After a life of dance, I was introduced to yoga in 1991.  It felt so good and I have practiced ever since.  I loved my corporate work in sales and marketing until the birth of my daughter in 2002.  I was shocked to experience that significant achievements in my career became instantly irrelevant and I began to think about how I could be with my daughter and contribute something meaningful to other children and families.  While practicing yoga, in savasana (final relaxation), the thought...yoga for kids...came to me and I felt inspired. 

With the intention of creating a nurturing space where families could connect, bend, breathe and have fun together, I collaborated with strong teachers, pediatric experts and completed Ashtanga yoga teacher training under the direction of Larry Schultz at It’s Yoga, San Francisco.  After two years of research, development and teaching yoga to kids in schools, we opened the first yoga studio designed for kids and families in the Presidio of San Francisco in February 2006.   

Since then, It's Yoga, Kids, and its teachers, have been featured in Yoga Journal, Yogi Times, YOGA + Joyful Living and seen on ABC’s View From The Bay television show.  Leading classes, trainings, events and workshops at our studio and around the world, we have personally experienced, researched and seen the benefits of yoga for all ages and abilities, and we look forward to sharing yoga with you!

Namaste,

Michelle Wing, RYT, CIMI

As Founder and Executive Director, Michelle is responsible for the vision and operations of It's Yoga, Kids.  She has dedicated herself to the nurturing development, health and well being of children of all ages and abilities through yoga and infant massage. A classically trained ballet dancer from the age of 7, she trained and taught movement to children for 8 years and danced professionally at Walt Disney World, Florida, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.  She graduated with a B.S. in Marketing from Arizona State University, and completed her 13 year corporate career in sales and marketing at Microsoft to create It’s Yoga, Kids. 

Michelle and her husband, Rich, have been married and living in San Francisco for 16 years. They are truly passionate about living in this city by the bay with their children, Kate, 6 years old, and Jack, 3 years old.

Our certified yoga instructors have a variety of experience with yoga and children.  They adhere to the California Yoga Teachers Association Code of Professional Ethics, and complete a thorough screening process to work with children.   As qualified professionals, they "tune-in" to each participant in their classes and engage and adapt to the needs of the overall group to maximize satisfaction. Students are never forced into any position or to participate in yoga.

Rebecca Blake found yoga in 1998. With roots in performing and teaching ballet, her love of teaching body movement persisted. In March 2005, she completed her yoga teacher training with Ganga White and Tracey Rich at White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara. In March of 2008, she completed It’s Yoga Kids certification training. She continues to be a life-long student of yoga, studying with a variety of experienced teachers and styles ranging from Zen Meditation and Pranayama to Kids’ Yoga, Restorative Yoga to AcroYoga, Kundalini to Vinyasa and Jivamukti to Basic Hatha. Rebecca infuses these styles while encouraging open minds and open hearts. She challenges students to go beyond the limits of tradition to follow their own path.
 

Elise is a graduate of Rodney Yee's 2-year teacher training and has a Relax and Renew certificate from Judith Lasater. A student of many healing modalities, meditation, and visualization for the past fifteen years, Elise teaches an integrative Hatha yoga style utilizing precise alignment and inner focus. As the mother of a five year old, she finds the journey of bringing a child into the world one of great spiritual transformation and enjoys supporting mothers in developing strength, flexibility, and connection. She teaches workshops and classes in pre-natal yoga, mom and baby yoga, yoga for young children and restorative yoga.
 

Carmelita received her BA in Family and Consumer Sciences and Early Childhood Development from Eastern NM University and came to fall in love with the practice of yoga in 1999.  Throughout her journeys her practice has evolved into a path of self-discovery and self-empowerment. Carmelita loves to teach, loves children and has varied experience working with elementary-age children as a Teacher, Caregiver, Family Resource Advocate and a Literacy Resource Mentor for Head Start Programs. In class, her playful nature creates a safe and encouraging environment in which to explore, challenge and discover. She encourages her students to listen to their own bodies and to respect whatever messages they receive. Carmelita is certified through It’s Yoga San Francisco and It’s Yoga Kids and is registered at the 200-level with the Yoga Alliance.

Madhuri, a dedicated yogini of eleven years, found and fell in love with Yoga on her arrival in San Francisco from London . Trained in the Integral Yoga tradition, from the linage of Master Sivananda, her teaching is both classical and radical. Being strongly drawn to nurturing and the energy of new life, Madhuri chose, soon after beginning teaching, to work with pregnant woman, parents with their new babies and toddlers, and most recently, young children to pre-teens.

Lesley Giovannelli, RYT, IYKC

Lesley, a former competitive volleyball player, discovered the beauty of yoga in 1999 while participating in a local marathon training program.  She was inspired to share the many benefits of yoga in her life upon the birth of her son Noah. Lesley enjoys working with all levels of students creating comfortable learning environments with an abundance of support and care. She received her Yoga Alliance training in Ashtanga Yoga from It’s Yoga and kids certification from It's Yoga, Kids.  Lesley especially enjoys teaching the benefits of incorporating yoga as part of an athletic training program to enhance performance of the body and mind. She received her Master’s in Sports Management from USF in 2001.

Rachel specializes in teaching yoga and wellness classes to teens.  She holds an M.S. in Education, and has taught in the public school systems in Northern California, Central China, and New York City.   Her experience in the classroom helped her to see the immediate need to educate youth on issues relating to health and wellness.  Rachel is a Certified Yoga Ed. Teacher and has completed her 200-Hour Teacher Training at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA.  Additionally, she studied at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition which is affiliated with Columbia University, where she completed her training in Holistic Health. 

Lin believes in the transformative power of yoga!  She’s dedicated herself to the study and teaching of yoga for the past ten years after leaving a career in corporate marketing.  Lin is a graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio’s intensive teacher training program under Rodney Yee and also apprenticed with senior Iyengar teacher, John Schumacher in Washington, DC.  Lin has been teaching prenatal classes for 5 years and feels great joy and privilege to help expectant moms during this very special transition in their lives.  In her classes, Lin emphasizes the coordination of movement and breath as she guides students to gently strengthen, open, refresh and renew.

Yoga found Melylah in 1999 and she has been practicing every since.  The birth of her now two-year-old daughter inspired her to share her passion for yoga, on and off the mat, with other families.  This lead to her certification in Yoga through It’s Yoga SF under the direction of Larry Schultz in 2007 and It's Yoga, Kids.  She loves making yoga fun and accessible for everyone -- removing the ambition and focusing on the intention.

Rebecca Durlin Smith, IYKC

In 2005 Rebecca began sharing the gift of yoga with her 7-year-old sister, Danielle, and became overwhelmed with the desire to share the ancient practice with more children. Receiving her credential to teach children yoga in 2006 through the It's Yoga, Kids Certification Course has made that vision a reality. Rebecca brings her love of life and passion to make the world a better place into her classes.

Jennifer Whyte, RYT, IYKC

A former nanny and volunteer at A Home Away from Homelessness, Jennifer took her first yoga class with Ashtanga master Clayton Horton in 1996. Her deeply rooted love for yoga blossomed during her travels through Southeast asia, where she taught English to kids and realized the physical and spiritual benefits of this ancient practice can be attained anywhere she lays her mat! On returning to the US, her practice flourished under the masterful eye of Brian Kest in Santa Monica while she studied Creative Writing at UCLA. In 2007, she returned to Marin County and became a certified Ashtanga Instructor at It's Yoga, San Francisco and It's Yoga, Kids. 

Tammie Winter, RYT, OT

Tammie immediately found a passion for yoga in 2003. She has participated in several yoga courses including a prenatal and postnatal intensive with Jane Austin, Yoga for the Special Child™, and Integrated Movement Therapy. She completed her yoga teacher training at the Samarya Center in Seattle, WA. Tammie has a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and works as a pediatric therapist in the Bay Area.