Yoga runs deep, so to speak, a large part of who she is, not just what she does. Amy's own teachers are many, but the most influential are: Julie Russell (Mom), June LaSalvia, Erich Schiffman, Gayna Uransky, Richard Freeman, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Shiva Rea, Dave Stringer, and Jai Uttal.

Amy's experience reflects an understanding that with the continual practice of yoga asanas (postures), kriyas (purification), breath awareness (pranayama), and chanting the Divine name (Nada/Bhakti Yoga) we become more sensitive, present, and alive. This sensitivity enables or at least helps us to respond to ourselves and others from a natural state of kindness. This awareness transforms our mind/body/life energy, our daily lives, and our relationship with all sentient beings and global communities, into a more loving and joyful experience. Amy's playful and energetic style encourages students' inner curiosity and exploration of one's individual & unique experience.

Amy teaches from a life richly lived, drawing on her background in the arts, theatre, dance, and music. She is a certified (body oriented) psychotherapist, and had a private and group practice in Boulder, Colorado for several years. Amy discovered the magic of kirtan, singing with Dave Stringer at Yoga Source back in 2000 and has been passionately exploring the practice and mystery of Bhakti Yoga since. She has been devotedly studying with her beloved teacher Jai Uttal for the past few years and has allowed this to become the center point of her creative and spiritual life. Amy currently leads a kirtan band called Samavayah. www.myspace.com/samavayah. Please contact her to find out more about it, as well as dates & times.

amy@movegracefully.com

Amy Barnes’s yoga class has changed the way I am in my body. I leave her class a little larger each week. I feel like Amy is part healer, part minister, and fully yoga teacher.
I would drive from two counties away to experience her healing touch during savasana.
-- Jill Webb-Hill

A bhakti yoga weekend retreat with Amy Barnes more than amazed me. It fulfilled my deepest desire to find a teacher of the yoga path that lights up my soul fire...and right here in Tennessee! How wonderful indeed! Her "bhakti soup" cooks up so artfully the blend of yogas - the fluid, flowing hatha, pranayama breathing, repetition of mantras to music, and the bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion expressed through her presence, voice and healing touch. It makes for a totally unique and integrated experience that took many if not all of the participants, myself included, to new highs, expansions, and ecstasy.
I've been up close to many masters and heavy-duty spiritual teachers, feeling their darshan. The feeling that Amy exudes is right up there with the best of them, imbued with her special musical talent and the vibrations of all of her teachers, of India and Hawaii, and all the delightful essence of Shakti. We are very fortunate to have her presence in our area. If passion for the Divine is your calling, she might just be the one with whom to fly to the Higher Planes of existence.
-- Kathleen Rosemary