Adelle Brownlee Brewer Owner, The Synergy Studio, Nia Instructor & Reiki Sensei Adelle Brownlee Brewer is a nationally certified Black Belt Nia instructor, Reiki Sensei, and Professional Fiber Artist. She has been dancing and teaching in the field of art for over 30 years. She also offers Nia workshops and presentations throughout the US and Mexico, as well as demonstrations for companies and special groups. In addition to her regular Nia Classes, Adelle works with patients in pain management, women dealing with sexual trauma and eating disorders, as well as working individually, for those who want a more personal experience. "Teaching Nia to people in special situations has been rewarding, as well as challenging. Seeing smiles on the faces of people who have been afraid to move, or have felt disconnected from their body, makes every class a true joy for me. We shimmy, kick, sway, punch, laugh and sing our way to health!" Adelle can be reached at adellebrewer@aol.com.

Brenda Black Nia Instructor Brenda Black is a Blue Belt Nia instructor who has not stopped dancing since her first class five years ago. Brenda brings to Nia 20 years of experience as a Physical Therapist, having worked in a variety of settings with individuals of all ages and abilities. She also brings to Nia athleticism derived from years of physical challenges including kayaking, mountain biking, backpacking and rock climbing, and creativity through her work as a ceramic artist. For Brenda, Nia is "a joyful experience of being fully in the body in a way that few experiences in our lives can compare. The opportunity to express masculine and feminine qualities through movement has been very healing in my experience of Nia. I am equally drawn to the expression of spirit inherent in Nia; the magic that is created through integration of movement and music." Her approach is both athletic and playful, with classes focused on movement, body awareness, joyful expression and openness to possibility. Brenda can be reached at blackbird814@hotmail.com.

Karen Barbee Adkisson Belly Dance Instructor Karen Barbee Adkisson began studying belly dancing at the age of 10. Over three decades later, Karen has developed a teaching methodology for this ancient dance form based on technical precision, soulful innovation, and cultural respect. Having studied and performed in Egypt and Lebanon, Karen is now in demand to present her style of belly dance instruction to students all over the United States, Canada, and South America. Karen has operated Karavan Belly Dance Productions for over 20 years, directed numerous staged productions of Middle Eastern Dance, and has worked with some of the most highly acclaimed musicians in the business. Known for her clear and precise explanation of this complex form of movement, Karen has produced several instructional DVDs of this dance and has trained some of the country's leading professional dancers. She now teaches group classes at the Synergy Studio and is available for private technical work and performance coaching. Visit her website at www.karavansa.com to see a schedule of her performances and workshops, video clips, and other information on belly dance. Karen can be reached at karavansa@aol.com.

Charlotte Jorgensen is a Black Belt Nia instructor and has been teaching Nia for 7 years. She has been a fitness instructor since 1986 and is certified as a Group Exercise Leader through the Cooper Clinic in Dallas.  Charlotte has found that the Nia mind-body-spirit approach to fitness holds a wonderful element of healing. With NIA, she has increased her flexibility, strength, creative expression and body awareness. She brings this awareness to her classes. Charlotte is currently teaching Nia at The Synergy Studio and at Spectrum Health Club at Rogers Ranch.

Charlotte can be reached at ckerrj@grandecom.net

Emilie Rogers began her yoga practice 25 years ago with her first teacher, Esther Vexler. In 1999 she became certified in the Iyengar method, and is currently the only certified Iyengar yoga teacher in San Antonio. Besides teaching at Synergy, she teaches at St. Philip's College, University of the Incarnate Word, and University Presbyterian Church's SoL Center.

Emilie can be reached at texyoga@sbcglobal.net.

Esther Vexler has been widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the field of Yoga. She was one of the first Yoga teachers in San Antonio and has mentored and inspired many people who have pursued Yoga as a practice and a profession. We are lucky to have her at The Synergy Studio!

Esther can be reached at chatarra@aol.com.

Jan Jarboe Russell is a Brown Belt Nia instructor. Jan uses Nia in her own work as a writer and journalist to encourage free self-expression. Her Nia classes focus on healing the body - and the creative mind - through physical movement. Jan teaches regular classes at Synergy Studio. She has also led "Writing From the Body" Nia workshops at Gemini Ink, San Antonio's literary organization.

Jan can be reached at janjarboerussell@aol.com.

Jane Clanton Bick, M.Ed. is a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique with over twenty years of teaching experience in the Technique. She received her training from the renowed master Alexander teacher, Marjorie Barstow, taught for over fifty years. Ms. Bick has taught workshops around the U.S. and in France and currently runs a practice in Austin, where she has taught since 1993.

Jane Bick can be reached at redirection@austin.rr.com.

Jane first began teaching classes in health and fitness in 1984. Over the past two decades she has had the privilege of teaching in a variety of settings. In addition to spending five years at a world class health resort she has instructed classes for hospital wellness programs, corporate fitness centers, senior living facilities, health clubs and studios in Tucson, Chicago, Dallas and Manchester, England.

Jane prides herself in continuing her education through workshops and self-study in the areas of yoga, biomechanics of strength training and general fitness. She holds a Masters of Science degree in health education with a minor in studies in aging. She is an Affiliated Anusara Yoga instructor and her Hatha Yoga certification is nationally registered with the Yoga Alliance. She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

In addition to teaching yoga at The Synergy Studio, Jane is also a college instructor and personal trainer. Visit her website at www.twohearts.net.

Cynthia McSwain is a graduate of the Esther Vexler Yoga School here in San Antonio. She has a Yoga Alliance 200 international certification and has taught yoga at the University of the Incarnate Word and The Synergy Studio. She is also a Professor Emeritus at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where she was a professor for many years.
To balance her immersion in the academic life, Cynthia has been an active athlete for over 30 years, lifting weights, swimming, riding bikes, running and playing golf. Returning to her original home in San Antonio five years ago, Cynthia began intensively studying and practicing yoga. Her teaching style integrates the theory and practice of yoga into a class designed to enhance physical fitness and psychological wellbeing. This balance is the magic and beauty of yoga. Yoga is also life-changing and a great deal of fun!

Cynthia can be contacted at mcswite@sbcglobal.net.

Joanie Brooks is a nationally certified Nia Black-Belt instructor from San Antonio, Texas. Joanie began her Nia path in 1994 and has obtained all her Nia belts (white, blue, brown and black) under the study of Debbie & Carlos Rosas, the co-founders of the Nia Technique. Joanie's Nia classes focus on developing student's self-awareness & body wisdom through movement to promote fitness, strength, power, creativity and personal growth. Her mission is to share the joy of Nia and to help others reclaim their body's natural way of moving. "As a teacher of Nia, joy of movement and truly caring for people are my motivations. I believe we are as young as our spirit allows us to be. It is through an open mind and a true connection to joy that we can free, strengthen and heal our body, mind and spirit. Nia has awakened my inner child, and has made me feel timeless, ageless and weightless. I now stay fit by dancing, laughing, skipping and playing on the floor."

In addition to her Nia classes, Joanie offers Nia workshops, presentations, and has used Nia in therapy groups and with cancer rehab patients. She also offers personalized Nia 1 on 1 conditioning sessions on the principles and practice of Nia for students and Nia teachers at her home studio.  Contact Joanie for schedule and session rates.

Joanie can be reached at joaniebrooks@prodigy.net.

Competition was a way of life for Meg, dating back to childhood when being one of nine children left few other options. "I didn't know that peace was one of them!" Athletics was a way for Meg to exhibit her strength and to be noticed among the crowd. Many years of competitive sports, however, will take its toll. A spinal injury and severe back pain ended what had been a life-long hobby and career, but opened the door for a whole new way of living. Meg chose yoga to rehabilitate her body after her injury, and found that yoga not only heals the body, but also the mind and spirit. "Yoga becomes our way of being in the world...a way of peace and strength, combined."

Meg can be reached at mstecher@mindspring.com.

Nancy Jorgensen is a lifelong San Antonio resident. She has extensive experience in yoga, ballet, cardio, weight training and nutrition. Nancy has studied under Yogafit and has received training from the International Sports Science Association.

Nancy can be reached at bluline4741@att.net.

Carolyn began a passionate pursuit of the Pilates method as a student in 2002. In 2004, she was invited into an apprenticeship with Glen Fargo at the Pilates Center Of Naples. An instructor since 2005, Carolyn has attended West Coast Pilates workshops, attained an Apprentice Teacher Certificate with the prestigious Ron Fletcher Program Of Study, was certified by American Fitness Professionals and Associates and completed a comprehensive teacher's program at the Pilates Conservatory with Master Teacher, Pat Guyton. In early 2008, Carolyn achieved the Certified Pilates Teacher (PMA-CPT™) designation from the Pilates Method Alliance, a  certification held by only 15 teachers in Texas.
 
A former beauty industry professional and public speaker, Carolyn now conducts Pilates For Stylists courses as Texas approved continuing education for hairstylists. Carolyn also speaks about the benefits of Pilates to medical support groups, charitable organizations, professional associations, corporations, church groups and women's clubs.
 
She is committed to providing Pilates clients with a quality, transforming encounter every time. Carolyn is a highly experienced teacher in Mat and Pilates equipment and apparatus. Along with Mat classes and workshops led at The Synergy Studio, Carolyn teaches private equipment sessions in the Pilates Room At Synergy. She also teaches at Studio C Fitness Pilates in Boerne.
 

Carolyn can be reached at pilatesroomsynergy@gmail.com

Karen Gray, RYT, was first introduced to yoga as a teenager and began to study and practice in earnest about 15 yrs ago. She believes that yoga can meet you where you live, whether your needs are purely physical or deeply spiritual.
Through the use of appropriate posture, breathwork and meditative practice individual goals are met. Classes emphasize self-healing and tools for transformation.

Karen received her 200 hr yoga alliance approved training in 2001 and is now studying Viniyoga in a 500 hr program, and has the aspiration of continuing with her studies to become a yoga therapist.

For further information, Karen can be reached at karengray1650@att.net or 287-7026.

Suzanne Wright Crain is an artist, playworker and an authorized teacher of Continuum Movement. She has facilitated the San Antonio Movement Group since it's inception in 1999.

Suzanne can be contacted at swcsprouts@aol.com. See her web site at www.thecosmicbody.com.

Robin Getter

Robin Getter has taught African and Afro-Jazz Dance for 20 years, most recently through her school Robin Getter School of Rhythms and Dance in operation since 1993.Her studies include three trips to West Africa, two summers at the Katherine Dunham Technique Seminar, Alvin Ailey American School of Dance, Perry Mansfield in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, plus numerous workshops, classes and camps all over the US including 6 years at Bantu Camp in Santa Fe New Mexico. She specializes in traditional dance and choreography from Guinea, West Africa studying most closely with Abdoulaye Camara since 1999 and Fara Tolno since 2001.

Robin is also a certified Feldenkrais® practitioner, a somatic modality including classes called Awareness Through Movement® and individual lessons which strive to improve flexibility, posture and movement efficiency. Additionally, she is a certified Professional Ski Instructor of America, has taught skiing at the Steamboat Ski Resort since 1981 and was nominated for Ski Instructor of the Year by Ski Magazine in 2001.

Robin can be contacted at gogetter@springsips.com.

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth began dancing ballet at age 15, and at age 19 she studied and performed in several ballets with the Ballet Austin dance company. She discovered Flamenco and after graduating from The University of Texas in Austin, she moved to Seville, Spain where she perfected Flamenco for seven years. There she also discovered Integral Yoga and Belly dancing and performed in several Moroccan establishments. Elizabeth noticed the important influences of Belly dance as well as Spanish dance and began incorporating the two dance forms in her own choreography.She toured Canada in 2003, as the guest Flamenco soloist in "Spain Meets Canada II" under the direction of Kari Alba. She taught several intensive Flamenco workshops and realized that teaching beginner students was not only rewarding, but it also influenced her to create another way of teaching Flamenco without wearing shoes and aggravating the joints.

Elizabeth holds her Pilates mat certification with Polestar Education and has now created the Andalusi Dance Class, which combines Pilates, Belly dance and Flamenco to promote health through movement.

Elizabeth can be contacted at risaexplosiva@hotmail.com.

Nationally registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance began her yoga studies with Mary Frances Weathersby (Wellspring yoga)in 1985. Merritt considers her yoga background to be eclectic with her students ranging from age 3 to 90. She received her first teacher certification from The Yoga House in Austin, TX, 1996 and then from The Yoga Institute in Houston, 2000. She is a certified YogaAway instructor (Gary Kraftsow)  and has  studied and taken workshops from various teachers including John Friend, Gary Kraftsow, Rod Stryker, Angela Farmer and Victor Von Kopen, Donna Farhi, Eric Schiffman, and the YogaYoga teacher training staff in Austin. She continues to enjoy yoga workshops whenever possible and maintains the attitude that we are all teachers and we are all students.    

Interwoven in this yoga path has been a keen interest in healing. Her background and certifications include: TM and other forms of  meditation, massage therapy, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Thai yoga massage, cranial-sacral therapy, Body Talk, Soul Memory Discovery, Jin Shin Jyutsu, CSL facilitator (Bill Bauman) and most recently brings Chi Gong to her practice. She has also been a long-time professional astrologer (east/west) with clients nationwide. She facilitates healing through yoga, spiritual counseling, private sessions, classes and workshops.   For additional information please visit: www.yogaiapeace.com or call 210 820-3616

Diedre LaCour

Dierdre can be contacted at lacour69@hotmail.com.

Kelly began practicing yoga in 1993 and has been instructing since 2001. She is also a pilates, senior fitness and aquatic fitness instructor, and loves to combine her two great loves: yoga and water. She has been a musician all of her life and loves to, as Robert Shaw says, "move the way the music makes you feel." Though she was blessed with natural vocal talent, she was always more clumsy than graceful when it came to dance and movement. Yoga opened a whole new world to her as it fine-tuned her awareness of self--both kinesthetically and spiritually. With new grace of body and mind, she loves to share the freedom of movement, enhanced quality of life and sheer joy that yoga can bring.

The Synergy Studio is excited to have Kelly subbing for us in our Yoga classes!

Kelly can be contacted at rkmelville@earthlink.net.

Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu is a physician and yoga therapist. He has practiced yoga for 16 years with senior Iyengar yoga teacher Sri H.S. Arun in Bangalore, India. Sreedhara attended the SVYASA, a university of yogic sciences in India, and later taught the yoga therapy instructor's course at the center. His medical background has aided him in combining the modern scientific understanding of anatomy and physiology with the ancient practice and philosophy of yoga. Sreedhara is a student of Vedanta, has studied Sanskrit, and he is also a highly acclaimed Indian classical dancer.

The Synergy Studio is honored to have Sreedhara as part of our Yoga School Faculty.

Sreedhara can be contacted at Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu