Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Teachers
"River Rock teachers are dedicated to informing, inspiring and empowering people to discover their unique path to a joyful, balanced, and harmonious life."
MOIRA ANDERSON MILLER, E-RYT, Director
Moira began studying yoga after the birth of her second child. A former dancer, her yoga practice brought her back to her body, and helped her find a nurturing spirit within. She has since become an enthusiastic student and teacher of yoga, as well as a certified Pilates instructor. Sharing her love of yoga with students at River Rock is her joy and her passion. "I am amazed by the healing energy, power and peace generated by the practice of yoga." She is honored to have studied Anusara yoga with Doug Keller, Raye Lynn Rath and John Friend. She has studied with Erich Schiffman, and finds his freedom based yoga inspirational. "I encourage students to uncover innate freedom, joy and enthusiasm in class, and in their lives." Moira completed Shiva Rea's Vinyasa Flow Teacher training in 2004. It continues to be a major influence on her teaching style. She is currently completing requirements for 500 hour advanced teacher training at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass. She incorporates Anusara yoga alignment, vinyasa breath and flow, as well as core strengthening and eclectic music into her classes. An English literature graduate of The Colorado College, she minored in Performing Arts/Dance, and is a certified Elementary school teacher. Moira is a Certified Children's Yoga Teacher through The Asheville Yoga Center in Ashevile, North Carolina.
NANCY BAKER RYT, CYT
Nancy's classes offer an exploratory approach to finding joy and ease through the practice of yoga. She invites students to build strength and find stillness using the postures of hatha yoga. She uses gentle restorative and vinyasa style flow to explore alignment from the inside out.
Nancy began teaching in 2001 when she left her career in the computer field and began her teacher training in the Anusara style with Doug Keller and Raye Lynn Rath. In the summer of 2004 a neck injury changed her practice and created an opportunity for her to explore her body more deeply through her practice. This new orientation toward inner body alignment led her to study with Mary Paffard, Angela Farmer and Victor Van Kooten. She has completed the Yoga Mendocino 650 hour teacher training program recognized by Yoga Alliance at the RYT 500 level. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis and a Master's Degree in Business Administration.
TANIA BAYNE, RYT, CYT
Tania is originally from Bulgaria and moved to the Gulf Coast in 2002. It was then that she first started practicing yoga with Moira. Her passion for Yoga was ignited, leading her on a journey of self-discovery. She is a Sivananda certified yoga teacher and a registered 200-hour teacher with Yoga Alliance. She received her certification at a one-month residential training program at the International Sivananda Vedanta Center in New York. In unison with Advaita Vedanta philosophy, she believes that there is unity in diversity and that fundamentally we are all One – deeply interconnected, with no boundaries. She has a degree in Counseling Psychology from USM where she has done extensive scientific research exploring the effects and benefits of yoga as an alternative intervention for stress reduction. Tania has a unique integrative psychosomatic approach and is fascinated by the healing power of yoga - on a physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual level. She is enjoying sharing her love for yoga and learning from her students.
“Yoga is a powerful tool for transforming ignorance into wisdom, awakening to your own potential, and ultimately, for your self- realization.”
KIM BOWMAN CYT (in children's yoga)
Kim has spent most of her life in her favorite town, Ocean Springs where she now lives with her amazing husband and beautiful little girl. She graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 1996 and went on to attend Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. There Kim studied Business with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship. She graduated with an Associates of the Arts in December of 2004. Kim currently works at Perry's Photography studio as a photography assistant. Kim discovered the joys of Yoga and Pilates while attending classes with Moira at The World Gym and River Rock Yoga Studio. She is certified in Piyo, Pilates/Yoga Fusion. Kim loves children and brings her enthusiasm and creativity to children's yoga classes while creating a secure environment to enhance learning, body awareness and self esteem. She is certified as a Children's Yoga Teacher through the Asheville Yoga Center in North Carolina.
ANITA BROOKS, RYT
Anita Brooks is originally from Washington, DC and has lived on the coast for 12 years. She is the president of her own company ASB Marketing, LLC. She began her yoga practice in January 2001 to help build strength and cope with back problems. She originally began her practice at the Local YMCA in Ocean Springs where she took class for six months. She then went on to begin her studies at Golden Om Yoga studio (formerly known as Mind and Body of Ocean Springs). Through her personal practice, classes and workshops with several national yoga teachers including Doug Keller, Raye Lynn Rath and K-Lea Gifford, Anita has refined and improved her yoga skills. Her focus is primarily in the Anusara yoga tradition.
SHAWN HOLLY, RYT
Shawn resides in Ocean Springs where she grew up and attended Ocean Springs High School. Upon graduation she attended USM and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies. She has two children, Amanda and Gregory. Shawn discovered Yoga in May of 2001, and has been a devoted student of Yoga ever since. Soon after beginning her practice, she entered a Teacher Training Program. She received her 200 hour registration from Yoga Alliance in 2004. She has studied with Master Yoga Teachers, Erich Schiffman, Doug Keller, and Raye Lynn Rath. Shawn's teachings bring her students to a deep sense of quiet and natural peace.
EILEEN IOFFREDO, RYT, CYT
Eileen is a certified Yoga Teacher in the tradition of Kripalu Yoga and is registered at the 200 hour teacher level with Yoga Alliance. Eileen discovered Yoga when she was looking for alternatives to her husband's high blood pressure and work related stress, and the muscle spasms her still experienced from having back surgery in 1998. It wasn't until 2 years into her practice of Yoga that she discovered the Kripalu Yoga tradition, which transformed her practice and deepened her lifes outlook. In August of 2005 Eileen also received her certification from Fun Fitness, LLC for Pilates Technique in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Level Mat classes. Eileen has a BS from Syracuse University in Construction Management, has been married to her husband Joe for 21 years, and has two daughters and two granddaughters living in NY.
HOPE LANDIS, RYT, CYT
Hope is a Sivananda certified yoga teacher and is a registered 200 hour teacher with Yoga Alliance. She received her certification at a one month training program at the Sivananda Ashram in upstate New York. She returned there the following year for one month to teach classes and practice Karma yoga. She felt a deep connection with the philosophy of Vedanta; that God is in "all". She believes that in our modern, busy lives we have disconnected ourselves from our true natures and that yoga is a precious tool to "bring us home to our truth". She incorporates classic yogic philosophy, pranayama, kundalini breathing, and the many different styles she has experienced over the years including studying with many of today's master yoga teachers: David Life and Sharon Gannon, David and Doug Swenson, Erich Schiffman, Judith Lassiter, and others.
"By changing ourselves one breath at a time....we can make the world a more loving place."
AMBER LASH, CYT
Amber Dawn Lash is from Pascagoula,Ms. She is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. She has taught yoga and pilates at Orion Gym in Oxford, Curves, and Baptist Health Plex. Amber has taught many forms of Yoga including pre-natal,Yoga for people with arthritis, power vinyasa, slow flow vinyasa and Pilates/Yoga fusion. Amber graduated from The Mississippi School for Math and Science in Columbus, MS in 1994. She lived in Oxford, MS for twelve years during and after her undergraduate studies. Amber has a degree in Psychology with a minor in art/ceramics. Amber is working toward her Master's in Secondary Education. She hopes to teach High School Biology, Ecology, Botany, and/or Environmental Science. Amber has three beautiful boys; Gus Joachim(7), Ollie Joachim(6), and Evan Joachim(4).
"I very much enjoy my yoga practice. I hope to see many friends, new and old, on the mat."
JEN OWEN, RYT, CYT
Jen moved to Mississippi in 1997 to pursue her PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi. She is originally from northern New York state and has also lived in Montana, Arizona and California. Jen began taking yoga in 2003 as an alternative for physical therapy for chronic back pain. Since then she has become passionate about Ashtanga yoga for its strengthening and meditative aspects.Jen is a certified 200 hour yoga teacher. She received her training with Debi Lewis at Joyflow Yoga in Jackson, MS. Outside of yoga, Jen is an avian researcher at the University of Southern Mississippi and an avid gardener.
HOLLY BOWMAN
Holly was born and raised in New Orleans. She began practicing yoga since 2000 because of recurring back pain and depression. She has found yoga to be extremely beneficial. The deepening of her practice has brought much joy into her life! She began studying with Shawn & Moira in 2005. Her outgoing personality helps to make her an exciting and inspiring teacher. Holly's sense of humor is always entertaining and down to earth. She encourages intense focus on breath during her classes. Holly is a certified Piyo teacher.
"Yoga has its roots in Indian thought, but its content is universal because it is about the means by which we can make the changes we desire in our lives." Sri T.K.V. Desikachar