I am a Chapel Hill native, massage therapist, and yoga instructor. I turned to yoga after a foot injury ended my pickup basketball

career and allergies took me away from swimming. When the Carrboro Yoga Company opened, I deepened my practice and found Ashtanga Yoga. The athlete in me loved the active, powerful poses, the emphasis on breath and repetition, and the fact that you have no time to think about anything but the pose you’re in. It was the closest to a quiet mind I’d ever felt. Plus, the physical benefits were remarkable and tangible—I’d grown half an inch in my early 30s. I became stronger in a way that supported my daily living and my work as a massage therapist.

After my daughter was born, I was drawn more powerfully to my yoga and made my way into teaching, hoping to build a broader and stronger yoga community in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. I feel like I’m just getting started on the path, but teaching and coaching have always led to greater understanding and acceptance of my own practice.

In my classes, my intention is to challenge myself and my students to work with edges—the edge of what is challenging but possible, difficult but enjoyable, satisfying but with room to grow. The focus of my classes on the mat is on the physical practice, the asanas and the breath. Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly, relaxation, peace of mind, clarity, and compassion seem to make their way in by the end of class anyway.

Ruth is also the owner/founder of Carrboro Massage Therapy on Ashe Street. Visit their site at www.carrboromassagetherapy.com, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Classes at CYCo.

Power Flow Yoga, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00–1:00

See Ruth teaching: