Mary Blackstock

Your Class Vibe: Warm, nurturing, and creative — grounding for the body with a playful, artistic spirit.

Training & Experience: Trained in Hatha yoga at Integral Institute in New York City; completed 200-hour Vinyasa teacher training at Exhale Yoga (2009) under Daniele Jarman. Have studied with renowned teachers including Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Colleen Saidman Yee, and Rodney Yee. Over 1,000 hours teaching in schools and studios throughout New Jersey, specializing in Children's, Family, Gentle, Baby and Me, and Prenatal Yoga, as well as Art and Yoga for all ages and levels.

What's the heart of your teaching? My hope is that my students discover that yoga heals far beyond the physical — and that creativity and self-expression are part of that healing.

Why did you start teaching? I began practicing yoga over two decades ago to recover from a sports injury, but soon found it offered so much more than physical relief. It was years later, while practicing prenatal yoga, that I felt inspired to teach. Since then, my focus has been sharing yoga with children and families.

Extra Spark: I blend Art and Yoga to bring a creative, expressive quality to my sequencing.

Off the Mat: I have a graphic design and visual arts background, which provides inspiration for my classes. My greatest daily inspiration, though, comes from motherhood and my role as a mom.