Gretchen's ongoing passion for yoga emerged through an unlikely back door - her actor training at Circle-in-the-Square Theatre School in New York City. She completed her first teacher training with Suddha Weixler at Chicago Yoga Center in 1997 (alongside Ben and JoAn Taylor) and has continued her multi-faceted yoga study with many senior teachers including John Friend and Tim Miller; ashtanga with Manju Pattabhi Jois, David Swenson and Richard Freeman; and yin yoga with Paul Grilley and Sara Powers. Gretchen combines an inspirational vinyasa style of teaching with a sincere respect for both the energetic and spiritual aspects of yoga. She is on faculty at Act One Studios (www.actone.com) in Chicago where she currently teaches both acting and yoga for their two-year conservatory acting program. Most uniquely, Gretchen has designed and teaches a specialized course of study in the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the chakras for Act One's program. Gretchen thanks her wonderful husband, Sean Parks, and all of her animal family for their continued love and support (Duncan, Casper and Smidgen, the doggies, and Nicky, her cat companion of over 20 years). She is deeply gratified to be included in the Oak Park community that is Yoga Trek.