Jackie was born and raised in South Africa, where her lifelong passion for movement began at the age of five through dance. After relocating to the United States in 1987, she continued her studies in dance, physical theatre, and the Alexander Technique. Since 1989, Jackie has been teaching creative movement, dance, aerobics, and yoga, sharing her deep understanding of the body and breath with students of all levels. A certified instructor in Hatha Yoga, Asanas, and Pranayama, Jackie integrates her diverse background into classes that are both enriching and accessible. Her teaching style reflects a harmonious blend of movement and mindfulness, inspired by over three decades of experience and her long-time practice of Jyoti Meditation, which she began in 1988. Jackie’s classes offer a gentle, introspective approach that encourages inner reflection and connection to the self. “The Secret Garden,” as she calls it, represents the place of love and complete bliss that resides within each of us , a sanctuary we can access at any time by stilling the mind and awakening the spirit.

Jackie was born and raised in South Africa, where her lifelong passion for movement began at the age of five through dance. After relocating to the United States in 1987, she continued her studies in dance, physical theatre, and the Alexander Technique. Since 1989, Jackie has been teaching creative movement, dance, aerobics, and yoga, sharing her deep understanding of the body and breath with students of all levels. A certified instructor in Hatha Yoga, Asanas, and Pranayama, Jackie integrates her diverse background into classes that are both enriching and accessible. Her teaching style reflects a harmonious blend of movement and mindfulness, inspired by over three decades of experience and her long-time practice of Jyoti Meditation, which she began in 1988. Jackie’s classes offer a gentle, introspective approach that encourages inner reflection and connection to the self. “The Secret Garden,” as she calls it, represents the place of love and complete bliss that resides within each of us , a sanctuary we can access at any time by stilling the mind and awakening the spirit.

With a background in dance, Kristen began her yoga journey at the age of 15 during a dance workshop. The class was more than just physical exercise, it awakened her awareness of body movement, internal energy, and the energy surrounding her. From that moment, she was captivated. At 18, Kristen was introduced to deep meditation through a local meditation group, further expanding her connection to mind, body, and spirit. Over the years, practicing yoga and meditation with a variety of teachers, through all stages of her life and both of her pregnancies, has brought her balance, strength, and inner peace. In 2017, when her second child experienced colic, Kristen turned to the study of children’s yoga and meditation to support her baby and help her family navigate this challenging time. This inspired her to earn her Children’s Yoga Teacher Certificate and complete her RYT-500, deepening her expertise and teaching skills. For the past five years, Kristen has been teaching private yoga classes for children and adults, tailoring her approach to meet the unique needs, bodies, and life stages of each student. With an energetic passion for yoga, she believes wholeheartedly that there is a practice for everyone, and that yoga can benefit every body, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I started yoga at home in 2011 using TV programs and DVD’s because I had lost a sense of physical balance. I started attending classes at Art of Balance Yoga shortly after it opened in January 2015 and found more than the regaining of my physical balance. I also found mental awareness, flexibility, and more strength than I’ve ever had before in a non-competitive and supportive community. I completed my RYT-200 Yoga Teacher Training at Art of Balance Yoga in June 2018. My goal as a teacher is to share a class with you that is creative and playful but purposeful and that allows you to take away a sense of balance and renewal. We practice as individuals, adapting the practice to be our own, with a group of kindred spirits. Practicing yoga we are centered within ourselves, yet interacting with others just as we need to be when we leave the studio.

Founder, Director and Lead Trainer of yoga teachers at Heal Me Yoga and Wellness Center classes. Learn to heal yourself through the science of yoga so that you can through your own experience help others to heal themselves.

Founder, Director and Lead Trainer of yoga teachers at Heal Me Yoga and Wellness Center classes. Learn to heal yourself through the science of yoga so that you can through your own experience help others to heal themselves.