Pacific Yoga students

Pacific Yoga students Pacific Yoga Teacher Training and Advanced Study Program is currently in its fourteenth year of providing teacher training and master classes to yoga students in the Seattle region. Directors Theresa Elliott and Kathryn Payne have been teaching yoga in Seattle since 1990 and have dedicated themselves to the responsible and exceptional teaching of yoga since they founded the training in 1997.*


Theresa and Kathryn are long-standing members of the Pacific Northwest yoga community, and their knowledge extends to a direct understanding of its history and culture. With over 20 years of teaching experience each, they are committed to creating a comprehensive and diverse learning environment for the student of yoga. In addition to their ongoing class schedules, they offer workshops in their areas of expertise. For local students this offers a great advantage as they develop their skills and create a firm foundation for their yoga knowledge.

Theresa Elliott began her study of yoga in 1987  after years of study in music and dance.  She  became a certified Iyengar teacher in 1990 and  has gone on to establish herself as a nationally  recognized practitioner and teacher of yoga. Theresa is the demonstration model for Judith  Lasater's book, "30 Essential Poses For Beginning  Students and their Teachers".  She served as a  model for Hugger Mugger Yoga catalogs, posters  and products, and recently became an ambassador to Blue Canoe Organic Clothing.  Theresa teaches workshops nationally, focusing on the needs of teachers in the Northwest.  To this end, in 2004 she opened her studio, Taj Yoga.  She is the Co-Director of Pacific Yoga and teaches the asana  portion of the program. E-RYT 500.

Kathryn Payne began her practice of meditation in 1985 and her asana practice in 1988. She traveled to India to study with the Iyengars and is certified by Dona Holleman to teach her methods as described in the text, "Dancing the Body of Light." Her understanding of yoga shifted radically when she began her study of Sanskrit with Vyaas Houston in 1995. She now teaches for the American Sanskrit Institute and has led Sutra Study groups for ten years. Kathryn originally founded The Yoga Tree in 1996, and more recently Island Yoga Center on Vashon Island where she lives with her husband and daughter. She is the Co-Director of Pacific Yoga and teaches the philosophy and pranayama sections of the program. E-RYT 500.

Paul Bubak, M.D. is a retired surgeon with thirty years of experience treating the consequences of disease, neglect and injury.  When confronted by his own life-threatening health challenge at the age of 50, he made a commitment to a regular, alignment-based yoga practice.  With his direct experience of yoga's healing power, Paul is uniquely qualified to combine the ancient teachings of yoga with his extensive and contemporary knowledge of human anatomy.  At the heart of his teachings is a focus on injury prevention in asana,  recognizing each individual's unique abilities and limitations.  Making use of tools, partner work and humor, Paul creates the ideal atmosphere for students of yoga to learn the fundamentals of applied anatomy with ease and clarity.

Melanie Farmer is a clinical ayurvedic specialist graduating from the California College of Ayurveda in 1999 and from the Reshikesh College of Ayurveda, India in 2001. She is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher with 20 years of experience, member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and licensed massage therapist practicing 15 years in the Seattle area. Melanie is a Vedic astrologer and jyotisha certified by the American College of Vedic Astrology; a professional member in the Council of Vedic Astrologers and Washington State Astrological board member. In addition, Melanie is an avid equestrian and is currently rehabilitating a 22 year thoroughbred and former racehorse via dressage (horse yoga) for trail and endurance riding.

Noel Caraig, PT, Noel is a physical therapist who has been practicing for 19 years with extensive experience in managing orthopedic and neurological disorders. His professional focus has been in the optimization of motor learning in rehabilitation. He has held certifications as a Neurological Clinical Specialist and also in vestibular rehabilitation and teaches in the PIMA physical therapy assistant program. Additionally, he co-teaches in the popular "Mobility and Stability of Yoga" series with Theresa Elliott.




Pacific Yoga Affiliate Studios
Pacific Yoga Affiliate Studios work directly with Pacific Yoga to provide workshops that benefit the committed student and teaching community in their area. Both the affiliate studio and Pacific Yoga share the goal of improving the quality, depth and subject matter of yoga without having to travel far from home. These workshops count as CECs (continuing education credits) with the Yoga Alliance. Email us for details and a full description of how this plan works.

Pacific Yoga Affiliate Studio

Source Yoga in Tacoma, WA