Tonya is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor who has been practicing yoga since 1989, and teaching since 1999. She has studied with both B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar on their teaching visits to the US and has traveled twice to India to study with the Iyengar family.

While teaching, Tonya provides clear instructions and responds with sensitivity to each student’s needs. Her classes are challenging and rewarding; students find her friendly personality keeps them smiling even while learning a difficult pose.

In addition to teaching her weekly classes at JLYC, Tonya manages the day to day operations of the yoga center.

Tonya is currently serving as President of the Iyengar Yoga Association of the Northwest. She is also working closely with Julie Lawrence in planning the next IYNAUS convention which will be held in Portland in 2010.

Tonya has taught yoga for medical research, working on a study with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research on the benefits of yoga for teenage girls who are at risk of being overweight. She was instrumental in developing a home-practice guide for use in this study.

Besides yoga, reading is one of her favorite pastimes; she’s been known to read even when on the go—while riding the bus and walking home. She shares her love of books with young people by volunteering with SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), which gives her the opportunity to read one-on-one with kids who need literacy support.