Martha Cournoyer

I have been an educator my entire life.  My college degree was in Jr. High School education, and I worked as a full time 8th Grade Teacher for 8 years. The areas that I taught were, Social Studies, Reading, and Language Arts, and I was also the 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach.  I enjoyed teaching a great deal but it became financially unfeasible when I had my  3rd child and I chose to stay home.

After having my children I started working out at a health club and I became hooked on being fit. It literally became a huge part of my life, and it remains so to this day. Being fit is as vital to me as breathing and eating and it will remain so the rest of my life. I was very fortunate to get in on the ground level of what was a new idea at the time. I was hired by the Centre Club in their Group Exercise Department in 1988. The concept of a community hospital to provide fitness to the community, rather than just treating diseases was an idea that a Doctor at Condell Hospital had as he had treated many diseases in the ER that might have been prevented through exercise. Thus a 'Wellness' center, The Centre Club, was built on the campus of Condell Hospital as a for-profit adjunct to the hospital. We were the first hospital in the state of Illinois to do so, and this is now a very popular idea  throughout the country. I have been there since it opened 24 years ago in the Group Exercise Department.

I taught pre/post-natal exercise classes for 19 years, which was a combination of step, strengthening classes for carrying babies and especially core work for post-natal moms. I loved doing this and am still passionate about fitness for pre/post-natal women at this special time of their lives.  However, in the last 7 years I've fallen in love with yoga and I primarily teach that.

My personal teaching mission statement would be to impart on my students the yogic philosophy of developing a sense of self through the practice of yoga that brings a sense of balance, peace, joy, and love which allows one to connect with their own innate greatness. A great teacher is one who can articulate concisely what you are supposed to do in the pose. Other abilities a great teacher needs is knowledge, ability to teach to multiple levels all at once, experience, and personality. A developed sense of self is important as well as having fun!!.