Your Greater Casa Grande Valley center for yoga, meditation, fitness, and Pilates.

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The studio is a proud member of the Casa Grande Main Street. 

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Teacher Bios

All of the teachers listed below are available for private sessions and public speaking engagements.

Nora Plonsky, E-R.Y.T., Owner 

It’s been 20 years since Nora took her first yoga class at a local community college.  Since then she’s moved around the country and traveled throughout the world from Poland to Tahiti; never settling in one place.  Along the way she has taken yoga from a variety of teachers with different traditions and styles. 

And so after all these years of being a student, starting off in beginning yoga classes and then moving on to Power classes, she finds that her own practice brings her full circle and back to the Basics.  The simplest movements and techniques can really provide the deepest stretch and most profound change in the body. 

From this philosophy, you can expect a class that emphasizes strength, flexibility, and proper alignment for a healthy body and deep breath work and meditation for a peaceful mind.  Weaving in a little philosophy, some world music, and lots of laughter she creates a welcoming environment for everyone.

She is registered with Yoga Alliance as an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (experienced is defined by Yoga Alliance as having taught for at least 2 years and 1,000 hours), a member of the Arizona Yoga Association, and a board member of Casa Grande Main Street.  Nora currently teaches computers and yoga at Central Arizona College. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York and a Master of Public Administration from Northeastern University in Boston. 

57 Susan Conn-Hood, Certified Yoga Instructor, Ace Certified Group Fitness Instructor

Susan has always been into fitness.  She took ballet and gymnastic as a youngster and was a cheerleader in college.  Susan earned a degree in Adult Fitness and Sports Science and became a certified Personal Weight Trainer and Fitness Instructor.  In the late 80s and early 90s she entered and won several bodybuilding contests.

About ten years ago she took her first yoga class.  She was amazed at how yoga made her feel...refreshed, stronger, and more flexible.  She earned her yoga certification thru AAAI in 2000 and has been teaching ever since.

To maintain her certification in yoga she continues to take ongoing fitness credits in yoga and attends several all day fitness seminars annually. 

In her classes you can expect a refreshing blend of yoga poses mixed with various forms of Pilates and fitness...adding dimension to this ancient form of practice. 

With her background in Fitness and degree in Adult Fitness and Sports Science, Susan has been a Guest Instructor and Nutritional Speaker for 20 years.  She has spoken about Women’s Nutrition and Fitness at the “The Palms Resort” in Palm Springs.  She has done various speaking engagements on Nutrition for The Breckenridge Women’s Ski Team and also for High School Athletic groups in Breckenridge, CO.  In addition, she has spoken at various women’s groups in both Breckenridge and Denver, CO.

Susan’s presentations are fun, informative and educational.  Susan is delighted to speak for your next group.  Who doesn’t need more cutting edge information about Fitness, Wellness and Nutrition??

Matt Jensen

Matt Jensen is nationally recognized as a certified teacher in the American Style of Ballroom and Rhythm dances. He comes to Arizona from the greater Seattle area as a new resident. Matt has competed both as an amateur and as a professional. He brings to his classes 15 years of teaching experience, with 12 years on cruise ships.  He is qualified to teach the Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha, Salsa, Meringue, Bolero, Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Nite Club 2-Step, Jitterbug, Jive, East Coast, and West Coast Swing.  DJ service is also available from Phoenix to Tucson.

56 Lauren Margison, R.Y.T.

Lauren, a dancer/singer/actress, found yoga to be a delicious treat for her body, mind and spirit. She discovered yoga after the wear and tear of dancing and touring took their toll.

Lauren has a B.M. in Music Theatre Performance from Arizona State University and graduated from New York Yoga's teacher training program. She has been teaching, choreographing and performing in New York City for the past four years and is so very honored to be back in Arizona teaching!

She loves the physical expression of yoga mixed with the therapeutic effects of this beautiful practice. Her class focuses on dancing with the breath, aligning the body and quieting the mind. Many thanks to all of my teachers!  Click here to learn more about her program, My First Yoga.

Sandra Phocas

A former psychiatrist, Sandra Phocas left Western medicine to pursue a more holistic, shamanic approach to healing.  She spent many years training and engaging in transformative healing and spiritual practices with a variety of healers in this and other countries.  She now focuses on sharing these teachings and practices with others through Sacred Healing, LLC, working privately with individuals, couples and small groups in Tucson and Casa Grande.  She also offers public workshops in Arizona, Maryland, and New York.  Click here to learn more about her background or her curriculum vitae.

Jennifer Wainscott

Jennifer has been teaching aerobics classes of all sorts for about 10 years but found Pilates 5 years ago and fell in love.  She has completed her Stott Pilates Mat Certification and is currently pursuing certification for the reformer.  The Stott Pilates approach preserves the essence of Joseph Pilates' teaching while enhancing them with contemporary knowledge about the body and how it functions. More information can be found at www.stottpilates.com.   Jennifer also offers personal session to assist those with tight schedules and/or would like to improve their ability to perform the exercises.  A private session includes a full postural analysis plus a individual progressive layered program to produce a well-rounded workout. The session is designed according to ones abilities with the goal of correcting postural problems while strengthening the body beginning with the core.