Instructors

JANE BARRETT, E-RYT 500, YACEP, director/owner of Raleigh Yoga Center, began teaching in 1979. She is a licensed educator with a B.S. in Social Sciences and master studies in Learning Disabilities. A founding member of the Yoga Teachers Association of New York, she is also a current member of the Iyengar Yoga Associations of Greater New York, the Southeast and the national association IYNAUS. Having successfully run her own yoga business in New York for 19 years, Jane relocated to North Carolina and joined the staff of Raleigh Yoga Center in 1998. In addition to studying with nationally known certified Iyengar teachers for 45 years, Jane has received teacher training from Joan White, Patricia Walden, Elise Browning Miller, Judith Hanson Lasater, John Schumacher, Bobbi Goldin and Julie Gudmestad. Her study with these teachers has benefited her own practice and inspires her teaching. She has also taken multiple teacher training courses with Aadil Palkhivala and Doug Keller. For the past 15 years, Jane has been honored to assist her dear friend and mentor, certified Iyengar teacher Bobbi Goldin, at an annual week-long Iyengar yoga retreat on Sanibel Island and Bobbi’s annual Iyengar weekend in Raleigh, NC. Jane continues her studies and brings to her own classes her decades of experience as a student and a teacher, a joyful heart and sense of humor.

KIRSTEN BACHMANN, E-RYT 200, NCLMT #1293, completed yoga teacher training with Stephanie Keach at the Asheville School of Yoga in 2001 and began teaching at Raleigh Yoga Center in 2005. Her annual study with Iyengar certified teacher, Bobbi Goldin of Miami has benefited her practice and her teaching. She also studies with Erich Schiffmann, Doug Keller and Jane Barrett. Kirsten’s teaching style is lighthearted and encouraging and reflects her commitment to an alignment-based practice. She has been a practicing massage therapist since 1995.

LAURA WOODALL, MS, E-RYT 200, completed her 200-hour training in 2003. She teaches with awareness and compassion, drawing upon her knowledge of anatomy and physical limitations. She has studied with Iyengar certified teachers Roger Cole, Julie Gudmestad, Bobbi Goldin, and Matthew Sanford. She has taught yoga as an adjunct professor at Meredith College, worked as an exercise physiologist for cardiac and pulmonary rehab and as a yoga instructor for Rex Hospital. Laura is certified to teach Yoga for Cancer through the y4C program (y4C.com) and is a cancer survivor herself. She also offers other classes in Gently, Restorative and all levels of alignment based yoga. Her intention is that we practice yoga with a sense of compassion and humor towards ourselves  and that our yoga practice deepens our sense of gratitude for all that we have in our lives.

BETH ROBINSON, RYT 200, has studied and practiced yoga for 12 years. She began teaching in early 2010 after receiving her 330-hour teacher training certificate from Triad Yoga Institute. Her training is alignment focused, inspired by the teachings of Aadil Palkhivala. She has also trained with Iyengar certified teacher, Bobbi Goldin. This training has benefited her personal practice and her teaching. Beth believes in not only practicing the physical postures of yoga, but also in living yoga by practicing kindness, doing no harm, being in the present moment and believing in the wisdom of the heart. Her fun and engaging style of teaching will help you to improve your strength, flexibility and overall health.

CARLA JERNIGAN-BAKER, RYT 200, first began her yoga journey 20 years ago at Raleigh Yoga Center when she was seeking a way to improve her physical health and reduce stress in her life.  She found that yoga not only helped her achieve these goals but also brought her a sense of peace and spiritual fulfillment. With a BS in Mathematics Education and a Masters in School Administration Carla retired after dedicating 35 years to the Wake County Public School System with titles including Teacher, Coach and Principal and a passion for inspiring others to reach their highest potential.  She completed her Yoga teacher training at Triad Yoga Institute in Greensboro, NC.  Carla’s classes are designed to meet the unique needs of each student with a focus on proper alignment, breath control and mindfulness. Her excitement and love for yoga is contagious and she looks forward to sharing this joy with you.

LESLIE WAUGH, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, Certified Purna Yoga Instructor (2,000 hours), started exploring yoga when she was 16 and has been a dedicated student since 2001. After taking classes with Jane Barrett at Raleigh Yoga Center for five years, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she continued studying in the Iyengar tradition with John Schumacher at Unity Woods Center. In 2008, she completed her first teacher training program with Iyengar teacher Bobbi Goldin. In 2010, she received her 200-hour certification in hatha yoga from Boundless Yoga in Washington. She completed a 200-hour training in Purna Yoga with Catharine Eberhart and Bob Maiers at Purna Yoga East in Clayton, N.C., in 2014, and became a certified Purna Yoga teacher in 2015 after completing the 500-hour training at the College of Purna Yoga in Bellevue, Wash., with Aadil Palkhivala and Savitri. She graduated from the 2,000-hour Purna Yoga program in June 2018. She has created the one-of-a-kind Write From Your Heart workshops, which offer a unique blend of Purna Yoga and expressive writing for all levels of practitioners. She has had a three-decade career in publishing and journalism, and loves poetry and photography. She and her husband live in Clayton, N.C.

JANET JOHNSON, PT, RYT 200
Janet is a physical therapist, has been a student of yoga since 2001 and completed yoga teacher training with Terry Brown at the Triad Yoga Institute. As a physical therapist she has always been fascinated with anatomy, how our bodies move and how dysfunction in one part of the body affects all other parts of the body. Through her 20 years of yoga practice and also through the experience of breast cancer treatment in 2017 Janet has grown in her understanding and appreciation of the mind-body connection and the importance of addressing the mind and body as a whole.  She lives her life finding beauty and positivity in every day.  Janet is most influenced by alignment based yoga, Jane Barrett, Bobbi Goldin, certified Iyengar teacher and Terry Brown.  She also teaches privately in her home studio.

“Yoga is the golden key which unlocks the door to peace, tranquility and joy.” ~ B.K.S. Iyengar