her pup, Dizzy, goes to live music shows, rides her bicycle, meets friends for dinner at Thai Thai and works on her big art project — a solar-powered eco-friendly darkroom. Her peaceful and joyous spirit makes Breathing Room a happy place!


{ angela blakemore }
Angela says she can’t imagine her life without yoga. A faithful practitioner for many years, she has been inspired by many wonderful teachers along her journey, both locally and nationally. She expresses deep gratitude to her two main teachers John Friend, founder of Anusara yoga and Sarah Powers, Buddhist and Yin Yoga Teacher, both whom she continues to study with annually.

Angela draws from her anatomical wisdom in her teaching: “As a massage therapist I have always been interested in the healing of the physical and emotional/psychological aspects of ourselves. My intention in teaching is to encourage students to connect and open to deeper places within themselves via self-inquiry and by aligning with intention, breath, and the physical and energy bodies.


{ hollace stephenson}
For Hollace Stephenson, the journey on the path of yoga lends itself to continued growth and renewal. What began as a hobby or an outlet for exercise has become a way of life.
Hollace began practicing yoga in 1996 after a dear friend suggested they go to a class on a whim. Thinking it would be beneficial for the body, she went and immediately became aware of the benefits for the mind and spirit. It was then and continues to be a practice that encourages her best self. “Yoga resonates with me, I am calm, clear, powerful and peaceful in my practice.” Just after moving to Charlotte in 2004 to teach biology for CMS, Hollace began teaching yoga and received her 200-hour teacher certification in 2005. Under the guidance of Yoganand Michael Carroll, Hollace received an outstanding yoga education in the Kripalu Yoga tradition. From Asana to Pranayama, from the Pradipika to the Bhagavad Gita, Yoganand’s lessons and wisdom give her a firm foundation from which to strengthen her teaching and practice. Since 2004, Hollace has trained with many others including Stephanie Keach, Heather Tiddons & Baron Baptiste.

After leaving CMS to realize her dreams, Hollace enjoys her livelihood as a yoga teacher and developing her new business venture, TasteMakers of Charlotte. Occasionally, she still enjoys teaching workshops at UNC- Charlotte on life science and biotechnology education:“ I love what I do!”


{ lecia pearce }
Lecia began practicing yoga as a form of cross-training for a marathon. Regular practice stretched out her tightened muscles, strengthened her back and shoulders, and taught her balance and grace, helping her become a smoother runner and making marathon training more comfortable. Soon, Lecia found that these benefits and the peace she found on her mat were applicable to her whole life, not just the time she spent in her running shoes. Now she practices yoga to explore the "stuff" that comes up in everyday life. Yoga is her tool for expanding both body and mind. Lecia strives to challenge her students both physically and mentally and is excited to witness the growth that they find for themselves. Lecia is also a computer tech guru and a pastry chef!


{ billy piontek }
Billy finds yoga to be an incredibly useful tool for living his life off of the mat. He strives to use his experiences and what he feels as a basis for guiding a yoga practice. If he could offer one promise, it would be a humble attempt at authenticity and compassion. With the belief that humility, truth and awareness are invaluable tools, Billy promises that in a yoga class, you will get all of him, everything that he has to offer, every piece that he is capable of giving. You are invited with love and understanding so that you may as Billy says, “share this cool thing called yoga.”


{ cathy kauder }
Cathy Kauder began practicing yoga in 1998 when working as a financial news reporter left her shoulders semi-permanently attached to her ears. After taking yoga at various New York City studios, Cathy went to the Om Yoga Center on the recommendation of a friend. She immediately connected with Om founder Cyndi Lee's flowing vinyasa-style classes that emphasized alignment and mindfulness. In the fall of 2002, Cathy enrolled in Om's first Warrior Weekend teacher training program and earned her 200-hour yoga teaching certification in the spring of 2003. Cathy's fun and vigorous classes focus on flowing from one posture to the next while paying attention to alignment and the breath.

A graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Cathy recently moved to Charlotte from the New York City area with her husband and two-year-old daughter. Nicholas was born in 2006 and now they are four! She continues to practice and teach yoga and is influenced by various styles including Vinyasa, Anusara and Iyengar. She is a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance.


{ joey pellegrini }
Joey Pellegrini is an old soul. A third grader at St. Patrick’s Elementary School, he adores reading with a particular interest in Asian culture and history. He studies karate at Charlotte Martial Arts Academy and is an excellent swimmer. He enjoys spending time with his Mom at Breathing Room! He is an invaluable member of the Breathing Room team -- making coffee, checking students in, folding blankets, lighting the candles before Carolyn’s classes, and boosting morale with his thoughtful ideas and observations.


{ marina wilson }
Marina Wilson is a Texas gal with a Brooklyn attitude. Raised in Lubbock, she won a diving scholarship to Auburn, where she trained for the Olympics and earned her masters in human resources. In DC, she met her husband Wes and fine-tuned her love of fashion by studying at FIT. She then began her retail career at French Connection and moved on to hold various sales and management positions with BCBG. She is inspired by clothes that are comfortable yet still stylish.


{ ruby pellegrini }
Ruby Pellegrini is a joyous Airedale who enjoys long walks, playing with her brothers Joey and Nicky, and greeting neighbors in her front yard. She loves downward facing dog pose and is happy to help human students with their form. She enjoys partying at Metro Paws and credits them for her lustrous puppy ‘fro. Guilty pleasures include licking things and eating socks.



{ stephanie gooding }
Stephanie found yoga when she returned to Charlotte after ten years in San Francisco and New York. Since that discovery, she has studied several different types of yoga including, Anusara, Vinyasa and Power Yoga. In 2008, she traveled to Mysore, India in order to learn about Ashtanga Yoga in its place of origin. Stephanie’s classes are focused on alignment; she uses props and assists to deepen postures in a safe manner. Stephanie hopes to someday bring her foot to the back of her head while standing in Natarajasana (King Dancer Pose.) When not practicing yoga, she spends time with several pets, books, documentary films and trashy magazines.


{ sonya }
Sonya was introduced to yoga at the YMCA in Omaha, Nebraska in 1997 with a curious group of playful souls who were willing to roll out mats on a musty berber carpet to strike Warrior Poses. What began as an attempt to loosen muscles and alleviate joints from years of marathon training became a passion and personal journey of self-awareness. The exploration continued for the next three years with a sampling of yoga from various traditions, and in 2001, Sonya received her teaching certification. She has taught at several studios and fitness facilities in the Triangle, including Blue Lotus Movement and Arts, Nirvana Yoga, Club O2, the YMCA, and the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont. With respect and appreciation for the many yogic paths, Sonya’s classes are flow-based with attention to proper alignment. Sonya moved to Charlotte in May 2007 and works as a lawyer with the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office, where her yoga practice is a daily necessity – both in and out of the courtroom.


{ susie farnick }
Susie's journey into yoga began over five years ago after the loss of her mother. Looking for something that could help soothe the physiological symptoms of grief, she found yoga and its awesome healing potential! As many of her friends and family would agree, she always had a difficult time sticking with one thing for a while, but yoga kept calling her back to learn, grow, laugh, experience and love. In fact, the thing that keeps her learning, teaching and growing in her practice is that this journey never ends! For Susie, yoga is a celebration of movement, breath, love and life and continues to feed her body, mind and spirit. Her newest love has been her prenatal yoga classes inspired by her training with Stephanie Keach. The miracle of life keeps her humbled and amazed as she teaches and inspires her students to honor their bodies during such a magical and sacred time. She feels blessed to have trained under Stephanie Keach for both Vinyasa Teacher Training and Prenatal Teacher Training. She is also inspired by Baron Baptiste and his style of teaching, writing and wisdom. She recently spent time training under Sean Corne for a Chakra Flow workshop and strongly feels that she will never stop being student. She is thankful to all her teachers who have touched her in so many ways leaving fingerprints of insight, wisdom, love, compassion and light. As the Hopi teaching instructs us, "We are the one's we have been waiting for."


{ daniel mccall }
Although I only discovered yoga in the past several years, I feel as if the practice has been buried inside me my whole life. My first asana practice was challenging and exciting, but it was as if my body had finally realized years of intention. Instead of being mercilessly tossed about by the whirlwind of life, yoga gives me wings to fly. The past few years have led me through a variety of colleges and jobs. I've been an interior designer, a graphic designer, an artist, a photographer, a barista, a project manager, a student, a phone operator, and a cubicle drone - many of these all at once. I look back on each job I've had with gratitude and excitement. In each position I met interesting people, learned new skills and incorporated those experiences with my next venture. Most recently, I have been a manager at Yoga One. Now, I am making the move into teaching yoga as my primary job.


{ claire gregson }
Claire has developed her yoga practice with the intention of finding what there was to find. After studying theater and venturing in occupations from mutual funds to coaching, Claire hoped for finding the perfect fit. She grew up playing competitive sports, mountain biking, and mountaineering. She loved to push herself to her edge and was known for trying things, all things, except one- YOGA. Claire tried yoga (on a dare) and there was resistance, there was fear of the teacher wearing a 70s looking uni-tard and then the fear of looking goofy. The moment her feet touched the mat, she wanted out! The panic of not being good at it set in. After a few postures, she learned the importance of holding without panic- of being present and strong, soft and supple- all at the same time- all on her own. It was perfect, a maximum challenge on a personal level. The only thing that mattered was-- this inhale and this exhale. Yoga gave the gift of being alive and awake. Claire believes yoga is a tool that can show people who they are. Yoga strips away your labels and lets you practice (clean slate). As you practice, your reactions on the mat are usually how you react in life. Seeing this reflection of yourself is one of the greatest teaching tools yoga has to offer. You actually become your own teacher. Claire is a teacher that will ask you to dangle your toes over "the edge" and when you are ready--to trust yourself and jump. She has the ability to take you through a class that is vigorous but still get you to laugh or giggle. She believes in those moments of letting our guards down; we see our own amazing light. In those moments, (like the Velveteen Rabbit) we become real. With joy of honoring oneself, Claire teaches each class from the heart. She will take you to the core of who you are and will lull you into sivasana with a song. Claire holds all her teachers in the center of her heart: Ana Forrest (500 hours), Baron Baptiste (level 1) and Cameron Shayne ( 2nd Budokon certified teacher ). Claire has also studied with Sean Corne, Rolf Gates and Mark Blanchard. Claire's is still in on going training from her 6 year old son and her road bike ( everyone and everything is a teacher).