Suzanne McCahill Perrine is the founder/director of The Center, Harrisonburg's first dedicated yoga and Pilates studio. Suzanne is a former dancer and teacher and was drawn to Pilates in 2002 because of the immeasurable possibilities it could offer anybody who was willing to intelligently work with his or her body, whether trying to get in shape, look better, feel balanced, or recover from injury. Suzanne received her Pilates certification in the spring of 2003 through Stott Pilates and has been teaching since.

Suzanne is also blessed to have received the title "Anusara Inspired" yoga teacher and believes in encouraging students to have fun, relax and enjoy the splendid journey that yoga offers them both on their mats and in their lives. Suzanne has been fortunate enough to have studied with such inspirations as John Friend (Anusara's founder), Desiree Rumbaugh, Suzie Hurley, Amy Ippoliti, Douglas Brooks, Kate Miller and Jordan Bloom. Suzanne is now finished her 20 month-long yoga training and has received her RYT -200 title through Willow Street Yoga in Maryland.  She continues to find more joy in her life since discovering Anusara Yoga and sharing it with others.

Melissa Creighton began practicing yoga in 1995, and on her yogic path has experienced a variety of styles such as Integral, Anusara, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and other hatha-based yoga traditions. She has had the fortunate opportunity of attending trainings, intensives, and workshops taught by world-renowned teaches such as David Swenson, Tim Miller, David Garrigues, Mark Darby, John Friend, and more. The Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has become her main passion in recent years through its dynamics, specific breath-emphasis during the entire sequence of positions, and deep introspective nature, and she has been teaching based on this style since 2003. Of this, Melissa says, “The teachings can be found in many books, videos, etc., and although I incorporate these techniques into my classes what I really hope to spread is the joy, passion and those beginning steps toward Self-realization. I just love that as a teacher I get to be a witness as others breathe life into their own practices.” Originally from New York, Melissa recently relocated to Harrisonburg from Charlottesville , where she continues to teach regularly, and wishes to extend her love for this practice to you as well.

Email: mjcreighton@yahoo.com

Mary Straub is a certified Yoga Therapist, Kundalini Yoga instructor, pregnancy yoga instructor, workshop and retreat facilitator. She has a private practice in Yoga Therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, Massage Therapy, Reiki, Acupresssure and other healing modalities. She has degrees in Applied Health Science with a double major in Education and Public Health with a minor in Biology.

Mary is passionate about healing through body movement and holistic therapies in conjunction with western medicine. She enjoys educating her students and clients with science and physiological changes as well as energy flow, chakras, and emotional/mental healing techniques. Recently moved to Virginia, she is enthusiastic about beginning new classes, workshops and retreats. Program design is one of Mary's gifts as she continues her work in New Hampshire with her colleague who is a Doctor in Family medicine facilitating juice cleanse and detox programs combined with holistic therapy, yoga and meditation in a hospital based program. Mary has over 5 years creating and facilitating women's classes, programs and retreats. She believes women are in their strongest power when gathered together with the purpose of healing and self-growth. Mary feels blessed to be in Virginia in the company of the mountains, her partner Fernando, and such kind, heart-centered people.

Kundalini Yoga taught from Yogi Bhajan is a technology that is scientifically proven to heal the nervous system and endocrine system while calming and focusing the mind, and strengthening the body. The body begins to heal from the inside, bringing more lasting changes and advancement on the individualized healing journey. Through breath work, movement, yoga postures, mantras, mudras/hand positions, and chanting, Kundalini Yoga provides quick healing for the mind, body, and spirit.

email: info.ytt@gmail.com

Devon Sweeney's journey with yoga began in 2006, after a series of knee injuries ended a vigorous running routine. She found a new physical outlet in yoga that challenged and served her body and mind in a new way. In 2009, Devon completed a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Affiliate teacher training program in the style of Prana Flow, created by her teacher Shiva Rea. She has also received 50+ additional training hours studying at Kripalu with her beloved teacher Shiva, and has had the honor of being an assistant to her mentor Maria Garre training others to teach Prana Flow in Frederick, Maryland at a studio called Ananda Shala. Being a part of the Prana Flow tribe has liberated Devon's yoga practice, and has cultivated a desire to share this beautiful practice with others. Devon also has a background in Ayurvedic practice, which is the sister health science to yoga. While off the mat, Devon is an International Relations major at JMU.

Ashley Sutt is a Certified Nia White Belt. She completed her training in July of 2009 with Nia creator, Debbie Rosas in Portland, Oregon. Ashley first danced Nia in 2006, and felt an acceptance of her body and a joy of movement unknown to her before.

Since that first experience, Nia has played a vital role in Ashley's personal journey of self-exploration and transformation. As a professional counselor, she knew that integrating mind, body, spirit and emotion was necessary in order to maintain health and wellness, but she had never found a practice that actually addressed all of those areas simultaneously. Nia does just that!

In describing her Nia journey, Ashley shared the following:
My body AND my soul immediately loved moving in Nia's unique way. Nia gave me permission to move my body freely and invited me to ask my body how it wanted to move and then recommended that I honor my body's wisdom. Before Nia, my relationship with my physical body and with exercise was one of power, mistrust, striving and pain. Now, my relationship with my body is one of celebration, acceptance and trust. Nia's concepts of moving for comfort and joy, with an intention of creating healing, directly challenged my old ideas. I was accustomed to pushing my body beyond pain, running just a few more miles, and striving to change my body. Now, I live in my body with feelings of peace and acceptance. In addition, I feel surprisingly more strength, stamina, and agility than ever before. Practicing Nia provides me with a beautiful way to communicate with and experience my mind, body, spirit and emotions providing me with a fuller, more playful life.

I am grateful to Suzanne for creating such a beautiful space and community of men and women at The Center. I feel blessed by that gift, and I only hope that I can continue to grow more fully into my teaching ability so that I might more fully share the promise of Nia with our community.

email: asutt@planetcomm.net

Alexi Sherrill, a former professional dancer and current teacher of ballet at JMU, has been a certified Pilates Mat instructor since winter 2008. She is certified through Phi and has also studied extensively with practitioners of both the PhysicalMind Institute (“The Method”) and Balanced Body techniques. Alexi also teaches Pilates at the RMH Wellness Center and in her classes at JMU. She is about to head into an intensive Pilates Reformer certification program and has just expanded her yoga exploration by completing the first 20 hours of what she hopes will be her 200 hour quest to become an RYT. Alexi believes firmly in Pilates and yoga as valuable tools for creating powerful bodies that are injury resistant and well equipped to age gracefully. She is thrilled to have an opportunity to share her love of Pilates here at The Center!

email: lexi.sherrill@gmail.com