Jim is certified as an RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance, having completed 250-hour Teacher Training at Asheville Community Yoga and 300 training hours in Advanced Yoga Studies at Asheville Yoga Center. Additional yoga training Jim has completed includes study of Experiential Anatomy with Judith Lasater and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga with David Emerson, both at Kripalu. 

Jim’s purpose in teaching yoga is to help make yoga available and enjoyable for all. Honoring the uniqueness of each person, Jim invites his students to explore each pose to notice sensations in their bodies and discover the form that is most useful. He encourages students to use Asana with ease in order to move toward the space in which gratitude, compassion, joy, and freedom arise.

Prior to teaching yoga, Jim taught college-level geology and environmental courses for 22 years. Many of his college classes incorporated yoga during a break midway through each lecture. Jim felt greatly honored when, during a departmental awards ceremony, students presented him with the “Lotus Award for mastering grace and balance through yoga in the classroom.” It was the enthusiasm of these college students for yoga and his own passion for yoga that inspired Jim to teach yoga classes. He is deeply grateful to his students, his teachers, and Asheville Community Yoga. 

Jim’s Classes:

Yoga for Seniors (All Levels, Beginners Welcome)

Thursdays, from 10:00 to 11:00 am

You are invited to join us for a practice of movement and breath that respects our bodies and comforts our minds. Enjoy the benefits of yoga in a fun and relaxing way. The class is taught with acceptance and without judgment, seeking to bring peace and compassion to each of us that will continue beyond our time together. The class is designed for students who are 50 and up, and remains open to all ages and levels. Beginners are welcome. Props and modifications are provided.

Chair Yoga (All Levels, Beginners Welcome)

Fridays, from 10:15 to 11:15 am

All levels and ages are welcome in this class, which uses chairs to help ensure an accessible and safe yoga practice. Options and modifications are offered to encourage students to discover the forms and movements that they find most useful. This approach can build awareness and improve strength, flexibility, and balance in ways appropriate to each individual student. Creative exploration of yoga postures and movements is encouraged. A theme or intention is integrated within each class to serve as a guide toward experiencing peace and happiness. The uniqueness of each student is honored and appreciated as we share the yoga practice, helping bring us together as community.