Julie Hodges, RYT
Yoga and Meditation Instructor, Reiki Master Teacher, Life Coach
Julie is the owner and director of Awareness Village. She began studying Hatha Yoga and meditation in 1976 and loves making it a part of her everyday life. She was certified as a meditation instructor at Expanding Light in Nevada City, California in 2004, and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training couse in 2005 with Kim Orenstein at Yoga Loka in Reno, Nevada. During the training programs she studied asana, anatomy, pranayama, yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, meditation, mantra, mindfulness, chakras and the human energy field, as well as different teaching styles. She has since studied with Gary Kraftsow, Desiree Rumbaugh, Tias Little, Jason Crandall, Richard Rosen and Frank Boccio. Her primary focus has been in the Krishnamacharya tradition of Hatha Yoga.
In January 2009, Julie studied with Amy Weintraub and the LifeForce Yoga® Healing Institute earning a LifeForce Yoga® Practitioner Level One designation. During the training, she learned yoga techniques which help treat depression, anxiety, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Julie plans to complete her training, earning a Practitioner Level Two designation in May 2009.
Julie believes it is an honor to be a yoga and meditation teacher. She especially enjoys finding ways to make each yoga asana available to every body, even the less flexible, giving every student the opportunity to experience the joys of yoga. Julie believes that within each student lies a vast source of potential. As a teacher, it is her job to draw out that potential. With her often repeated words, “Remember to breathe deeply,” she guides each student into and out of each asana mindfully and with purpose. Julie approaches each student as a whole individual, integrating each student’s body, psychology and lifestyle with her knowledge of asana and yoga philosophy to optimize each student’s experience of yoga.
To her teaching, Julie brings her life experience of not only yoga and meditation, but also from her work earning a B.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University, 13 years working in the legal environment, her study and work as a life coach at the Thomas Leonard School of Coaching and the Graduate School of Coaching from 1999 to 2008, and through Usui and Karuna Reiki training, from 1997 to 2001, earning Third Degree Reiki Master/Teacher certificates in both styles.
Deborah Scarborough, RYT
Yoga and Meditation Instructor and Certified Yoga Therapist
Deborah began practicing Yoga twelve years ago when she experienced the stress of a new career as a school teacher and suffered chronic pain from various injuries. She realized Yoga was something she could do for the rest of her life to be pain free, stay in shape, and maintain a state of well being.
Following her passion for teaching and the profound healing and personal transformation she experiences in her Yoga practice, Deborah studied with Gary Kraftsow for two years, receiving her RYT 500 hour teacher certification in the Viniyoga method, and opened her own Yoga studio in Lanai, Hawaii. Wanting to go deeper into the teachings and continue her self inquiry, along with learning how to serve others in a more specialized discipline, Deborah continued her training for another two years with Gary Kraftsow in the RYT 500 hour Viniyoga Therapist training program. As a certified yoga therapist she most enjoys empowering individuals with various health issues to reduce symptoms, manage their conditions, restore balance, increase vitality, and improve their attitude as they embark on their journey to becoming well.
Now that Deborah is back in Tahoe, she looks forward to continuing her path of study and facilitating Yoga practitioners on their journey to health, healing and actualizing their highest potential.
Padma Knister
Tai Chi Instructor
Padma Knister has been an Incline Village resident for fourteen years and has been practicing Tai Chi for nearly 8 years. Padma studied under John Hurtado whose teacher was Dr. Fei, a well known acupuncturist and Tai Chi master from San Francisco.
After experiencing its varied benefits, she wanted to help others embrace Tai Chi. With John's blessing, she started teaching five years ago. Now, Padma blesses her students!