Yoga Instructors

Libby Robold  BS, MA

Libby began her yoga studies with Dr. Ron Chalfant, Iyengar teacher, in 1975. She began practicing yoga from books for a couple of years before taking her first class which she hoped would provide relief from chronic hip and abdominal pain. Falling in love with yoga at first encounter, Libby later gave up dance(instructing and performing) to delve more deeply into yoga. In 1985 she began teaching yoga at Northwestern Michigan College, and has since studied with many renowned teachers and various yoga schools, becoming certified as a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist and certified yoga teacher. She has taught numerous workshops and classes to people of all ages from three to eighty-five, in addition to training other teachers and therapists. In 1993, Libby trademarked Breathercise, a relaxation therapy system for children and adults. An educator since 1969, she currently teaches yoga, art, creative dramatics, and music education to severely emotionally challenged youngsters for Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District at a day therapy school. With an MA in individualized instruction, Libby has a knack for meeting the needs of a mixed group. Libby is a member of the Michigan Yoga Association, the Yoga Association of Greater Detroit, Yoga for Research in Education, and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. In September 2002, Libbys article, Yoga and Healing for the Aggressive Child appeared in the yearly publication, International Association of Yoga Therapists Journal. In fall of 2006, Libby and yoga student/nurse Patty Bauer published Yoga and Hip Replacement, also in the IAYT journal.   Libby teaches a wide array of classes from Beginning and Beyond, Continuing, Yin, Kundalini, children's yoga, and therapeutics for backs and arthritis.  Libby, along with her husband, Michael, co-directs Yoga for Health and facilitates the Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy for teachers.

Libby sees yoga as a way of life and enjoys helping people find their creative spark within.

Michael Robold

Michael taught elementary school for ten years and earned his MA in Elementary School Administration. Along with his wife, Libby, Michael operated an outdoor vacation company, Michigan Bicycle Touring, for twenty-five years.  He began his yoga practice with Iyengar teacher, Dr. Ron Chalfant in 1975, and assisted Libby in classes and workshops for fifteen years.  Michael received his certification in 1996 from the White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara. Although drawn to the high energy styles of yoga, due largely to his involvement in competitive athletics through college, Michael likewise enjoys teaching classes to beginners.  He has a passion for nutrition and enjoys conducting the Yoga of Eating workshops. At Yoga for Health, Michael co-directs the Center for Conscious Living and currently teaches Beginning & Beyond, Yoga Flow, Yoga for Teens, Yoga for Athletes, and Continuing classes. He enjoys teaching yoga because it encompasses all that we are - mind, body and spirit. Michael is an active member of the Michigan Yoga Association.

Margaret Magner

Margaret has a B.A. in psychology, is a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, a meditation teacher, and a certified Reike Master. Margaret began practicing yoga in 1993 with her teacher, Libby Robold. In 1997, she began teaching Gentle Yoga at Northwestern Michigan College. Her ongoing interest in metaphysics, along with her Transcendental Meditation practice (she took training in 1970) led her to yoga. She is a member of the Michigan Yoga Association and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Margaret is also known in the area for her artistry in jewelry and photography.

Linda Forster

Linda has been a student of Yoga for several years and completed the Teacher Training Program at Integral Yoga in Buckingham VA in November, 2003, and is currently enrolled in the Yoga for Health Education Mentoring Academy for continued education. Linda currently teaches Beginning Yoga on Wednesday evening.  Through Yoga she has found a way of reducing tension, maintaining health, building flexibility, and living peacefully in a hectic world.

 Stephanie Prall     Jan Mathews        Lillie Wolff             Barb Huegli                
 

Stephanie Prall

Stephanie joined the staff at YFH two years after completing a 200 hour certification program.  She is the mother of two young girls and taught at West Junior High for ten years.  Stephanie has a B.A. in psychology and is a certified yoga instructor, registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200 Hour Level.  Currently, Stephanie teaches Gentle, Beginning & Beyond some All Levels classes on Saturday morning and various Yoga for Youth classes. 

Jan Mathews 

Jan has an eclectic education/experiential background in creative movement and martial arts emphasizing the integration of body, mind and spirit: including 10 years of Aikido training.  She has studied,practiced and taught Tai Chi/Qigong for 13 years, training with Dr. Don Beers, Central Mi. University; Mark Winter, Morton Grove, Ill; Jane Hale, Traverse City MI; and Tricia Yu, Madison, Wis. She has participated in workshop intensives with T'aiji Master Chugliang 'Al Huang';  Zen Buddhist priest Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt Ph.D.; Qigong instructor, Francesco Garripoli and with Dennis Lewis, who teaches the transformative power of 'Authentic Breathing', Qigong and meditation. She is a founding member of IKKYUJI, a Zen Meditation Sangha in Traverse City.  Jan has taught Tai Chi/Qigong classes and workshops at the Kalkaska Health and Healing Ministry, Michigan Rehabilitation Conference, Just Imagine Creative Arts Healing Center, Traverse City Senior Center, Northwestern Michigan College, Grand Traverse Resort Health Club and for community groups, churches and organizations.

Lillie Wolff

Lillie was born in New York City and raised in Traverse City.  Lillie Wolff, RYT, began taking yoga at Yoga for Health after spending her junior year of college abroad in Quito, Ecuador.  After receiving her BA in Human Development and Social Relations from Kalamazoo College in 2004, Lillie spent a year in Washington, D.C.  There she coordinated a non-profit legal clinic and practiced Vinyasa style yoga at Flow Yoga Center.  Traverse City became Lillie's home base again when she returned to the area in April of 2005.  The following March Lillie received her 200 Hour Level teacher certification from the Union Yoga Teacher Training Program in Lake Leelanau, MI.  Lillie is passionate about exploring and sharing the countless benefits of yoga, breath, and meditation.  She is especially interested in Yin and Restorative style yoga as it allows the mind/body to slow down, relax, and tap into the vast and innate healing power that we all possess.  Lillie also enjoys teaching Yoga for Kids (ages 9-12) at Yoga for Health. Additionally, she works with kids, teaching Spanish, at The Childrens House.  When she is not teaching yoga or Spanish, Lillie works as an Immigrant/Migrant Advocate at Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency.  Lillie's creative outlet happens through jewelry design for her jewelry line Lillie Wolff Designs.      

Barb Huegli

Barb fell in love with yoga ten years ago while living in San Francisco.  After moving to Traverse City in 2002, she enrolled in a 200 hour Teacher Training course with Sandra Carden and is now continuing her education at the 500 hour level with Libby.  Barb's focus in her teaching is to convey basic asanas with proper alignment in hopes that students can enter any yoga class with a solid understanding of the postures.  She really enjoys working from the ground up!  When she is not teaching yoga or working at Munson Hospital, , Barb loves to be outtside.  Among her favorite outdoor activities are biking, hiking, and kayaking.  

B
    Ann Parker              Richard Sutton           Kristina Wiedenfeller

Richard Sutton

Richard has an interest in yoga that began forty years ago when a large hard cover yoga book was left mysteriously in his apartment. Recent years have found him studying with Libby and Michael Robold, and in the Yoga for Health Mentoring Program. Richard has been in practice as a Clinical  Massage Therapist for 15 years. He has been well known for thirty years first as a potter and then as a painter with a Master of Fine Arts Degree. Art is the souls wondrous dance with the physical. Just so is Yoga. His other dance forms include sailing, skiing, and making music.