Our teachers are Certified by the National Iyengar Yoga Association
They are experienced and skilled at helping individual students. Our goal is to make each class a special experience for each student.
Teachers in this method are certified through an internationally standardized body, and overseen by the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. Becoming certified is a process that takes a minimum of 3 years, usually in addition to 5 years of practice as a student. Teachers must pass a rigorous assessment where they demonstrate their competence and knowledge of the poses, teaching skills and philosophy during a two day long test. To remain certified they must continue their studies and may advance to one of the higher levels by taking additional assessments
There are 5 levels of Certification, each with from 2 to 3 sub levels. Teachers must study a minimum number of years and then apply and pass the two day exam to pass each level.
For more complete information about the Certification process you can go to: https://iynaus.org/iyengar-yoga-certification/
Sue Salaniuk
Sue started her yoga journey in 1978 at the Ann Arbor YMCA because there was a class that coincided with a drop in day care for her 2 year old. Two more children later and classes that included ones with Mr Iyengar at the Y, she began teaching in 1987. She has traveled to Pune 12 times to study with all of the Iyengars and is now Certified as a Level 3 teacher. She is also Certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and is RYT 500. Her most influential teachers other than Mr Iyengar, Geeta and Prashant have been Mary Dunn and Manouso Manos.
Sue opened The Yoga Space in 1997 in Ann Arbor where she and two other teachers continue to teach on Zoom, hoping to resume in-person classes this fall. She has enjoyed the challenge of learning to teach on Zoom and finds it a useful medium for helping students develop self study and reflection. Sue now has three young grandchildren whom she sees regularly, much to her delight and pleasure. She finds yoga to continue to be the most challenging, rewarding, aggravating, satisfying and interesting subject she has ever encountered and loves helping other people explore the subject. CIYT3, CIAYT, RYT500 sue@yogaspaceannarbor.com
Susan Bellinson
Susan began teaching yoga to herself at the age of thirteen, and was delighted when she moved to Ann Arbor and found that she could begin taking Iyengar yoga classes. She’s never looked back. Her teaching career began in 2000, and in 2007 she earned her Level I certification. She has been fortunate enough to study with the Iyengar family both in India as well as in the U.S. Susan loves to share her knowledge of yoga with others. susan@yogaspaceannarbor.com
Pam Lindberg
Pam has studied yoga since the late 1980′s and began teaching in 2005. The thing she likes best about teaching yoga is helping students increase their sense of body awareness, become stronger & more flexible, and have the practice of yoga bring a sense of peacefulness. Pam is certified at the Level I level. pam@yogaspaceannarbor.com
Sally Rutzky
Sally has been practicing Iyengar yoga since 1977 and holds a Level I Certificate and has been teaching since 1983. She has studied with Mr. Iyengar and his daughter Geeta in Pune, India nine times. sally@yogaspaceannarbor.com
Our Substitutes
Linda Damon
Teaching Iyengar yoga is a privilege. My Iyengar yoga experience began in 1994. Teaching since 2002, I received my Level I Certification in 2007. In 2012, I studied at RIMYI Institute with BKS Iyengar, Prashant Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar in Pune India. I like to make my classes a fun learning experience.
Vicki McGuffen
Vicki McGuffen. Yoga has been my daily companion on the path of life for nearly 30 years. It has brought me joy, excitement, contentment, liberation, as well as frustration, exhaustion, and more perspiration than I care to mention. I hope to share all of this with my students! Vicki is Level II Certified.
