 Becky Crigger, Co-Director
Becky has always loved to teach. After earning her B.A. in English at the University of Virginia in 1999, she spent time working in both public and private schools in Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Virginia. She furthered her studies in education at Vanderbilt University, earning a masters degree in secondary education. It was during her stressful first year as a full-time public school teacher that Becky discovered Hot Yoga at the Hot Yoga Studio in Virginia Beach. She had practiced yoga before in Nashville, Tennessee while in graduate school, but she had never before ventured into a Hot Yoga class. The first class terrified her, as she felt overwhelmed by the heat, but after leaving the room and heading back home, she realized that she had never in her life felt so calm, refreshed, and revitalized. She began attending Hot Yoga classes as much as she could and eventually took a month off to attend Jimmy Barkan's teacher training course in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Becky has been teaching yoga since November 2003 and has worked in yoga studios in Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, and Nashville, Tennessee. She has also taught yoga to elementary students at Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach and the Williamsburg Montessori School. She is a registered yoga teacher with the National Yoga Alliance and is currently working to earn her 500-hour advanced teacher certification through Yoga Source in Richmond. Becky hopes that bringing the Hot Yoga series to Williamsburg will enhance the yoga community and bring about an increase in physical, mental, and spiritual well-being for all who participate in the practice!
 Missy Kerner, Co-Director
Missy has been studying and working in the fitness field for over 10 years. She began her career as a division I athlete for the George Mason University Women's Lacrosse team. She furthered her studies at Appalachian State University where she earned her degree in Health Promotion and Wellness with a minor in Nutrition. Upon graduation she completed an internship with World Instructor Training Schools where she taught Anatomy and Physiology to those getting Aerobic and Personal Training certifications. It was then she became certified in both of those fields. She moved on to work in the field of physical therapy where she gained knowledge in the rehabilitation process. The culmination of all her experiences and education would spark her interest in Pilates. She became certified from the Pilates Certification Center in 2003. She continued to further her education by obtaining a higher level certification in 2004. In 2005 she obtained her Reformer certification from the same center. She is an avid runner and exercise enthusiast, having completed her first marathon in 2005 and followed it up with two additional marathons that same year. She believes that Pilates has had a tremendous impact on her core strength and flexibility both of which are extremely important in distance running. She looks forward to working with clients at all levels and spreading her love for Pilates to the Williamsburg area.
Michelle Schmitt - Yoga Instructor
Michelle began yoga practice at the age of 13 and continued practice throughout her life as an adjunct to high impact fitness activities. She has attended classes throughout the US and Europe over the years in the traditions of Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Integral...As yoga began to displace the monotony of the gym, Michelle discovered Hot Yoga in Becky's first Williamsburg class....initially balking at the heat, Michelle never missed a class and became hooked on the healing and detoxifying feelings obtained from class, not to mention the aerobic stamina and personal strength! It was hot yoga that finally motivated Michelle to take the step to teacher certification and she received her certification last summer in Hot Yoga..By August of this year, she will obtain 200 hour RYT certification under the guidance and wisdom of famed American yoga teacher, Doug Swenson.
When not practicing yoga, Michelle can be found on a bosu or rebounder, sewing or gardening, homeschooling her two children, Alexandra and Connor, being golf-wife to hubby Bob, tending to critters (3 dogs and a cat), and working as an ICU nurse at Williamsburg Community Hospital. The internal mantra Michelle holds dear, "Live with intention, remember to breathe,practice kindness, and let go, life is what it is."
 Norma Hendrix, Yoga Instructor
Norma is a yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance. Her philosophy on teaching is to create a non-competitive, meditative atmosphere that honors each person physically, emotionally and spiritually. She works hard to encourage students to honor where they are in their practice, so that they will be safe and healthy while growing forward. You will often hear her say, "Honor your body, be where you are, and be okay with that place".
Norma has oceans of heartfelt gratitude to her original yoga teachers. She holds strong to the teaching that the aim of yoga is to create an easeful body, peaceful mind, and useful life. In addition, Norma leads workshops on different aspects of yoga and yoga philosophy. She has a real passion for yoga and journal writing for self-discovery. Be sure to watch our web-site for upcoming workshops.
Norma is also a certified Hypnotherapist with the National Guild of Hypnotists and would be happy to work with you to help you make your life the best it can be. She enjoys reading, writing, dancing and family time. She has been happily married for 18 years and is the mother of 2 teenage boys that are her real life gurus.
 Nancy Jadatz, Yoga Instructor
Nancy was raised on a farm in King and Queen, Virginia. After initially pursuing a career as an art historian and elementary school art teacher, Nancy decided to follow her life-long passion for fitness. Through a combination of natural talent and a farmer's work ethic, she became a national-level competitive cyclist, training and racing across the country. "I first experienced yoga as an extension of my cycling training program. I soon found that it gave me an inner peace, calmness, and level of confidence I had never experienced in other areas of my life."
Nancy soon began to dedicate more time to her practice and even began teaching yoga two years ago. Since then, her interest in yoga has blossomed. In the past two years, she has attended numerous yoga and anatomy workshops, with the likes of Paul Grilley and Glen Black, and received her 200-hour teacher's certification through Yoga Alliance.
Nancy is now fully dedicated to bringing the power of yoga to others. "There is nothing more enjoyable than sharing my enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience to foster greater health, peace, and harmony in my students." Her creative sequencing awakens the body and quiets the mind. And while she teaches with focus and purity, she is very light-hearted and approachable.
When she's not practicing yoga, Nancy still rides her bike in the Tidewater area. Her other interests include gardening, nutrition, and relaxing with her husband and dog at her home on the York River.
Susan Walkley, Yoga Instructor and Anatomy Workshops
Susan has studied and worked with the human body in many ways. Since 1994 she has been a licensed massage therapist, specializing in deep tissue, medical and prenatal massage. Her specialty in prenatal massage led to work as a doula, childbirth educator and infant massage instructor. These experiences in the health care field and as an anatomy teacher inspired her to attend graduate school in medical anthropology. While in school, Susan also became a personal trainer and Pilates instructor. Since 1999, she has taught anatomy and anthropology classes to college students and weekend anatomy workshops to yoga students, Pilates teachers, massage therapists, artists and the interested public. In writing her dissertation on the variety of treatments for low back pain, she was able to combine all of her varied experiences. Susan recently moved to Virginia and has been appreciating the charms of Williamsburg. She values her personal yoga and movement practices as a way to stay centered and mindful of the present moment. She believes in the quote: "When the mind is free of unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life." Her website is www.susanwalkley.com.
 Regina Owens, Yoga Instructor
Regina became involved with her yoga studies 6 years ago while raising her two beautiful boys, ages 8 and 11.
In September of 2006, Regina was introduced to Body Balance by her sister-in-law, who attended some of the hot classes. Upon making a commitment to the practice herself, Regina decided to take it a step further in fulfilling her passion to become a certified yoga instructor. In April 2007 she received her 200-hour RYT certifictaion in Chesapekae, Virginia and is registered with the Yoga Alliance.
Regina enjoys Ashtanga and Vinyasa. Some of her favorite asanas are inversions and hip openers. Regina plans to continue her education in pursuit of her 500 RYT.
Regina and her husband, Gil, have just completed the construction of their new home on the York River in Gloucester, Virginia. In her free time she enjoys trips to New York with her mother, shoe shopping, fishing and lounging on the dock with her family. Stress free is the best key. Namaste.
 Ceil Wellings, Pilates Instructor
Ceil has responded to life after forty by setting personal goals and then focusing on the process of getting there. She reached her first goal in 2003, when she graduated from Wheaton College in Massachusetts with a license to teach. The process of reaching for her degree was an exciting venture. However, three years of carrying 30 pounds of books resulted in low back pain. As a result, Ceil decided to take another look at Pilates, a discipline that her daughter had introduced to her.
After attempting to do Pilates at home through books and DVDs, Ceil set her next goal, to one day teach Pilates. During her first lesson at Body Balance Studio, Ceil realized that her instructor, Missy Kerner, had implemented each of the Pilates principles within the array of movements. Within that
process, Missy connected those principles, such as precision and control, to the use of individual muscles. With each lesson, Ceil felt a strong motivation to teach the true Pilates Method and with Missy’s coaching is now putting that motivation into action.
Along with the disappearance of her back pain, Ceil’s Pilates practice has made personal improvements in other areas as well. In addition to an increase in strength and flexibility, Ceil enjoys a heightened sense of body awareness as well as corrected posture and alignment. Now, after obtaining her certification from the Pilates Certification Center in 2006, she teaches others, and her enthusiasm is nourished as each person becomes aware of her or his own advances.
Ceil and her husband moved to Williamsburg in 2003. They find relaxation in taking leisurely walks in the historic area and look forward to their trips up north to visit with their grown children. Ceil is ever so thankful to them all for their support and encouragement as she continues with her process of "getting there." |
