Cassie’s background in movement consists of a life-long study of dance, particularly ballet and competitive figure skating… it’s no wonder why she gravitated to the discipline and structure of the Ashtanga method! She first began taking yoga classes in college over ten years ago. Yoga drew her in due to its spiritual nature – a movement she understood as a way to connect to things beyond herself, so it simply made sense! As someone who has struggled with anxiety and depression, yoga was one of the few places she could find quiet in her mind. Dance did this, too, but college made it difficult! Frustrated with so many fitness-based classes and studios, her practice was mainly on and off for the following six years until she stumbled upon a teacher training program tucked away in East Dallas that spoke to her. She earned her RYT 200 in 2019 – the same program introducing her to Ashtanga Yoga. She began a dedicated 6-day practice early that year and has never looked back. She began teaching Half Primary, Full Primary, Power Flow, and Mysore classes immediately that summer. In 2020, her practice moved from Led Classes/Self-Practice to the traditional Mysore method with Authorized Level II teacher Dean Hollingsworth. In 2022, she was invited to study with world-renowned Authorized Level II teacher Taylor Hunt in his mentorship program, followed by his apprenticeship program in 2023. Both programs focused on learning and teaching Ashtanga yoga’s primary and intermediate series, learning cues and adjustments, developing leadership skills, and more. Ashtanga yoga has transformed Cassie’s life, and she hopes to share that love, joy, and power of transformation with others!