Kelly Ponzi's yoga practice began in 1986 as a student at the University of Oregon.  Her teaching style reflects the breadth and depth of her own practice and studies.  She has practiced with many hatha yoga masters, especially from the Krisnamacharya lineage. She worked directly with T.V.K. Desikachar whose practice  influenced her understanding of the therapeutic benefits and breath awareness of  viniyoga and  vinyasa.  Her studies with advanced teachers of B.K.S. Iyengar has sharped her eye for the precision and execution of alignment in asana (italics). In 1995, she met her current spiritual teacher Swami Chetanananda  and lives and studies in his yoga school, The Rudrananda Ashram, named for his teacher Swami Rudrananda known simply as Rudi. In 1999 she was introduced to the  Tibetan Buddist teacher Lama Wandu Rinpoche, who is in residence in the Ashram when he is not in his home in Kathmandu, Nepal. These Mahasiddhas or masters of the lineage practice the non-dualistic teachings of Kashmir Shivaism and Vajrayana Buddhism.  Non-dualistic thought recognizes that all beings are connected and at the heart all are one. 

Kelly has taught at the Nike world headquarters, Cascade Aids Project, and for Headstart, a non-profit program for low income mothers. She has modeled yoga clothing for Nike and currently for lululemon athletica. She taught a prenatal series with KPTV's, Fox 12's, Better show, and has appeared on Good day Oregon. She is featured in the Prenatal yoga DVD  and Prenatal Sun Salutation DVD, both by Rudra Press.  These DVD's were noted as a "Editor's best pick"  by Fit Pregnancy magazine. Kelly is currently working on the follow up DVD for postnatal yoga and new mothers also being produced by Rudra Press.  Kelly received her teaching certification from the Movement Center, where she teaches classes and is one of the staff for the yoga teacher's training program.  She is registered with Yoga Alliance at the highest level of 500 hours. 

Kelly is deeply committed to expanding her awareness of the underlying unity of all life.  She honors the uniqueness of all people, believing that at our core we are each perfect and one with the divine.  She views yoga, at it's essence, as the practice of realizing this divine union, and it brings he great joy to share in the practice with the people in her life.  Kelly looks forward to practicing with you.