Gretchen Spiro

Gretchen Spiro has delighted in movement since entering this world. Long distance running along the cliffs in Santa Cruz, swimming in the Pacific, bike touring, sailing, scuba diving, and backpacking were highlights of her childhood. In 1983 she met Nita Little, who became a mentor for another journey into movement. Nita taught a body of work called “Mind in Motion,” encompassing Contact Improvisation dance, trance states, and meditative awareness….practices which basically changed the course of her life. Intrigued with modern dance and video art, she received a BFA from California Institute of the Arts in 1986. Gretchen then discovered Iyengar Yoga, which transformed her perception of the body, invited more introspection, and further piqued her interest in teaching as an offering and invitation to others. Her practice of yoga is inspired by Iyengar Yoga, which she appreciates for it’s profound wisdom of alignment. Her teaching includes that precision and infuses flow, poetic images and creative explorations. Gretchen has practiced vipassana and insight meditation, and loves engaging with people holistically–body/mind/spirit. Gretchen received her Masters Degree in Somatic Psychology/ Dance Therapy in 2000 from Naropa University. She is fascinated with the process of living a creative life as an explorer of beauty.

Besides teaching yoga, Gretchen is a certified Gytotonic trainer, dance artist, and somatic psychotherapist. She founded a dance company, Tumblebones, which explores the physics of motion through improvisation and the process of physical storytelling. Gretchen lives with her husband and spunky 9 year old daughter in the Rocky Mountains outside Boulder, CO. Living close to nature, and the experience of being a mama, has made her heart wide and tender.

A hallmark of Gretchen’s teaching is her ability to inspire an appreciation of the “soft animal of the body.” Her classes are fiery and creative, simultaneously infused with gentleness and kindness. She helps to awaken an authentic joy of movement. At Women’s Quest, Gretchen also gets to explore the wacky side of her personality guiding improvisational games and impromptu disco dance parties. She is a particularly good listener, and welcomes the invitation to support women in moving through changes and nurturing what is true and ripening in the heart.