The Intermountain Iyengar Yoga Association’s Board is a 100% volunteer organization. We meet once a month and pour our time, energy, and love into growing the Iyengar Yoga community. We always welcome more hands on deck. Contact us if you are ready to help grow our social media channels, draft an email newsletter, put together a fundraising party for our scholarship funds, or if you have a great idea for how to spread Iyengar Yoga to those who haven’t experienced it yet.
Joanne Pearson, President
Joanne discovered yoga over 20 years ago while working as a nurse and becoming a new parent. Yoga was a journey of building strength and balance while learning poses. She found yoga as a means for renewal. Early on Joanne practiced Anusara, Bikram and Flow yoga. She was introduced to Iyengar yoga and was drawn to the precision, alignment, and method of teaching.
In 2009, Joanne began to pursue Iyengar yoga classes and teacher training. The process is challenging requiring commitment of time, energy, classes and practice over several years. Joanne was certified in Iyengar yoga in 2017. Iyengar yoga provides a foundation and methodology for instruction from the teaching of BKS Iyengar. This process cultivates joy and can translate to anyone interested in learning Iyengar yoga.
“It is a privilege to teach yoga in the Iyengar tradition and be part of the Iyengar yoga community. It is an honor to serve on the IMIYA Board to assist in building and supporting the Iyengar community and providing education, mentorship and scholarship. “
Rebecca Wallace, Vice President
“A 2008 New Year’s resolution led me to Iyengar Yoga. Being an owner of a running store meant logging plenty of miles with customers, but short on time for other forms of exercise. I knew I needed to stretch more, but never found the time to do it on my own. I committed to attend a beginners’ yoga class at a nearby Iyengar studio as a way to fulfill my resolution. I’ve always gravitated to activities involving attention to detail and technique. Needless to say, I found my home with Iyengar Yoga. I became a CIYT in 2017.”
Cecilia Huisman, Treasurer
“I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2011 from a small ski resort town in Patagonia, Argentina. I never thought I would leave my country at the age of 50 but life takes you to unexpected places. Even though I had my family with me, it was through yoga that I found the feeling of community and belonging that I left behind when I moved. My daughter took me to my first Iyengar class a few years after we got here and I have studied and practiced avidly ever since. Some time last year I was asked to join the board, it was a good time for me to become involved, I have met beautiful people with a shared passion and I feel grateful and honored to be a part of this group.”
Charlotte Hardwicke, Secretary
“I began practicing Iyengar Yoga at a studio in Virginia. It was a lovely community of knowledgeable teachers and dedicated students. When I moved to Colorado, I was grateful to find a new Iyengar community where I could deepen my practice. I am so honored to be a part of this community.
Mandy Coates, Membership Chair
“I was having serious hip pain in my late 20s, so my husband bought me some yoga class passes. After six months of Iyengar Yoga, I was pain free and a calmer person. Yoga immediately changed my body and my life. I have continued to practice yoga for many years, becoming a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher in 2017. After attending my first convention in 2019 with Abhijata Iyengar, I was able to see the transformation with my own eyes in people of all ages. Once I began teaching the general public, I realized that Iyengar Yoga is truly for everybody. In our society many people have similar issues from driving, cell phones, even injuries and accidents. Since attending my first convention, I have made spreading Iyengar Yoga to as many people as possible through work for IMIYA one of my personal goals.”
Kyoung Suk Kim, Communications Chair
“I started practicing Iyengar Yoga in 2009 to correct an issue with my hip and was certified as an instructor through RIMYI in 2016. When I practice, I learn not only how to use my body but also to fully focus my mind. I want to share with people that yoga is a great resource for balancing our mind and body.”
Alyssa Sikora, Communications Chair
For the last 18 years, Alyssa Sikora has practiced a variety of yoga to include Yin, Vinyasa, and Iyengar yoga. She is now a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) and Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) 500 through Yoga Alliance. She connected with the Iyengar philosophy because of its emphasis on anatomy and philosophy. The Iyengar method also helped advance her personal practice. Alyssa has studied with Senior Iyengar teachers such as HS Arun, Randy Just, Nichole Baker, Rebecca Lerner, and Abhijata Iyengar. In addition to yoga, Alyssa had a 10 year career working for the government. Alyssa has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in international relations. Alyssa lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. When Alyssa is not gardening, making DIYs, or cooking vegan food, she teaches yoga and homeschools her two kids.
Join the Board
PLEASE REACH OUT TO JOANNE AT: PRESIDENT@IMIYA.ORG TO LEARN MORE!
“It’s been an honor to serve our community after so many years as a student. My practice has grown broader with a deepened connectivity and renewed appreciation for all it takes to continue the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar. There are so many ways to be creative as a board chair, and learn new skills along the way. I encourage anyone in love with Iyengar Yoga to give it a try.” Theresa Hartmann, Boulder CO
IMIYA wants your help. We are a 100% volunteer-led organization aiming to support and grow our Iyengar yoga community. Board members take two-year terms. Scan through some examples of what each Board member does and see how you can best help IMIYA bring Iyengar yoga to more people who need it.
Contact us and let us know how you want to help IMIYA.
Contribute
Friends of IMIYA
Open call for volunteers
If you would like to help IMIYA achieve its goals but are wary of a commitment to full Board Member responsibilities, we’d love to invite you to become a Friend of IMIYA. We, the Board of IMIYA, ask you to sign up to assist with various activities when your schedule permits. There are many ways you can help. Here are a few.
- Help posting on IMIYA’s social media channels
- Website design and maintenance
- Help with organizing workshops, membership drives, yoga days, yoga movie showings
- Help with marketing
- Managing IMIYA’s Library
- Education/study groups
- Teaching free introductory classes
- Fundraising for scholarships for new/continuing teachers
- Presentations/demonstrations for local groups
- Speaking opportunities, sharing Iyengar Yoga
- Outreach to communities unfamiliar with Iyengar Yoga
- Sponsoring yoga research projects
We are looking for Friends of IMIYA to work with Board members, serve as connecting links between IMIYA, the yoga community, and the general public. As a volunteer, you are not obligated to a long-term commitment. However, should you have an interest in the future, joining the IMIYA Board is always a possibility!
To express an interest in the current board activities, please shoot us a message and let us know the activities you would be interested in helping us out with.