Teachers

Gerhard E. Gessner, MA, E-RYT, Director

Gerhard is founder and director of Prana Yoga Center. He has been a student of Yoga for over 18 years and is trained in a variety of different styles of Hatha Yoga, including Ashtanga, Iyengar, Ananda and Contact Yoga. His non-dogmatic and unique Vinyasa style combines these different influences and is tailored to the needs of his students.

Gerhard has a powerful ability to inspire his students to look for their potential, while challenging and nurturing their process in a fun and safe environment. He challenges his students to find their edge while using the breath as an inner indicator to reach and stay within their limits. Being mindful and attentive during practice so we can feel one with our actions is also of great importance to him. Gerhard teaches with the aim of guiding his students in their own process, so over time, they can develop a finer sensitivity to the more subtle movements in their bodies and minds. In his view, the teacher becomes the conductor and each student is a note… ideally coming all together in a beautiful symphony. In order to create the perfect synchronicity within the class, he encourages his students to be completely focused and present. If we are absorbed in the moment of our activity, we can consequently slow down the "chatter" (vritti) of our minds; this state is also known as "flow."

Gerhard’s background is versatile and includes a BA in Mechanical Engineering, a MA in Education and a MA in Counseling Psychology. He is a Certified Massage Therapist, a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, and a Registered Yoga Teacher 500 with the Yoga Alliance. 
He also studied dance and movement therapy at the Tamalpa Institute in San Francisco.