ABOUT
sharing a fascination of yoga
The wonderland of yoga keeps Rhonda fascinated and entertained. As a Certified Iyengar Instructor, she shares her passion for the art, philosophy, and science of yoga in a fun and engaging way; and strives to turn on the yoga light for students through BKS Iyengar's world renown teaching method.
Rhonda educates students in many ways through videos, blogs, and articles on her site, Yogaconnections.org, the IYASE site, as well as guest posts on other Iyengar studio sites like Stillwater Yoga. She is a member of the Iyengar Yoga National Association, (IYNAUS) and served on the board as web chair for four years with the Iyengar Yoga Association of Southeast (IYASE). As web chair, she developed a new website that would assured students have access to the breadth of knowledge the Iyengar Community as a whole has to share.
As a perpetual student, Rhonda continues to train with more senior teachers and has an on ongoing personal practice to further her own awareness and enhance her ability to share it. She focuses on proper alignment and can help students at any level of yoga training evolve their practice. Young or old, strong or physically challenged, she provides a safe and exciting environment to explore the wonders of yoga.
Rhonda was in a position to serve as alternate care for her father before he passed away in June 2023, she became deeply connected to the mental and physical challenges older adults face. She returned to college to learn more about the many spheres of influence on our physical, mental, and behavioral health. She earned her Bachelors of Social Work from Dalton State College doing fieldwork with K-8th grade students in a rural and urban school district. She recently completed her Masters of Social Work at Fordham University where she helped spearhead a Mental Health Symposium in Whitfield County. All the while continuing to learn and share Iyengar Yoga. It is her hope to build a healing practice that connects evidence-based mental health modalities with Iyengar Yoga practice to serve her students by offering ever more credible tools for healing and sustaining well being.
Yoga Connections is about connections and community. We strive to link students to the entire Iyengar Community. Therefore, don't be surprised if Rhonda or one of her instructors encourages you to study with other Certified Iyengar Instructors in your area and around the world. She knows all instructors have special gifts they can share, and wants her students to experience them.
Education:
2024 Master of Social Work, Fordham University
2023 Bachelor of Social Work, Dalton State College
2018 The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India.
2015 Certified Iyengar Yoga Level 1B Iyengar Instructor
2014 Certified Iyengar Yoga Level 1A Iyengar Instructor
2014 Geeta Iyengar 70th Birthday Two-Week Intensive in Pune, India
Iyengar Teacher Training/Therapy Assisting 500+ hours (Kathleen Pringle. Kquvien DeWeese, Nancy Mau)
Personal Daily Practice 16+ years
Conventions:
2023 Abhijata Iyengar Sankalpa, Iyengar National Convention, San Diego, CA
2016 May, From The Periphery, Iyengar National Convention, Boca Raton, Florida
2014 December, Geeta Iyengar Birthday Intensive,Pune, India
2012 September Heartland Conference, Chicago, Illinois –
2013 Maitri Conference, Washington, DC
Weekend Workshops with Patricia Walden (3), Manouso Manos (6), Mary Obendorfer (1), Gulnaaz Dashti (1), Nancy Mau Hip workshop (1) Kathleen Pringle’s Scoliosis Intensive (2), Steve Jacobson’s Pranayama Intensive (2) Stillwater Assisting with Mentors & Recommending Teachers. Online trainings to enhance skills such as teaching young people, and addressing specific issues such as trauma, IBS and pelvic floor strength.