Duane Utech, RYT, Owner, UpDog Yoga
Duane (and his late mom, “Babsee”), began studying yoga with his first teacher, Brij Mohandas Chhabra, at the Bharatiya Temple in Troy, in the mid-90’s. Since then, he has traveled and studied extensively, and is proud to include as his “teachers” Michael Johnson, Stephanie Howarth, David Swenson, David Life, Sharon Gannon, Ana Forest, Jonny Kest and Jenna Aviva Lee, among many others. A “drop-out” of the high-pressure automotive corporate world in 2008, Duane now devotes all his time to practicing, teaching, running UpDog, and caring for his adorable yogi-in-training, Clifford.

Her teaching efforts are to provide a holistic approach to yoga which includes asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, ayurvedics and nutrition.

She is heavily influenced by contemporary teachers who include Angela Farmer, Erich Schiffmann, Donna Farhi, Judith Lasater, Deepak Chopra and Andrew Weil. 
 

Tracy Flynn, has been a yoga enthusiast since 1990 when she walked into the practice room stressed out and with a mind run wild. She walked out a changed person and hasn't stopped practicing since. She began teaching in 1999 when she left the corporate world in order to more fully integrate her passions with her daily life.

Her current favorite practices are viniyoga and kundalini yoga. Viniyoga emphasizes movement following the breath and individual adaptation of yoga postures, and her teaching follows this lineage. Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan is called the "yoga of awareness." Other strong influences have been Iyengar yoga and hatha yoga as taught in Rochester for many years by her mentor, Mariana Smith.

Tracy has recently completed a two-year, 500-hour teacher training program with the internationally-known viniyoga teacher, Gary Kraftsow, with whom she has studied since 2000.

You are enough.  You are lovable, and worthy.  You have the power to decrease all suffering.  

What Pam learns from her own practice is also what she shares with her students.  It is when we practice at the precipice, "the edge" of our asanas, that we make space for real change. We can increase strength, flexibility, and peace in body and mind.  We can stop the chronic habits that defeat us.

Pam has 4 children and have been married 17 years. Her first experience with yoga was with a Reebok Video after the birth of her second child in 1996; she has been "hooked" ever since. 
Yoga has helped shape her body and increase the awareness that "everything is going to be just fine...." 

Steve Guth, PhD, CYT, is a scientist and yogi. Steve received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Tulane University (1984). He has been teaching yoga and stress management for over 10 years. His life was transformed by a profound mystical experience in 1973 which directed him to a life-long path of yoga.

He began a self-taught yoga practice, three times daily. Two years later he began instruction in classical ashtanga yoga under the guidance of Dr. Vijay Pratap, founder and director of the SKY Foundation and the Yoga Research Society in Philadelphia. His studies included classic yoga texts, principles of yoga, postures, cleansing, breathing, sense withdrawal, mantra, and meditation. He has studied extensively with Dr. Antonio DeNicolas (philosophy), John Schumacher (Iyengar), and Jonny Kest (ashtanga-vinyasa).The late Swami Digambarji of Lonavala, India, is his revered spiritual teacher.

Steve believes you are born with everything you need in life.
His yoga is simple:
Follow your breath. Your breath will take you inward.
Love your breath. Your breath will open the heart.
Concentrate on the breath. The breath will awaken the mind.
Be one with the breath ... what breath? what mind?

While seeking out teachers Melissa found UpDog Yoga and the teachings of Michael Johnson which resonated with her spirit and so she instantly signed up for his teacher training. Based in Ashtanga and vinyasa, Melissa continues to seek out wonderful teachers and follows the teachings of Sharon Gannon, David Life, Seane Corn, and Shiva Rea. She really loves a flowing vinyasa style and in her classes emphasizes the unity of body, mind and spirit created through pranayama, asana and meditation.

Peggy Klauer, ERYT, Peggy brings a beautiful balance of intensity and grace by way of breath and postures to each therapeutic class, thus allowing one’s own healing powers to inspire each practice. She teaches with joy and compassion. Her joy has been teaching for ten years and she continues her ongoing studies of the science and philosophies of yoga. Upon leaving her class you will have touched on your freedom ~ inner balance.

Patricia is a certified Pre-K - 8th grade teacher and has her ZA in early childhood. She teaches in the Rochester Schools. She chose to become a yoga instructor to share the gift of yoga with others. Patricia has a very calming presence and enjoys teaching the Basic I and Basic II classes.

Shelley Smith, RYT, believes in the power of yoga to positively transform one’s mind, body, and soul, the effects of which benefit not only the student, but also all those around them. She is inspired to joyfully share the infinite benefits of yoga with as many beings as possible to promote peace, love, and positive change in the world.

Shelley has been fortunate to find beautiful and inspiring teachers in Michael Johnson, Matthew Darling, and many others she meets along the path. She has had the opportunity to study anatomy and yin yoga with Paul Grilley, and to practice ashtanga yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Soon she will make the pilgrimage to Mysore, India, to deepen her understanding of ashtanga yoga and learn directly from the source to carry on the lineage as it is intended.

In 2008, Shelley created PLAY Yoga Magazine (playyogamagazine.com), a free resource devoted to bringing our local yoga community together and celebrating the study, practice, and lifestyle of yoga in Metro Detroit. Join her for yoga classes and special events that will open your mind, challenge your body, and bring a lasting sense of peace and joy to your world!

Meaghan Zeoli started her journey of yoga seven years ago and has watched her life and the lives of others blossom. In 2006 she decided to share her love of yoga and, under the guidance of Michael Johnson, became a certified instructor with the Yoga Alliance. She believes that the benefits of yoga are universal, transcending all age barriers. Meaghan has developed classes specific for teens and in 2008 became a Yoga Ed teacher for grades K-8. She has studied at length with Mira Shani and the Venerable Lobsang Chukyi to deepen her study of yoga philosophy. Her wish is that all beings see the beauty inside of themselves and others. Be present to the world around you and you will find clarity.