I started my yoga journey back in college and have been floating in and out of my practice ever since. I did not get serious about my practice until injuries from years of marathon running started to take their toll on my body. Knowing I would have to give up my distance running, my hope was that yoga would fill the void. While practicing more often was an amazing outlet, I realized it was not enough so when the opportunity to go through teacher training showed up I knew I had to take it. During teacher training, Brianna encouraged us to teach all types of yoga but I knew Power Yoga was my home. I am a physical person who likes to work out so I like to teach a physically challenging class. When students leave my class, I hope they feel stronger than they did when they walked in and are able to leave behind whatever weighs them down. Off the mat, you will find me working, running (just not as far!), biking or walking my adorable dogs.

BA, MBA, K-12 Certified Teacher, ERYT200, ERYT500, YACEP

Julie has been practicing yoga for over 30 years.  She has a background in Hatha yoga with an emphasis on pranayama.  Outside of yoga, Julie is the president of a small foundation that supports the arts and sciences and she manages several rental properties. In addition, Julie is a gourmet cook and master baker.  A former performing arts teacher at the junior high level, Julie has the ability to pay close attention to all her students at the same time while creating a classroom environment that is both relaxing and challenging.

Julie joined Barefoot over 6 years ago and has become an integral part of the studio.  She teaches a number of classes of different styles.  As a part of the 200-hour teacher training staff, Julie teaches a unit on pranayama and breath integration.

She is always smiling and offers her knowledge to all who venture into the classroom.

E-RYT 200, CAP, CAHC, CPKT, BFA

Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, Tanja is a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (CAP); Ayurvedic educator, Bliss Treatment technician; certified registered yoga teacher; member of the faculty for Ayurveda studies, Yoga Teacher Training, at Heaven Meets Earth in Evanston, Illinois; member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and artist. Tanja has been an avid student of yoga and Ayurveda since 2005 with a keen interest in exploring this ancient and holistic system of harmonizing body, mind and spirit. Tanja teaches yoga, not just poses with humor, compassion and love. Influenced by her Iyengar Training she focuses on alignment and the therapeutic power of yoga and the influence of Ashtanga and Vinyasa links her poses together. Tanja’s knowledge and understanding of Ayurveda provides a tremendous support to her yoga teachings. She understands the unique needs of each student. She trained and was certified at Moksha (Chicago, IL) under Daren Friesen where she learned Hatha Yoga. She has assisted in 2 yoga teacher trainings under Daren Friesen. Tanja apprenticed under Gabriel Halpern, owner of Yoga Circle and student of BKS Iyengar where she learned Therapeutic Yoga in the Iyengar tradition and traveled to Mysore, India where she studied with Saraswathi, Pattabhi Jois daughter, to study Asthanga.

I am a 500-RYT Hatha Yoga Instructor and Certified Personal Trainer with over 2 decades as a Public Health professional. Yoga helps us find balance between ease and force. I help clients use their own breath while moving in and out of yoga poses to decrease the accumulated effects of stress-related wear and tear on the body. Combing over a decade of mindful based martial arts with a lifelong pursuit of yoga to offer instruction and guidance  leading to increased mobility and greater personal awareness. I personally practice daily to improve my balance, strength and flexibility as well as to improve mental focus, neuromuscular communication, heightened cardiorespiratory awareness and lymphatic drainage. Join me for a therapeutic approach to yoga.

Elizabeth and her husband are originally from Chicago, Illinois and moved to Tucson five years ago. After practicing yoga for several years Elizabeth decided to pursue her instructor certification in order to deepen her practice and share her personal yoga expression by teaching.   The thing I like best about yoga is it’s accessibility to everyone.  Anyone can find a style that works for them.

Yoga Alliance 200RYT

Chair yoga certification

When Elizabeth is not in the studio she can be found on a hiking trail or sail boating.

Elizabeth loves to make people smile and is continually focused on expanding her yoga practice by integrating fun, laughter, kindness, music and love along with mind, body and spirit.

Melissa strives for students to feel amazed by their yoga practice, meeting them where they are in their journey to improved balance, strength, flexibility, and calm. A former VP, figure skater, and race car driver, Melissa was introduced to yoga in 2012 as a way to manage stress and regain flexibility. Yoga delivered! Along with becoming RYT®200 certified at Barefoot Yoga School, she completed over 30 hours of additional training in restorative yoga, trauma sensitive yoga, and yoga for healthy aging. She also enjoys reading scientific studies about the benefits of yoga and sharing the information with others. She is available for private sessions in the Hatha, Gentle, Yin, and Restorative styles.

Trey began practicing yoga in 2016, and was amazed at how great it made him feel and how much it helped with anxiety. In 2017, he decided to expand his practice and completed a 200-hour teacher training through the Barefoot Studio School of Yoga. Trey and his family are from Georgia, but have found a second home in Tucson. He aims for his classes to be flowy and physical. When not at the studio, Trey likes running, working out, and playing with his three kids.

E-RYT 200

Originally an elementary school teacher, Liz began practicing yoga to lose weight and get into shape. Very quickly, a passion for yoga developed and she wanted to share that passion with others. Combining her love of teaching and of yoga, she received her 200 hour teacher training through Barefoot Studio. She enjoys teaching yoga to beginners because she understands the struggles of being new to yoga and of being out of shape. She has specialized studies in the areas of Yoga for Seniors, Chair Yoga, Yoga for Osteoporosis, and Yoga for Arthritis. She encourages people to practice yoga mindfully and safely, but also challenges them to advance their practice when they are ready. Also, she appreciates the peace and serenity that yoga brings to all aspects of her life and wants to share that with others.

Mel started practicing yoga in 2001 and was awarded the opportunity to travel the country practicing various types yoga while earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Special Education. Mel spent some years working with foster children and at risk families guiding them in their healing process often using yoga and breath to help people cope, when stress and illness led Mel to leave her profession and follow a nearly twenty year dream of becoming a yoga instructor. Mel received her 200 hour yoga certification in early 2019 and has been guiding others with passion and heart ever since.  Mel is passionate about music and yoga and uses her travels and training to bring compassion and empathy to her students on and off the mat.

I began my yoga journey sporadically at a gym it challenged my body but hadn’t connected the way it does today. An invitation to join in on a meditation workshop at Barefoot came in, and the space and vibe intrigued me. After a few classes, I was hooked. It felt like home; a space where I was accepted, supported, embraced.

Learning to connect my breath to my body truly began to improve my practice and overall quality of life. Suffering from a number of issues that at times can leave me stuck in bed, the difference I felt from yoga was incredible. I wanted to know WHY yoga worked for me.

As I took the 200-hour teacher training at Barefoot in 2015, I had no intention of teaching. As we completed our training I knew I wanted to share the bliss that you can attain from your practice. I have now been teaching for nearly 4 years and am grateful for every minute.

In any class that I teach, you can be sure that you will get a fully rounded practice that any level can enjoy. Modifications are always offered, as well as more challenging versions of asanas. I’m very informal and like to laugh. I aim to make all my students feel safe, comfortable, and welcome.

Hello, hello, my beautiful beings! I’m Nicole Mendoza. I have always been interested in the fields of beauty and wellness.

I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for over 10 years. It has been my passion to help others see the beauty they possess, inside and out. I have been blessed to witness the big impact little things can have.

When I was introduced to the life changing experience of yoga, I truly understood the depth of inner beauty, gentle strength, and the importance of balance. I fell in love. The fact that simple poses and breathwork can transform physical, emotional, and mental states is awe inspiring.

Yoga provides amazing benefits for everyone, body and soul. I love to see clients’ transformations, and my journey to assist that transformation continues to expand. I provide Reiki at the end of my classes to assist the healing of all four levels, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

I utilize my intuition to tailor the emphasis to the unique needs of each class. I hope to impart every participant with a sense of their own amazing energy.

I started my yoga journey around 18 years ago as an awkward, self-conscious middle school student in Minnesota. My aunt and uncle started taking me to an Iyengar studio in St Paul and little did I know how much that studio and those experiences would shape the path of my life later on. As I grew older, my practice ebbed and flowed, at times a dedicated daily ritual and at others only flavoring the edges of my life with little asana or meditation practice. In 2013 I was registered and committed to starting a yoga teacher training in Bend, Oregon when I became pregnant and put my training on hold. Moving back to Tucson, I discovered Barefoot Studio and happily completed my 200-hr YTT in June 2017. My personal practice and teaching style range anywhere from gentle meditation to funky flow. In my classes, I love incorporating music and creating a fun, friendly atmosphere. I am dedicated to growing as a yogi and grateful to be able to share the life-altering practice of yoga with others.

E-RYT 200 RYT 500, YACEP

Pam Ronstadt, E-RYT 200, 500, YACEP, began studying yoga at the suggestion of her doctor and began to immediately see the benefits of a regular yoga practice to her overall health and well-being. The desire to share the benefits of yoga and meditation with others led Pam into taking her 200-hour Yoga teacher training and growth intensive in 2009 and she began to share the practice as a teacher in May of 2010.  Her desire to deepen her knowledge lead her to her 300-hour teacher training at Barefoot Yoga in 2016. Pam has a deep respect for the history and culture of yoga and embraces yoga in its many styles, teaching traditional Hatha in its many forms, Power Flow, Yin and meditation. She regularly offers workshops and continuing education for other teachers and is constantly seeking to grow as both a student and teacher.  Pam brings a compassionate approach and, as a bookworm at heart, she also is constantly in study about the history, foundations and teachings of yoga, which she passes on to her students. For her, Yoga is more than just an asana practice but a way in which to live her life.

RYT 200

A former dancer and recovering runner, Kimberly fell heels over head in love with Yoga practice and philosophy. After completing the 200 hour teacher training program at Barefoot Studios, she became a certified RYT and discovered a desire to share her knowledge and practice with others. She continues training with Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga instructor, Ben Thomas, and with regular self-study, personal practice and group classes/workshops. She is thrilled to lead Yin, restorative, gentle, Hatha, Yoga stretch, and Iyengar-inspired posture deepening techniques. Kimberly takes pride in teaching to her students’ needs each session, learning from them, helping create understanding of their bodies and how they can nurture themselves through Yoga.

Susan began a regular Yoga practice in 2006, as a vehicle for physical strength, flexibility, and good health. Over time, the enriching benefits of Yoga multiplied and grew to encompass all aspects of her life, and inspired her to pursue teacher training. She is a 2011 graduate of The Arizona School of Yoga in the vinyasa flow style, and a RYT-200 with the Yoga Alliance. She teaches challenging, nurturing and light-hearted classes locally and out-of-state. Her belief is that in order to grow and change, we must first understand and accept where we are. In addition to practicing Yoga, Susan enjoys spending time with family, friends and pets, hiking, gardening, kite boarding, stand up paddling, cooking, reading and traveling.