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INSTRUCTORS

	ROBBIE MICHELLE SHORT Robbie graduated from UNC-Charlotte studying Sociology and Religious Studies before spending the next 12 years traveling the world as a flight attendant. Discovering the healing power of yoga following September 11, 2001 and wanting to share her experience with others, she obtained both her yoga and meditation certifications from The Expanding Light in Nevada City, CA. Her teaching style promotes living yoga, and going above and beyond just the physical aspects of the practice. Robbie was formerly on the Board of Directors of Yoga Society Nashville and just recently received certification in prenatal yoga from the Asheville Yoga Center.
	KATHLEEN PERRY Kathleen was born in Alaska, grew up on the West Coast, and discovered the gift of Yoga in Michigan. She was certified by Johnny Kest in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Prenatal and Healthy Back yoga. Kathleen relocated to Franklin with her husband and three children. Her classes are fun, funky and challenging. She is a member of Yoga Alliance, The International Association on Yoga Therapists, and serves as vice president of The Yoga Society of Nashville. www.franklinyogacenter.com
	ELISE MALAN Elise grew up in East Tennessee and spent much of her childhood studying competitive and performance dance. Elise graduated from MTSU with a Fashion Merchandising and Design major. Early in her freshman year, Elise was introduced to yoga and instantly was attracted to the qualities that a regular practice developed. The balance, peace, and serenity found in those she met who studied Yoga, enticed her to develop these elements in her own life. After moving to Franklin, TN, Elise started to study yoga at Half Moon. Within months she began teacher training and achieved certification in Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. Elise's ultimate goal is to share her love of yoga with others, thereby helping them find balance and peace of mind, body, and spirit through her uniquely fun and energetic class.
	CURTIS SIMPSON Curtis teaches Heart Rhythm Mediation. He studied with master teachers Puran and Susanna Bair of the Institute for Applied Meditation. He is a certified instructor. HRM is an authentic, simple, and ancient method of meditation synchronizing the breath and heartbeat. Meditate and enjoy less stress, a quiet mind, better health, and an open heart. Curtis teaches classes for individuals or small groups by appointment. See NashvilleMeditation.com for details and more info. Call Curtis at 615-347-6844 or contact via his website.
	LAURA HARRIMAN Laura is a classically trained pilates instructor complete with knowledge of all pilates appartuses and 10 plus years of experience. Laura will be offering mat-work at Half Moon. She is one of a few teachers who have been certified under Master Teacher, Jennifer Kries, with 3 intense years of study in New York and Michigan. Laura also has a pre and postnatal pilates certification. Her passion and purpose while teaching pilates is to promote self-awareness and create a practice that is unique to individual needs to help with imbalances and misalignments so one can become more centered.
	KATE MOYER Originally from Aston, PA, Kate moved to Nashville in January of 2005 and discovered yoga, quickly realizing its positive impact on her life. Being easily sucked into how busy life can be, Kate reclaimed herself through yoga as she deepened her mind, body and spirit balance. Kate's love for yoga led her to receive her certification in Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga from Franklin Yoga Center. Kate encourages her students to approach yoga with fun, light-heartedness while building themselves with freedom and to make their practice their own.
	SARAH CHERRY Sarah is a Certified Medical Qigong Therapist. She is a licensed minister and Reiki Master. She is also a Geomancer and preforms energetic clearings and electrosmog mitigation on homes. She is a certified Labyrinth Facilitator and designs and builds Labyrinths. She is certified in Medical Qigong through the International Institute of Medical Qigong with campuses in Palm Desert, California and Beijing China. She is currently working on her Masters Degree in Medical Qigong. She has also studied in China with Daoist Abess Zhang Ming Xin. She left a 15 year career with General Motors in 2008.
	STEPHANIE STANLEY Stephanie grew up in Franklin, Tennessee and began practicing yoga in 2005. She began yoga initially for lower back issues. Quickly, Stephanie fell in love with the great gift yoga gave her not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. She became certified by the Franklin Yoga Center by Kathi Perry in 2007 and also became a member of Yoga Alliance. She has since began to share her love of the 8 limbs of yoga on and off the mat. Stephanie currently lives in Franklin, Tennessee with her husband Byron and 2-year old son Wells.
	JESSICA SMITH Jessica has a Master's degree in Professional Counseling from Argosy University and is currently working on her Doctorate in Counseling Studies through Capella University. She works in an intensive outpatient therapy setting, doing substance abuse counseling. She has practiced yoga for 10 years and received her 200 hour yoga teacher training certificate in November 2009 from the Living Yoga Program in Austin, TX. Jessica incorporates her therapeutic background into the yoga practice to provide individuals with deeper focus and inner awareness.
	CRYSTAL RODY Crystal W. Rody has a Master's Degree in Health Education (Exercise Physiology Tract) from Florida International University and is a certified Health & Fitness Instructor with the American College of Sports Medicine. During her first pregnancy in 2000, she began practicing yoga and has studied Iyengar Yoga at The Miami Institute of Yoga. "YogaKids" is her attempt to fight the growing problem of childhood obesity, and introduce yoga to all children in a fun non-competitive environment.
	ELLE BANKS Elle Banks has been practicing yoga for over 10-years. While practicing at home in front of her then 18-month daughter she noticed a little yogi mirroring her poses. This inspired Elle to earn her certification to teach children from toddlers thru teens. In 2009 she completed advanced YogaKids training to earn the highest level of certification. As the mother of a 3-year old, she has a unique understanding of toddlers and making yoga fun and creative. The goal of her class is to develop confidence, flexibility, and strength in a supportive and fun environment. Children participate in yoga poses designed to be fun. An example of this is barking during downward facing dog. Classes also include a story that comes alive with yoga poses. Imagine Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Eric Carle acted out. The class concludes with Savasana and time to color.
	Nicole More-Hardy Born and raised in Boulder, Colorado, Nicole was well aware of yoga and its benefits, but it took moving to Nashville in 2002 for her to experience the feeling of fulfillment a regular practice can provide. Her move to finish school, although exciting, left her feeling extremely ungrounded and it wasn't until stepping onto the mat for a required course that she felt like she had finally arrived home. Through her regular practice she experienced many positive changes in her physical and mental well-being and knew that her 'yoga journey' would extend well beyond the semester course and into the rest of her life. Her belief in her journey has led her to become a Yoga Alliance certified Teacher through Franklin Yoga Center, with the hope and intention to air others as they travel down their own path.

INSTRUCTORS