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, Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga teacher training and became a Certified Infant Massage Instructor.   After 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 18 years. They are truly passionate about living in this city by the bay with their children, Kate, 7 years old, and Jack, 4 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.

Brooke began her yogic path in 1999 and found her mind, body, and heart were transformed through her practice. She completed her first 200-hour teacher training with Nikki Estrada at YogaWorks and completed the It’s Yoga, Kids Certification Course.  For nearly ten years, Brooke worked as a caregiver, mentor, and tutor for children of all ages.  Brooke brings a fun and heart-centered approach to allow students a safe place to explore and rejuvenate.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism, is a trained massage therapist, and is continuing her yoga study with a second 200-hour teacher training in Kundalini 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.
 

Christine Brenneman, IYKC

As an active yogi for the last ten years, Christine has cultivated an expansive sense of joy and body-centeredness through her Vinyasa practice. She completed the It’s Yoga, Kids Certification Course and made a commitment to share yoga with small children, who she’s had the pleasure of teaching in many capacities – as a classroom teacher, art teacher, caregiver, and tutor. Christine holds a degree in art history, a certificate in early childhood education, and has over 12 years experience as a preschool teacher.

Sharon Cummings, IYKC

Beginning life as a dancer, Sharon found yoga deepened her conscious movements into a spiritual awareness; and believes this connection may be experienced by anyone as joyful moving meditation. All ages, shapes, sizes and abilities deserve the benefits of yoga, and kids are especially intuitive to cultivating this natural energy and enlightenment.  As a writer who focuses on environmental issues, Sharon approaches yoga class with the same creativity; encouraging awareness of our connection to the Earth, and love for every living being on it. In her own yoga education, Sharon is inspired by fluid vinyasa classes, and will complete a vinyasa teacher training this year.  

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.

Lin believes in the transformative power of yoga!  She’s dedicated herself to the study and teaching of yoga for the past 12 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 8 years and feels it is a 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.

After living in NYC and feeding her insatiable love for the performing arts, she is thrilled to have moved westward!  Abbi has appeared all over the US and Asia in numerous commercials, plays, musicals, and modern dance concerts.  Her love of movement led her to the wonderful world of yoga, and after her first class, she was instantly smitten. She has studied at a multitude of yoga schools along her travels, from Maui to Korea. She is certified to teach yoga to children through Karma Kids Yoga, and will graduate Laughing Lotus College of Yoga in early May.   Loving to laugh and play, she greatly admires the unbridled imagination and unwavering curiosity of children. She is constantly inspired by their intrepid approach to life and is thrilled to share the joy of yoga with them.

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.

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.