JOANN LYONS
Teacher for Yoga for People with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions
JoAnn Lyons began taking yoga classes in the very early 70’s and finally began teaching yoga classes for people with disabilities in October of 1996 at the Cerebral Palsy Center (now known as Ability Now Bay Area) in Oakland, California as part of her Advanced Studies Program training at Piedmont Yoga Studio. She had no idea what she was doing, but figured that she should just teach yoga to the students who showed up. That philosophy has served her well it seems, as over the next 20+ years, she was asked to add three more classes at the CP Center and teach two public classes weekly for people with disabilities and chronic conditions at Nest Yoga Studio in Piedmont. JoAnn believes that everyone can do yoga and has dedicated, well-trained assistants and volunteers who help her make the classes really special, fun and accessible to all. She has a unique ability to imagine the possibilities of asana (yoga poses) for her students and to see just where a student needs support or when she needs to get out of the way and let her student find the perfect pose.
In this time of COVID19, she immediately started teaching classes on Zoom and has been rewarded by being able to see, talk with, and still teach many of the students who faithfully attended classes at Nest Yoga Studio. And a surprising reward was being able to connect with many students who used to come to the class, but have moved away, students who came once or twice to the class, but found it very difficult to get there again because of parking or transportation, and to meet some new students who found their way to the classes online. She’s looking forward to the day when classes can safely be held in the yoga studio again, but in the meantime, she is grateful to be able to provide yoga classes and reminders to all her students to breathe!
For many years, through PYC, she has offered an annual workshop on Teaching Yoga to People with Disabilities in Oakland as well as offering this workshop outside the Bay Area at: Balance Bethlehem, Bethlehem, New Hampshire; The Yoga Seed and It’s All Yoga, both in Sacramento, California; Yoga Fitness Center in Missoula, Montana; and Calm Collective in Sidcup, Kent, UK.
Contact: (510) 318-1913 or Email JoAnn
LIN MAXWELL
Teacher for Yoga for People with Developmental Disabilities
Lin believes in the transformative power of yoga! She's dediated herself to the study and teaching of yoga for the past 20+ years after leaving a career in corporate marketing.
FIRAT YENER
Assistant for Yoga for People with Disabilities & Chronic Conditions
Firat Yener, E-RYT 500, Yoga Alliance, graduated from Piedmont Yoga Studio's Advanced Studies Program led by Rodney Yee in 1996. He has since taught weekly classes and workshops at various studios, health clubs, and schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, most notably, San Francisco Bay Club Tennis, Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Fitness, and Kaiser Permanente. His students ranged from day-care aged children to adolescents at middle schools, senior citizens to members of the disability community.
He first began working with JoAnn Lyons in 2008, teaching a weekly class at the Providence House in Oakland. He recently joined PYC's popular Saturday afternoon classes led by JoAnn as a permanent assistant and substitute teacher.
Firat has studied with Donald Moyer of Yoga Room, Berkeley, from 1998 until Mr. Moyer's retirement in 2014. He has a daily practice of asana, pranayama and Vipassana meditation and continues his studies with various senior teachers.
AILEEN KIM
Assistant for Yoga for People with Disabilities & Chronic Conditions
Aileen was bitten by the yoga bug in 2008. She is a graduate of the Piedmont Yoga Deep Yoga Teacher Training Program, and continues to study with Richard Rosen, Vickie Russell Bell, and Baxter Bell. Since 2013, she has been assisting JoAnn Lyons' class for people with disabilities and continues to learn how yoga can be accessible to all.
CHARLIE HARRISON (she/her)
Assistant for Yoga for People with Disabilities & Chronic Conditions
Charlie has taught yoga for over 10 years. She has specialized training in teaching yoga to people with PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Veterans and for First Responders. Charlie began assisting JoAnn’s classes in 2018. Charlie is also on the PYC Board of Directors in October 2023.
Her classes focus on making the practice accessible to everyone who comes to the mat, adapting to each student’s needs. She aims to help students deepen their breath, find balance, calm their nervous systems, and relieve discomfort in body and mind.
ELLE VAYERS-JOHNSON, MA
Assistant for Yoga for People with Developmental Disabilities
Elle began teaching yoga with her 3-6 year old Montessori students. Since graduating from The Yoga Room, CA Advanced Studies Program, 500 hours, elle has been dedicated to ongoing study through trainings and workshops to fine tune and grow her practice and teaching. Over the years elle’s taught yoga with adults in weekly & weekend classes in several locations. She assisted and taught at ABNA & in recent years has focused on working with Developmentally Disabled students @ Clausen House, where she assists Lin Maxwell & substitute teaches. She is currently developing her yoga/art home studio. Elle has particular gratitude for yoga in working with grief, loss, physical challenges, and for supporting her holistically and spiritually as an artist, teacher, and in whatever life may bring.
MELISSA BUHBE (she/her)
Assistant for Yoga for People with Disabilities & Chronic Conditions
Melissa Buhbe works as a geriatric Social Worker by day. Since obtaining her 200 hour yoga teacher certification in January of 2024 from Santa Rosa Junior College she has been volunteering as an assistant for JoAnn Lyons’ class for people with disabilities & chronic conditions. It’s a joy to learn from students & JoAnn how to adapt poses & use props to make yoga accessible for all! She has practiced yoga herself on & off since 2001.
TIFFANY BAKER (she/her)
Assistant for Yoga for People with Disabilities & Chronic Conditions
Tiffany Baker is a writer and teacher of therapeutic yoga. She is completing her 1000 hour IAYT training. She believes yoga should be accessible to everyone regardless of age, health, or body type.
