Teachers

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We have exceptional staff here at the Bindu. Scroll down for detailed information about each of our talented teachers.

Click here to see information about our exceptional wellness team as well!

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Kelley Gardner
Sari Weston
Patti Boug
Lisa Tendler
Sally Phillips
Melisa Stivaletti
Jessica Bowles
Kathy Gardner
Emily Carper

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Kelley Gardner

Kelley Gardner is a certified Anusara Yoga instructor and has been practicing and studying yoga since 1989. She is an enthusiastic teacher of yoga and its relevance to skillful daily living. Kelley has studied extensively under the guidance of John Friend and many other Anusara teachers since 2001. She has also had the pleasure of diving into the deep study of yoga philosophy and meditation techniques with Paul Muller-Ortega, Douglas Brooks, and Bill Mahony each of whom are considered world -renowned scholars of yoga theory.

Weaving life-affirming Tantric philosophy with clear understanding of body mechanics, Kelley’s classes are fun, challenging, and spiritually relevant. Kelley’s enthusiasm and knowledge inspire her students to grow in their practice both on and off the mat. As the dance of discovery grows richer through relationships, Kelley bows to the heart of her wonderful husband Joe, to her children, and to her students who keep her laughing and growing every day.

Kelley is the founder of the Bindu: Yoga and Wellness in Cornelius, NC. In addition to weekly public and private classes, she teaches Immersions, Teacher Trainings and workshops nationally and internationally.
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Sari Weston

Sari Weston took her first Anusara™ Yoga class from Sarahjoy Marsh in 2001 and has studied Anusara™ exclusively since 2002.  A former dancer, gymnast and karate instructor, she was profoundly stirred by the union of life-affirming philosophy and intelligent alignment offered in the Anusara™ tradition.

Sari recently completed a 200-hour teacher training and Anusara™ Immersion and is working towards becoming Anusara Inspired.  She looks forward to helping her students catalyze real and lasting change in body and spirit.  As a writer and poet, Sari infuses her yoga classes with graceful lyricism while challenging her students to engage themselves fully in the practice.   Sari continues her studies with Kelley Gardner and other Carolina Anusara™ Yoga teachers, including Sarah Faircloth and Stacey Millner-Collins.  She also bows to all of the other, excellent teachers in her life, especially her husband and son.  When she’s not upside down in a handstand, she can be found celebrating life in her garden, kitchen, or nearest playground.

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Patti Boug

After taking her first yoga class over 12 years ago, Patti was hooked!  She embarked on a path of study with teachers from across Canada, Europe and the United States sampling Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram’s Hot Yoga, Yin Yoga, Jivamukhti, Kundalini and Power Yoga classes.  She is forever grateful to Kelley Gardner for introducing her to Anusara™ yoga and strives every day to expand her understanding of this beautiful and intelligent practice.  She continues to grow in the Anusara™ light by studying with Kelley Gardner, Sarah Faircloth, Stacey Millner-Collins as well as the founder of Anusara™, John Friend. As a certified Yoga Therapist (230 hr) as well as a Children’s Yoga teacher (achieved through the Asheville Yoga Centre) Patti creates a calm and heart-felt environment.  In each session, students can expect to find a space in which to explore and discover themselves under the eyes and instruction of a skilled, confident guide.  Come take a class and step into the flow of grace!  She honors the kula of teachers and students who continually open her heart and mind.  Patti enjoys reading, cooking and relaxing by the water with her family and friends…when she’s not hanging upside down in her closet in a yoga pose!

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Lisa Tendler

Lisa Tendler has been an avid yoga practitioner and teacher for many years. She started yoga at the age of 16 using the book Richard Hittleman’s 28 Day plan. Soon after that she started studying dance at North Carolina School of the Arts, graduated and became a professional dancer allowing yoga to take the back seat. Yoga came back into to her life with a vengeance when one of her hips began to give out. That’s when she found Jivamukti Yoga center in the early 90’s, began taking classes all day, quit dance, started teaching there and the rest is history.
Lisa’s teachers along the way include Ravi Singh, Dharma Mitra, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Eddie Stern(studied w/Eddie Traditional Ashtanga 6 days a week for several years), Kevin Gardener, Micheal Carrol(Asana as Spiritual Doorways; 6 weekends) and(Pranakriya workshop; 6 weekends), Doug Keller( therapeutics workshops), John Friend, studied Ashtanga in India with Pattabhi.Jois (6 weeks). Other experience includes NY state massage therapy license, certification in PowerHouse pilates and mat, and the most valuable experience…practicing yoga almost every day for almost 20 years!
Ashtanga yoga is her main practice. It has helped her create a strong foundation and a deep and steady practice. She continues to study and apply to her practice all kinds of alignment and therapeutic information that she has learned from studying all forms of yoga.” She believes that yoga is a way back to who we really are as intuitive awake beings.

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Sally Phillips

After decades of weight-training and endless hours on the treadmill, Sally found workouts uninspiring after the birth of her daughter.   She yearned for something that would soothe her mind and bring suppleness back into her body. That’s just when the Universe brought Kelley Gardner into her life.  That was 1997 and Sally continues her yoga journey, learning how to apply yogic principles both on and off the mat.

Sally earned her vinyasa certification in 2000 from the Asheville Yoga Center and has taught flow yoga for more than 10 years.  With the opening of the Bindu, Sally has become a dedicated student of Anusara Yoga.  This fall she will begin her AnusaraTM immersion studies.  In addition to being mentored by Kelley, Sally has participated in workshops from noted Anusara teachers Sienna Sherman and Suzie Hurley and from Anusara founder, John Friend. In addition, she has taken workshops from Bryan Kest and Kathy Budig.

Sally’s yoga philosophy is based on cultivating mindfulness to gain more balance and find greater joy in all aspects of life. Her classes are fun, lively and full of enthusiasm.   When not on the mat, she is a marketing director for a technology firm, a sporadic (and sometimes spastic) radio commentator, a voracious reader and fair-weather gardener.  She enjoys spending down time with her husband, Dave, daughter Brooke, and “Huskador,” Roxie.

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Melisa Stivaletti

Melisa’s love of yoga culminated during her civilian tours in Afghanistan. Melisa started teaching soldiers and deployed civilians yoga on her bases throughout Afghanistan. After seeing the changes in her students’ moods and bodies, she knew teaching yoga was a passion beyond the deployment. A recent RYT 200, Melisa’s certification is from the Marianne Wells Yoga School completed at the Costa Rica Yoga Spa in Nosara, Costa Rica. She lives in Cornelius with her husband and adopted Cornelius dog and Afghan cat.

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Jessica Bowles

Jessica has been practicing yoga since 1996 and is a registered 500hr. level yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200hr. Hatha Yoga certification with The Bodhi Tree in Charlotte, NC and her 500hr. teacher training through the Asheville Yoga Center, where she completed her Yin yoga, restorative yoga, and prenatal yoga certifications.
In her classes, Jessica incorporates gentle movements with breath and deep opening poses of stillness, allowing the students to go at their own pace and connect mindfully to their own body and consciousness. Within this meditative flow, she feels that each time you step on the mat, it’s more than just a class….it’s an experience!
She has done extensive Thai Yoga Therapy training at Ritam Healing Arts in CA with Saul David Raye and the Thai Institute in D.C.. She is also currently studying at Kerala Ayurvedic Acadamy to become an Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor.
Jessica resides in Cornelius, NC with her husband and three little boys. When she’s not practing yoga, she also loves to read, walk outside, and spend time with her family and friends. Yoga has brought peace of mind and a sense of wellness into her life. She loves to share her passion with others and guide them along the path towards freedom in the body and a peaceful center.

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Kathy Gardner

After several trials with different styles of Hatha Yoga, Kathy was hooked when she took her first Svaroopa ® Class in 2008 under Poly Breen, a Master Yoga Teacher.  Looking for release of emotional and physical tension in her daily life, Kathy found Svaroopa® Yoga to be the answer.  After practicing with Polly for almost two years, Kathy began to deepen her understanding of the Svaroopa® Yoga Philosophy by completing the Foundations of Svaroopa® training in 2010. She has since earned her 200 hour certificate through the Yoga Alliance by completing her Level I and Level II training in Svaroopa® Yoga at the Master Yoga Foundation in Exton, Pa. under the direction of Swami Nirmalananda, the Foundation Director of Svaroopa® Yoga.

Kathy also has her certification as an Embodyment ® Yoga Therapist, and plans to continue her training with advanced classes in pain therapy in 2013.

Svaroopa® Yoga has aided Kathy with her healing after her diagnosis of Breast Cancer in the winter of 2012.  She was able to continue her daily yoga practice throughout her treatment and continues teaching classes as a Survivor.

When not doing Yoga, Kathy finds here creativity in sewing, crochet, and knitting.  She is blesses with a very caring family.  Her husband, Jim has been her support for all her endeavors.  Kathy also spends time with her three children and four grandchildren.

Kathy uses the healing practices of Yoga though out all aspects of her life to “be present in the moment”.

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Emily Carper

Emily began practicing yoga in 2000 due to an injury sustained from lack of flexibility. She soon realized the depth and reach of a true yoga practice. Yoga has taken a strong position in every aspect of her life. She is truly grateful for the spiritual nature of her practice. Whether still or in flow, she is deeply aware of Divine Grace. Emily has had the great fortune to study with many incredible teachers, including completing her 200 hour Vinyasa Teacher Training with Meditations from the Mat author Rolf Gates.
Emily’s intention for the classes she teaches is to provide a nurturing space to explore the many aspects of yoga. She considers it an honor and a privilege to teach. Emily continues to grow as a teacher and seek out new ways to become even more of a resource to her students. When she is not teaching, Emily balances a full-time career in wellness and family life with husband Damien and daughter Madeline. She looks forward to sharing the experience of practice with you!
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