Jan Byrd is the owner of Metta Yoga Studio and a certified yoga instructor who received her certification from the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago in May 2007. She is a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance.

Jan came to yoga hoping to discover a way to reverse the physical and mental effects of an increasing sedentary lifestyle and found much more. Jan has personally experienced the life transforming qualities of a yoga practice and is excited about sharing it with others.

"The benefits of yoga are extraordinary and diverse, a few of which include increased awareness and concentration, improved flexibility and breathing, decreased tension and anxiety, less illness, and overall better quality of life. Yoga is an approach to instilling a sense of balance in your life."

Making yoga practice adaptable to every level of fitness, ability, and age is what most inspires Jan's teaching. Emphasis is placed on correct alignment, coordinating breath with movement, self-awareness, and encouraging self-expression in your practice.

"The beauty of yoga is that anyone can practice the poses in some fashion regardless of age or ability. It is a learning process to discover the appropriateness of a pose for your body type, shape or condition, and a beautiful journey of discovery that brings peace, acceptance of yourself, and an overall sense of well-being."

Jan is particularly interested in yoga as a therapeutic practice and continues her training with Doug Keller: Yoga as Therapy. Jan is a member of The International Association of Yoga Therapists. She also continues to train under Erich Schiffmann.

Jan is a Reiki Level 1 therapist, having received training and initiation in the traditional form of Reiki (Usui Reiki Ryoho) by Reiki Master Robert N. Fueston. Private sessions are available by appointment.

When not giving yoga classes, Jan works as a legal secretary in a law firm and makes her home with her husband, Jim, and their cat, Natasha.

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