Mark Grouling
Mark Grouling is a young man from a small town called Sag Harbor, in the State of New York. It is an historic fishing village far out on Long Island (about 100 miles from New York City) that is sustained predominantly by tourism. He has grown up in a house in the woods on top of a hill, enjoying the privacy of a fair bit of seclusion as well as a loving and caring local community.
Mark Grouling practices and teaches Ashtanga Yoga. He has been teaching for more than 4 years, and continues to practice and study every moment of his life. He has had the pleasure of studying with Corey Derosa, David Swenson, Saraswathi Rangaswami, and Dr. M.A. Jayashree.
“I am passionate about learning new skills, and enjoy having a teacher. I have struggled to teach myself various skills, some of which have developed, and other of which have faded. I truly love learning from someone who is extremely experienced in a skill, and who loves their skill to such an intensity that they feel compelled to teach it – like an overflow of love.”
Anna Grouling
Jackie’s parents can affirm that Jackie has always been introspective, sensitive, and wise beyond her years. Jackie’s personal yoga practice began in 2005 as a means to calm an overactive mind and challenge an underactive body. Her asana practice offered relief to the mental stretch marks of being overly-analytical and a developing interest in Eastern philosophy healed the growing pains of being perpetually hungry for knowledge and personal growth. In 2008, her curiosity took her to India to study classical Hatha yoga for five months. Shortly after, she earned her 200-hour certification with Yoga Teachers Training Institute. In 2009, after graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in English Language & Literature and a concentration in Philosophy, she began teaching in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. In 2011, Jackie completed her 500-hour teacher training with the teachers of Yoga Teachers Training Institute: Mokshapriya Shakti of Yogashakti Yoga Center, Valerie Nichols, Karen Dubi, and Stacy Plaske of Balance Yoga & Healing.
Jackie’s passion to share this ancient science with others and to deepen her knowledge on how to incorporate the Eight Limbs of yoga into every day life are the driving forces behind continued teacher training and knowledge-seeking. Jackie teaches both Eclectic Hatha and Vinyasa classes largely influenced by the Ashtanga practice. Her classes incorporate philosophy influenced by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. She also integrates strong detailed alignment-oriented technical instruction to increase self-awareness and deepen the practice. Jackie’s style blends several traditions to create a dynamic cohesive flow, the aim of which is to develop strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, and concentration in order to instill inner peace, confidence, and empowerment in each and every one of us.