My name is Yuri Pross and Shizuka is my studio.  In case you haven't met me yet, let me introduce myself; my name is Yuri, pronounced "Yudi"-- rhymes with Judy.

I have been teaching Yoga since 1999, and have my 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) designation in the YogaFit style through the Yoga Alliance.  Within the YogaFit style, I have completed Level 5 training, including the Yoga Fit anatomy course, which teaches musculoskeletal anatomy and biometrics for safe effective Hatha Yoga alignment.

Prior to my introduction to Yoga, I taught various fitness classes in South Carolina and Japan.  I have been an ACE-certified group-fitness instructor and have been teaching fitness classes in one form or another since 1989.  

I chose to start teaching Yoga due to some overuse injuries to my knees, and was immediately hooked!  I love the non-competitive nature of Yoga, and I enjoy sharing all of the benefits of Yoga practice with my students.  I have attended seminars given by Baron Baptiste, Mara Carrico, Jennifer Fox, Paul Gould and Beth Shaw.  Although some people find Yoga to be intimidating, I have always thought of my Yoga classes as Yoga for real people. 

I teach Hatha Yoga (the physical poses) in a Vinyasa (flow) style, which is very user-friendly.

Class size at Shizuka is limited to 10 students, which allows for more individual attention. No experience is necessary!