Teachers
Amber Huttner
Owner and ERYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher)
Amber Huttner is a highly trained, well known, certified Anusara Yoga Teacher. Teaching for 13 years and practicing for 18, she brings a wealth of technical expertise along with humor, compassion and heart-felt instruction to her sessions. Amber’s clients benefit from her enthusiasm for life and dedication to helping them learn and heal on every level.
The Anusara certification program is recognized as one of the most comprehensive, technically advanced yoga trainings available. It is not unusual for the certification process, once begun, to last 4 or more years. Amber was certified in 2001 with Anusara Yoga. There are a limited number of Anusara certifications awarded. She is number 39 of only 320 worldwide.
Her teaching experience includes working in studios, country clubs, destination resorts, a world-renowned rehabilitation center as well as fitness facilities.
Prior to her yogic lifestyle change, she held various traditional corporate managerial sales positions. Graduate of Macalester College, St. Paul, she lives in Deephaven with her husband, Paul, of 26 years and their beautiful 15-year-old son, Luke.
Amanda Naughton, Anusara Inspired
Amanda is eternally grateful to her mother for introducing her to yoga in the late 90’s. She practiced vinyasa, power yoga, and Ashtanga which kept her body healthy and free of injuries as a competitive volleyball player in college and a triathlete after college. However, it wasn’t until 2008 that she stumbled upon Amber, Good Life Yoga, and Anusara that she felt an unquestionable draw and connection with a certain school of yoga (and kula!). Amanda was certified at the 200-RYT level through the Yoga Center of Minneapolis in 2008 and was granted Anusara Inspired status in 2011. She completed immersion and teacher training studies with Jordan and Martin Kirk, and is mentoring with Amber Huttner, and studying with other certified Anusara teachers. Amanda is grateful and honored to teach and views it as an act of service to her students and to the greater good.
Cindy Salyards
Cindy holds a degree in Exercise Science and enjoys exploring the art of movement. This led her to her first yoga class and then to go on and complete a teacher training in the Ashtanga style of yoga in 2001 at the Omega Institute in NY. Along with teaching yoga she is also a Stott Pilate’s instructor (2002) and a personal trainer certified with ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) since 1989.
She experienced her first Anusara yoga class in 2004 and was intrigued with its elegant use of the Universal Principles of Alignment and with its beautiful connection with the heart. Since that time she has studied with founder, John Friend and Anusara initiates Darren Rhodes, Todd Norian, Desiree Rumbaugh, and Amber Huttner.
Cindy continues to share the gifts of yoga and encourages all her students to celebrate their body’s unique abilities and to embrace their own beauty within. Her degree in Exercise Science allows her to help students safely approach their own bodies’ capacity for strength and flexibility. She is grateful for her family, her beloved husband Michael and two beautiful daughters, Lily and Ellison.
Gigi Jabbour, RYT
At the age of 16, Gigi first began studying Iyengar yoga in hope to minimize her back and neck problems. Many years later, Yoga-Mama classes she attended regularly throughout her difficult pregnancies proved to strengthen her trust in yoga’s ability to transform her to a state of improved wellness.
A tumor on Gigi’s pituitary gland (at the base of the brain) gave her Cushing’s Disease and she underwent neurosurgery in 2004 for its removal and again in 2007 when it reoccurred. The recovery from Cushing’s and the surgery was devastatingly difficult – physically, mentally and spiritually. She credits her return to a yoga practice for her return to wellness – body, mind and spirit.
In gratitude to all that yoga has done to improve her life, Gigi committed to giving back by be coming a Yoga Alliance certified Registered Yoga Teacher. She completed a year-long study at the Yoga Center of Minneapolis, with Amber Huttner (ERYT) as her mentor.
Gigi has a deep connection to the principles and heart of Anusara Yoga. She has had the honor to study with Anusara’s founder, John Friend several times, most recently on a ten-day tour of Scotland.
Her classes provide a safe, supportive, non-competitive, fun, wellness-promoting, strengthening, heart-opening and graciousness experience. Gigi feels that it is honor to teach and welcomes you to join in the journey.
Janet Hannaford, RYT
Janet Hannaford
Janet Hannaford recently completed the Anusara Immersion and has also trained in Hatha as well as Kripalu yoga. Janet has an excellent knowledge of anatomy and neuromuscular issue through her work as an Occupational Therapist for special needs children in Minneapolis Public Schools. Janet is a certified Yoga Calm teacher and has completed Adapted Yoga Teacher Training for adults with physical disabilities with Matthew Sanford, owner of Mind Body Solutions.
Janet lives in Golden Valley with her husband and son and has 2 daughters, one in college and one newly graduated. She currently teaches yoga to children and adults in after-school activities at Minneapolis Public Schools and is honored to have the opportunity to teach at Good Life Yoga.
