About Us Teachers

"Santosha is wisdom of the highest living nature."

Goswami Kriyananda

Private Classes Available

Private classes are available for $75 per hour. Contact us for more information.

Santosha Yoga, founded in 2011 is a locally owned and operated studio founded by Michelle and Rick Gindele. In 2020 Santosha Yoga became a virtual yoga studio where all are welcome to experience the benefits and transformational potential of yoga. Our purpose is to provide a supportive environment for all to physically, mentally, and spiritually feel better. Staffed by experienced, enthusiastic, and kind-hearted instructors - Santosha Yoga offers online classes in the Iyengar Yoga tradition. The common thread of our teachers is a commitment to improving their knowledge, expertise, and instructional effectiveness. Our teachers are either Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYT) or working towards their Iyengar Yoga certification.

Teachers

Michelle, is the founder of Santosha Yoga and a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT). Michelle’s yoga journey began in 1997 and ever since then she has devoted her life to the study and practice of yoga. After receiving her first yoga certification 2002, Michelle rented space in Denver and started teaching. She is very grateful for the opportunity to study the art and science of yoga for sixteen years with Goswami Kriyananda. Maintaining a daily mediation practice since 1998, she is also a certified meditation teacher thru the Temple of Kriya Yoga, Chicago. Since 2011, Michelle has exclusively devoted herself to the study of Iyengar Yoga. Her primary Iyengar Yoga instructors are Craig Kurtz and Leslie Bradley. Additional studies include workshops with many senior advanced Iyengar Yoga teachers and attendance at the 2016 Iyengar National Conference with Abhijata Sridhar, B.K.S. Iyengar’s granddaughter. Michelle’s compassionate and sharp teaching style incorporates the principles of Iyengar Yoga.

Rick, a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT), started practicing yoga from a book in 1984 in order to relieve chronic back pain. In 1988, he began taking Hatha Yoga classes to bring
balance back to his body from years of intense athletic training (former Division I and semi-professional soccer player) and serious outdoor pursuits. In order to help heal from back surgery Rick started taking classes at the Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver in 2001. Since then, Rick has dedicated himself to the practice of yoga resulting in earning a Hatha Yoga Teaching Certification in 2011 under the guidance of Kim Schwartz and the Iyengar Introductory I & II combined certification in 2017. Rick is especially grateful for the guidance from his mentors (Leslie Bradley & Craig Kurtz) and the opportunity to study with more than twenty Iyengar Yoga teachers over the years.

Greta began practicing yoga in 2008. She received her Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) certification in 2009. In 2010 she received a 16hr Belly Bliss and a 20hr Yoga Alliance prenatal yoga certifications. Not long after, she discovered Iyengar Yoga and has been practicing and studying the method ever since. She is now a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) and in 2015 had the great opportunity of attending a 10 day intensive with Geeta Iyengar in India.