Find A Grounded Kids Yoga Teacher
Welcome to our Grounded Kids Teacher Directory
All listed teachers have completed at least Step 1 – Get Grounded In Children’s Yoga and are qualified to skillfully teach using our methodology. Those with the distinction of Certified Grounded Kids Teacher have complete 95 hours of comprehensive training to earn their certification. Use Categories for this selection. In the Search bar, find a teacher by entering any of the following fields.:
- You are searching for the keyword(s): charlotte-chastain
Mary Beth Bender
Biography
Mary Beth has always had a love for children. Ever since she was a small child, she knew that she wanted to be a teacher. She began babysitting at the age of 10 and her senior year in high school, she did her senior project in a 3rd/4th grade classroom. It was her intention to study Elementary Education in college, but life had other plans for her and she studied Creative Writing & Fine Arts. In 1995 her father passed away suddenly and through her process of deep grief and sadness, she discovered yoga. It was when she discovered yoga that she was reminded of her childhood and the contemplative moments that she often experienced outside under trees or through laying on the grass and looking up at the sky. She was able to rediscover her sense of ahh and wonder, which then reminded her of how much she loved and adored children. Mary Beth also grew up with ADD/ADHD and multiple learning disabilities. She took Ritalin, which eventually lead her to struggle with her body and the emotions that she felt around being diagnosed as learning disabled. She found that yoga helped her to focus, which eventually lead her to stop Ritalin.
She has always felt that her story about the struggles she went through as a child in school would someday inspire education to shift. Mary Beth used to substitute teach in both the Montessori and Public school classroom. Her experiences with children taught her that teaching young kids was part of her purpose.
In 2005, Mary Beth was working at Kripalu Yoga Center when one day she overheard 2 of her co-workers talking about a kids yoga class that they were leading that day. She became very curious and started asking a lot of questions, which then lead her to researching a program where she could become a certified kids yoga teacher. At that same time, Mary Beth already had experience teaching yoga to adults, but knew that she really wanted to be teaching yoga to children. In that same year, she flew to Los Angelos for a training/certification with Yoga Kids International. She then began teaching yoga to children at a day care and a small studio in New Hampshire. In 2006 Mary Beth moved to Charlotte, NC where she eventually began teaching yoga to children all over the city. She has taught hundreds of classes in various environments such as community centers, a church, studios, schools, a gym, a toy store and even a grocery store!
Mary Beth is a 500 hr RYT with an additional 95 hour Children’s Yoga teacher certification. She is pursuing another 95 hours with Grounded Yoga. She has studied with Yoga Kids International, Asheville Yoga Center, Little Flower Yoga and Grounded Kids Yoga and continues to see inspiration in the work of others.
Mary Beth is a child at heart and has an infectious love and warmth for children. Children enjoy her boundless energy and her youthful spirit.
Carmen Jimenez-Pride
Biography
Carmen K. Jimenez is a, Substance Abuse Professional, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina and Georgia. She is also a Licensed Independent Social Worker in South Carolina. Carmen is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor credentialed by the Association of Play Therapy. Carmen earned a bachelor in Social Work with a certificate in Child Protective Services from Benedict College in 2004. Carmen was accepted into the advance standing program at the University of South Carolina earning a Masters of Social Work in 2005 with a focus on communities and organizations.
Carmen has over 10 years of experience in the mental health field. Carmen has spent 8 years focused on protecting children and assisting families in crisis as a senior social worker with Youth and Family Services in Charlotte North Carolina. Carmen has shared her expertise and dedication with Youth and Family Services managing Family Intervention cases, conducting family assessments, conducting forensic investigations. Carmen transitioned to Youth and Family services specialty sex abuse and conflict of interest unit prior to leaving the agency in 2014.
Since 2010 Carmen has utilized her skills within the clinical field by providing outpatient therapy and intensive in home services to children, adolescents and adults in Mecklenburg County. In 2011 Carmen created Outspoken Counseling and Consulting to provide therapy, life coaching and business consulting in Fort Mill, South Carolina. In 2014 Carmen transitioned the practice to Columbia South Carolina. In 2015 Carmen created Together We’ll Grow a non-profit organization focused on strengthen individuals and families by providing mentoring and therapeutic services. In 2016 Carmen created FreedOM Yoga Inc. an organization focused on provided yoga therapy services to individuals who normally would not have access to the practice of yoga. With a focus on children and play therapy Carmen is the founded of Play Therapy with Carmen Inc. an organization educating the community on play therapy and providing play therapy to children who have experienced trauma.
Carmen is a past member of the North Carolina National Association of Social Work board of directors and North Carolina Association for Play Therapy board of directors. Carmen is a current and active member of the South Carolina Association of Play Therapy board of directors.
Maria Francis
Biography
My name is Maria Francis and I am a licensed teacher in the state of North Carolina. Recently, I completed the Grounded Module 1 teaching training in Charlotte, NC and loved every minute of it! I am excited to see how to bring this experience into my career and where it can take me. I love children and believe that yoga can really open the minds of our young leaders. I hope to bring the joy and peace that yoga has brought to me into the lives of our young.
Professionally, I taught in Mecklenburg County for two years and worked in Gaston County at Costner Elementary this current school year. I also coach cheerleading at a local private high school and tutor children of all ages throughout the year.
I am a 2005 graduate of North Carolina State University where I received a Bachelor of Arts in English Rhetoric. Upon graduation, I took an interim position as a kindergarten assistant at St. Mathew’s Catholic School. When that position ended, I began working in finance at Maersk Inc. and Electrolux. However, I still had a desire to teach and went back to school at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte beginning in 2010. I received my Masters of Teaching in May of 2013.
I am currently working as a fourth grade teacher in Gaston County at Costner Elementary in Dallas, NC. Unlike prior teaching positions, I am teaching all subject matters in a rural setting to 22 students, including four Exceptional Children students and two English as Second Language students. Though not uncommon, my students range in abilities academically which has resulted in the implementation of diverse teaching approaches. These include flex grouping, Australian Mathematics Trust practices, and data driven instruction. The results of mandated district assessments and analysis of Renaissance Learning test results have shown that my students have grown an average of 1.2 years during this school year. Preliminary EOG scores indicated that 60% of them were proficient in reading and math. In addition to my role as a teacher, I also serve as the chair of the Vertical Planning Committee, which aims to align learning among grade levels in an effort to build a solid foundation of Common Core Standards.
Prior to the 2014-2015 school year, I taught at in Mecklenburg County at Merry Oaks International Academy Elementary in Charlotte, NC for two years. During the 2012-2013 school year, I co-taught literacy and social studies to 30 students in first grade. I moved to third grade for the 2013-2014 school year. I teach literacy to a total of 46 students who range in academic ability. My homeroom was the third grade Exceptional Children inclusion room. During my time at Merry Oaks, I learned to create and implement dynamic and interactive lessons that engaged students in higher order thinking, execute classroom management to ensure a cooperative and successful learning environment and participated in team planning that allowed for diverse teaching approaches. I was trained to administer Reading 3D, Read to Achieve and MAP testing. My experience in a Title 1 school has also given me more insight into the struggles that our youth can face and how it affects them academically, emotionally, and socially.
Catherine Arellano
Biography
I have been a certified Kids Yoga Teacher with Grounded Kids Yoga since December 2016. I started teaching kids yoga since July 2016. I have taught at local libraries and businesses in the local Charlotte, NC area. I am fluently bi-lingual in English and Spanish. I enjoy sprinkling Spanish words with poses as a fun way for children to learn a new language. I recently moved to the Santa Monica area in sunny California. I am excited to grow and learn with the community here and to be able to continue my teaching here.
Amy Jarrett
Biography
A 25-year early childhood classroom veteran, Amy has been practicing yoga for 20 years. She became certified in Grounded Kids Yoga in Charlotte, NC in 2015 and obtained her 200-hour yoga teacher certification in Charlottesville, VA in 2018. Amy teaches adult and children’s yoga at the local studio in Lexington, Va, Center of Gravity on Main St. She co-leads yoga and swim camp every summer for ages 7-12. Amy works as an administrative assistant at Washington and Lee University. Previously, she taught 3 year olds in the preschool classroom as well as children’s yoga at local after-school programs.
Megan Hurley
Biography
I am a Grounded Kids Yoga Teacher in Charlotte, NC.
Heather Koz
Biography
Heather is a Certified Grounded Teacher & Trainer in Charlotte, NC. She and her teaching partner, Lee Darling, have helped to expand the Grounded program to schools, before & after-school programs, home schools, gyms, resource & community centers all across Charlotte and continue to host trainings annually. Heather lives with her husband and two teenage daughters who inspire her practice and play daily. She is also a Certified Baptiste Power Yoga teacher at Yoga One in Plaza Midwood, where she has introduced a thriving kids yoga program, as well. Her specialties include:
Pre-Grounded
Tween & Teen Yoga
Yoga for Special Needs
Trauma Informed Yoga
Yoga for Athletes
Personalized Yoga
Yoga for Special Populations
Meditation & Mindfulness
Melissa Ridenhour Troutman
Biography
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Melissa R. Troutman |
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| SUMMARY | I have studied ballet and tap since I was 5 years old. I have practiced yoga and pilates since my days in college. I was a lifeguard and swim instructor to all ages for 12 years. I love children and their curiosity to learn new activities. Teaching yoga to children and adults is a passion of mine. I am available to teach weekly classes, summer camps, and after school programs. I also offer private sessions. | |
| WORK EXPERIENCE |
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| July 2013 to August 2014 | Charlotte Family Yoga Center Charlotte, NC
Yoga Teacher and Kids Yoga Teacher
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| Summer of 2014 | Cool Summer 2014 Camp Charlotte, NC
Kids Yoga Teacher
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| July 2014 to Present | Lifetime Fitness Inc. – University Charlotte, NC
Yoga Teacher, Kids Yoga Teacher & LifeBarre Instructor
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| PROFESSIONAL COURSES AND CERTIFICATIONSDecember 1999
May 2013
August 2013
February 2014
June 2014
August 2014 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing; Minor in Dance; Overall GPA: 3.2 Charlotte Family Yoga Center Charlotte, NC 200 Hour Power Vinyasa Teacher Training Menla Mountain Retreat Phoenicia, NY 96 Hour Baptiste Journey Into Power Level One Training Yoga One Charlotte, NC 27 Hour Baptiste Power Yoga Institute’s Art of Assisting Johns Creek Yoga Atlanta, GA 22 Hour Get Grounded Level One, Yoga for Kids and Teens Teacher Training Charlotte Family Yoga Center Charlotte, NC 35 Hour Prenatal Teacher Training |
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| AFFILIATIONS | Yoga Alliance, Member 2013 to Present | |
Kellie Jackson Daniel
Biography
Kellie has been teaching yoga to kids in schools in the Charlotte area for 3 years and teaching public group classes to adults for 8 years. Her training through the Grounded Program has taught Kellie how to help kids make a deeper connection to the whole of themselves and have fun while doing so. The kids love Kellie’s warm, animated voice as she leads kids through a sequence to help keep themfocused, clear, certain and bright!
Please feel free to contact Kellie with any questions about finding a Grounded class in the Charlotte area.
Charlotte Chastain
Heather Heather Hopkins
Biography
I specialize in pre-grounded, elementary age and personalized yoga.
Tracy Mott
Biography
Tracy Mott is an elementary school educator and yogi. She loves to teach yoga to kids of all ages. Tracy incorporates literature, breath work, games, and life lessons into each class she teaches. She believes that children are the planet’s biggest asset and are to be nurtured, cherished and loved. She teaches a monthly Family Yoga Playshop at Be Yoga Dilworth and also teaches in schools, at museums, and in nature regularly. Her classes are playful, joyful, fun and empowering.
Annie Totten
Barbara J Saul
Biography
Barbara is available for birthday parties, Yoga clubs, Summer camps, after school programs, workshops, special events, & private sessions.
“A hundred years from now, it will not matter how much money I made, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…only that I made a difference in the life of a child.”
Kim Bogert
Margaret [Mags] Maurice
Chatham Ripple
Monica Mitchell-Giraudo
Tracy Bennett
Kiesha Battles
Lee Darling
Biography
Lee Darling began her teaching career in 2007. She has taught Yoga, Music, and Mindfulness in Preschools and Elementary schools since 2011 and has worked with large corporations and special events to implement Yoga and Nutrition as part of their Health & Wellness programs.
She is a 200hr E-RYT, 95hr RCYT, and 85hr RPYT and is a Trainer with Grounded Kids Yoga. She conducts local Teacher Trainings and PD courses for a variety of organizations.
She is inspired to teach children to learn through a multitude of activities that include yoga, music, movement, mindfulness and overall wellness. She believes every child is special, and that an early love for learning is important. As the mother of two girls, she values the importance of instilling a healthy lifestyle early on and is passionate about teaching families how to implement simple nutrition and exercise regimens into their everyday lives.
Hannah Blanton
Eleanor Funderburg
Ellyn Kirschner
Cady Asch
Margot Brinley
Marina Badir
Kaitlin Lacey
Andrea McCrary
Cutchin Wiley
Kelly Williamson
Avi Zokram
Wendy Swanson
Biography