Terri Smith was introduced to yoga as a young child, when PBS aired Lillian Folias directly following Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Fifteen years later, she enrolled in a yoga class in college because it fulfilled a phys. ed. requirement and didn't conflict with her skiing and rock-climbing schedule. She graduated from the University of Montana with a Philosophy degree and spent the next fifteen years working as a wilderness guide for youth-at-risk, a trail crew foreman, a tree-climber and at a variety of other backcountry jobs. She developed extremely tight hamstrings and a low back injury. A dear friend recommended yoga. She began practicing in 1994. She wandered into an Ashtanga class in 1999, and knew she had found her path. She has maintained a regular practice ever since. Over the past 3 years, she has spent 8 months in Mysore India studying at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute under the direction of her Guruji, Sri K Pattbhi Jois. In 2006, Guruji honored her with his blessing and authorized her to teach the Ashtanga method. Terri is committed to teaching the Ashtanga Yoga according to "correct method" in keeping with the lineage of Krishnamacharya and Pattabhi Jois. She has come to understand Ashtanga yoga as a deeply transformational inner journey and delights in sharing her experience with other students. She totally agrees with Tim Miller who says, "My goal as a teacher is to inspire a passion for practice. The practice itself, done consistently and accurately, is the real teacher."