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Staff Bios
Robyn Parets, E-RYT, Founder and Creator
Robyn Parets, a registered Hatha yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance, graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in print journalism. Robyn was formerly a financial journalist, writing for many well-known publications and magazines including Investor's Business Daily, Inc. Magazine, and BRANDweek. Robyn also served as a public relations, marketing and communications consultant, writing and conceptualizing consumer and retail marketing and advertising campaigns for large corporations and household brands. After many years working in the corporate world, Robyn ran out of fuel.
Yet, through her dedicated yoga and pranayama practice, Robyn rediscovered her inner-strength and innate ability to heal, adapt, and evolve. She decided to do what she loved most and became a yoga teacher. She then opened Breathe Joy Yoga, a multifaceted yoga studio and school in Sharon, Ma.
Robyn, who often practices yoga with her sons, launched Pretzel Kids® in the early part of the decade and ran this program alongside her studio. Pretzel Kids® incorporates Hatha yoga postures with fun, imaginative games and relaxation techniques for children and teens. She has since brought yoga into schools, after-school programs, summer camps, and many other locations using her proven Pretzel Kids® curriculum. After countless hours of work, Robyn and her staff of trained educators created and developed the Pretzel Kids® teacher training manual, brand, and methodology so that others can offer the wonderful gift of Pretzel Kids® yoga to children of all ages!
For Robyn, yoga is a life-changing, joyful practice and she aims to instill a sense of well-being and happiness in her students of all ages. She lives in Sharon with her fiancee, her sons, and her Pretzel Dog! To learn more about Robyn's yoga studio, please go to www.breathejoyyoga.com.
Meagan Krasner, RYT, Director of Training
Meagan Krasner, MS, RYT, is a Board Certified Genetic Counselor. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors Degree in Biology and a Masters Degree in Genetic Counseling. Meagan worked as a clinical genetic counselor at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH, Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, RI and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, MA. In addition to seeing patients, she gave numerous talks to both physician groups and the public, published several articles, and oversaw genetic counseling interns.
Meagan graduated the Breathe Joy Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training program in 2009. Now the Breathe Joy Yoga studio manager, Meagan was one of the first yoga teachers to become a certified and licensed PK instructor. With her background in genetics and working with families and children, Meagan is uniquely qualified as a Pretzel Kids® trainer, specializing in children with special needs. Meagan is the founder of the children's yoga program Rays of Fun Yoga and lives in Franklin, MA with her three children, husband, two dogs, two frogs, and two fish. As you may have guessed, she is an avid animal lover. To learn more about Meagan, go to www.raysoffunyoga.com
Joel Lehrer graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School. Formerly an engineer and software consultant, Joel now practices law, specializing in intellectual property and patents. Joel works with companies of all sizes and particularly enjoys working with start-up companies. Joel knows first-hand how beneficial yoga is as it helps him come back to center, not to mention that yoga saved his back! He has been instrumental in developing the business and branding aspects of the Pretzel Kids® program and has even been known to fix technology glitches! He leads the "running a successful business" portion of the Pretzel Kids® certification courses and loves being part of this wonderful movement to bring Pretzel Kids yoga classes to children everywhere.
Jill Stevens
, Curriculum Developer
Jill Stevens, RYT, graduated from Smith College with a B.A. in American Studies and holds a Masters degree in the art of teaching from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She worked as a middle and high school history teacher from 1994-2001, in a preschool setting as an assistant teacher, and now in a local elementary school heading up a program integrating inner-city children with the suburban school population. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Breathe Joy Yoga in June of 2007 and has been teaching at the studio since September of 2007. As a classroom teacher, she enjoyed writing lesson plans and developing curriculum. She has brought this expertise to the Pretzel Kids® program where she has been instrumental in developing the curriculum guide and manual. She is excited to be a part of the Pretzel Kids® program because it gives her the opportunity to blend two of her greatest passions. Jill lives in Canton with her husband, daughters, and their two dogs. Robyn Parets, a registered Hatha yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance, graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in print journalism. Robyn was formerly a financial journalist, writing for many well-known publications and magazines including Investor's Business Daily, Inc. Magazine, and BRANDweek. Robyn also served as a public relations, marketing and communications consultant, writing and conceptualizing consumer and retail marketing and advertising campaigns for large corporations and household brands. After many years working in the corporate world, Robyn ran out of fuel. Yet, through her dedicated yoga and pranayama practice, Robyn rediscovered her inner-strength and innate ability to heal, adapt, and evolve. She decided to do what she loved most and became a yoga teacher. She then opened Breathe Joy Yoga, a multifaceted yoga studio and school in Sharon, Ma.
Robyn, who often practices yoga with her sons, launched Pretzel Kids® in the early part of the decade and ran this program alongside her studio. Pretzel Kids® incorporates Hatha yoga postures with fun, imaginative games and relaxation techniques for children and teens. She has since brought yoga into schools, after-school programs, summer camps, and many other locations using her proven Pretzel Kids® curriculum. After countless hours of work, Robyn and her staff of trained educators created and developed the Pretzel Kids® teacher training manual, brand, and methodology so that others can offer the wonderful gift of Pretzel Kids® yoga to children of all ages!
For Robyn, yoga is a life-changing, joyful practice and she aims to instill a sense of well-being and happiness in her students of all ages. She lives in Sharon with her fiancee, her sons, and her Pretzel Dog! To learn more about Robyn's yoga studio, please go to www.breathejoyyoga.com.
Meagan Krasner, RYT, Director of Training
Meagan Krasner, MS, RYT, is a Board Certified Genetic Counselor. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelors Degree in Biology and a Masters Degree in Genetic Counseling. Meagan worked as a clinical genetic counselor at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH, Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, RI and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, MA. In addition to seeing patients, she gave numerous talks to both physician groups and the public, published several articles, and oversaw genetic counseling interns. Meagan graduated the Breathe Joy Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training program in 2009. Now the Breathe Joy Yoga studio manager, Meagan was one of the first yoga teachers to become a certified and licensed PK instructor. With her background in genetics and working with families and children, Meagan is uniquely qualified as a Pretzel Kids® trainer, specializing in children with special needs. Meagan is the founder of the children's yoga program Rays of Fun Yoga and lives in Franklin, MA with her three children, husband, two dogs, two frogs, and two fish. As you may have guessed, she is an avid animal lover. To learn more about Meagan, go to www.raysoffunyoga.com
Joel Lehrer, Director of Brand Development and CTO
Joel Lehrer graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and a J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School. Formerly an engineer and software consultant, Joel now practices law, specializing in intellectual property and patents. Joel works with companies of all sizes and particularly enjoys working with start-up companies. Joel knows first-hand how beneficial yoga is as it helps him come back to center, not to mention that yoga saved his back! He has been instrumental in developing the business and branding aspects of the Pretzel Kids® program and has even been known to fix technology glitches! He leads the "running a successful business" portion of the Pretzel Kids® certification courses and loves being part of this wonderful movement to bring Pretzel Kids yoga classes to children everywhere.Jill Stevens
, Curriculum DeveloperMichelle Pulsifer, Curriculum Developer
Michelle Pulsifer is a certified and experienced Hatha Yoga teacher, as well as a preschool teacher. She graduated with a degree in fashion design in the mid 1990s but quickly realized that working with children was her true calling, her dharma. Michelle then taught preschool at Bright Horizons and Children's Courtyard in Austin TX from 1999 to 2001.After moving to Massachusetts (and now back to Texas!), Michelle began her yoga studies in earnest and graduated in 2006 as a certified yoga teacher at the 200-hour level. She has been blessed with the opportunity to study with many inspiring teachers in the United States and is full of gratitude and admiration for each one. Michelle is thrilled to be part of the Pretzel Kids® staff and strives to bring a sense of fun and wonder to each PK class. “Teaching yoga to children is my way of helping the world to be a better place by teaching them to move, dance, laugh and relax....to enjoy life for the wonderful gift that it is.” Michelle resides in Austin, TX. with her husband and two daughters.
