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Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Kara Huntoon dabbled in yoga beginning in her early 20’s (possibly beginning with the guidance of a Denise Austin video). However she found a deeper connection and developed her daily practice in 2007 when faced with postpartum depression. Through this challenging time she experienced the life changing benefits of yoga and embarked on the journey of bringing these benefits to others through teaching. She began teaching fitness based yoga in 2009 and completed her 200 HR teacher training at Frog Pond Yoga Centre in May 2014 under Diane Featherstone in the Raja tradition.
While completing her student teaching practicum she immersed herself into the practice of restorative yoga and, for possibly the first time, experienced the deep calm that resides beneath the chaos of life. This led her to study with Judith Hanson Lasater, who is known for systematizing and popularizing Restorative Yoga, in November of 2015. After which she continued her education completing her 300Hr advanced training under Maureen Miller of Yoga NH in June of 2017 and is a Registered 500 HR teacher and Continuing Education Provider under Yoga Alliance. She has also explored varieties of mindfulness and meditation practices, experiencing both the bliss and discomforts that arise when looking deep within.
Kara creates classes that infuse various styles of yoga, bringing attention to mindfulness in movement and creating harmony in body, mind and breath. Kara believes that when you bring the mind and body together in the present moment with intention and attention, whatever you’re doing in that moment is yoga. Her goal in each class is to guide you to distance yourself from the noise of daily life and connect to the inner peace that is inherent in each of us. You can find that peace through movement or stillness, though guiding you to the deep inner silence and stillness of oneself is her greatest joy.
In early 2016, she joined together with Jessica Wyson fueled by inspiration and action to create the space that is The Yoga Tree. She dedicates much of her energy to the daily operations of business ownership. As a native of Gardner, she is pleased to be part of the momentum of reclaiming downtown Gardner and knows she’s blessed to have the opportunity to "be the change" and bring her passion of yoga to the town she loves and knows is on its way to being a thriving destination once again.
Off the mat you will find Kara enjoying life and rediscovering the joys of childhood alongside her two sons, Arik and Louie. She’s also happy to gab your ear off over the latest book she read, the great Ted talk she just listened to or the joys and struggles of navigating the human experience. She enjoys listening to your story because in this life, we learn from being truly present to the experience of others.

Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Jessica Wyson began practicing yoga in 2007 after the birth of her second child. She was hoping to find a new form of exercise that would help her get back into shape. To her surprise she was instantly hooked on the positive way yoga made her feel about her body and mind. This led her to Frog Pond Yoga Centre for her 200 Hr teacher training, which she completed in May 2014. Her desire to learn more led her to continue her studies with Peter Rizzo at Bhava Yoga in Brattleboro, VT; obtaining her 300Hr certification in January of 2017, bringing her training to accumulative 500 Hour CYT.
​When Jessica steps on her mat, she feels a connection to the philosophy and the spirituality of yoga while practicing the postures. She is a believer that the lessons we learn on the mat, can be applied to your everyday life.
Her classes focus on the connection of mind, breath and body. Jessica takes pride in creating a flow that can be challenging but playful with an emphasis on alignment. Her classes will help you quiet your mind and strengthen your body to allow a transformation of your self.
When off the mat you will find Jessica with her family enjoying the outdoors hiking mountains or paddle boarding at the local lakes.

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Jennifer Peck began practicing yoga in 2013 as a recommendation from her chiropractor due to a lifetime of poor posture and feeling the effects of working at a desk for the past 25+ years.  She quickly recognized yoga was alleviating a lot of the pain she suffered daily and her flexibility of the joints and muscles began to develop.  As she delved further into her home practice, she began to process and overcome numerous traumas she experienced as a child and young adult.  Yoga allowed the healing to happen in a natural and safe way for Jennifer and when the timing was right for her.  She learned that yoga is a practice both on and off the mat. 
​Jennifer graduated with her RYT200 from Frog Pond Yoga Center in January 2017.  She continues her studies at Frog Pond Center as well as attending other workshops and seminars. Jennifer teaches a gentle yoga, suitable for all levels with simple instruction to develop mindfulness of the mind, body and spirit.  It is her honor and passion to share her knowledge and experience with you to live a simple and balanced life through the practice of yoga.
Off the mat, you will find Jennifer cooking up a fresh healthy meal, hanging out and shopping with her daughter, hitting the ski slopes in the winter, riding her motorcycle with her boyfriend every chance she gets, taking her two dogs for an adventurous walk in her yard, or swinging from her yoga trapeze.

Stacey Panageotes is a former long time ballet dancer who was looking for a way to reclaim her body & peace of mind after the birth of her first child. Her grandparents suggested trying their yoga class, and she knew she had found what she needed. There began her yoga journey.
She is now certified levels one through three with YogaFit Training Systems in 2009. After which, she received a certification in Pre & Post natal yoga that same year, and has manifested into a most rewarding teaching experience. It also empowered her through her own natural childbirth of her 2nd child and the awareness of her body noticing the differences of birth before & after finding yoga.
Since then she has completed certifications in Pranayama & Ayurveda yoga aiding in her work with the Veterans, volunteering at the Gardner MVOC.
She is a graduate of Frog Pond Yoga Center in Princeton, MA in June 2016 as a 200HR RYT.
Her passion for teaching has spread to a more gentle and restorative yoga style in which she has also received a certificate of completion in Yin Yoga and Mindful Meditation in January 2018, and Yoga Nidra in February 2018.
Stacey creates a safe and friendly environment where intuition is encouraged in all of her classes. "I believe in emphasis of breathe to integrate mind, body & spirit to find one’s own beauty and acceptance in their practice. Being free to let go of the need to achieve anything other than coming into the present moment & truly experience it."
Off of the mat you will find Stacey involved in family activities ranging from being outdoors to painting & creating as well as being a devoted dance mom.

Lisa McKee is a practicing Occupational Therapist. She first became interested in yoga to address her back pain, and poor posture. After practicing for many years and seeing the improvements yoga provided in her own life, she felt compelled to share what she had learned with others. It was at this point that she decided to become an instructor. Like many of our other teachers, she is a graduate of Frog Pond Yoga, receiving her RYT200 in January of 2013. Lisa has taught hot yoga, all-levels yoga, and prenatal yoga.

Lisa comes to Yoga Tree bringing her own blend of yoga styles that focuses on a combination of strength, flexibility, breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Yoga is a practice that provides benefits for the mind, body, and soul. It allows people to discover what truly connects them to the universe. In her own practices, she found that yoga has allowed healing to her body as well as calming her mind. Her particular teaching style helps to guide others who seek the same goal. As an instructor, she believes that “The teacher in me honors the student in you, and the student in me honors the teacher in you.”

An outdoor enthusiast at heart, you can often find Lisa with her husband and children enjoying the seacoast, hiking in the mountains, listening to live music, or taking longs walks on various trail systems. She also enjoys meditation, studying aspects of human kinesiology, and researching holistic lifestyle options

Cara found Yoga while searching for a way to manage stress. She first gravitated to books and videos to grow her home practice which turned into a deep, personal exploration of yoga. She not only found a tool to help manage stress, but also a way to steady herself emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Wanting to immerse herself deeper in what she loves, she enrolled in yoga teacher training with Frog Pond Yoga Center and was certified in 2018. Through teaching, Cara is able to translate her passion for the practice and looks forward to sharing this gift of Yoga with those looking to explore the practice for themselves.
Cara brings humor, playfulness and a deep sense of mindfulness to her classes.
“When I’m not on the mat, I love to spend my time outside mountain biking, hiking, or dancing to live music. Otherwise, I’m curled up with my pets, reading books and living off peanut butter.” -Cara