Mantram (Mary Baird) AYT-L2, E-RYT 500, CYT

Mantram means "Force which liberates the mind from bondage"

Mary has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. She began her practice to stay fit and healthy as she embarked on a challenging career. She credits yoga with saving her life during her 17 years of working as a phone line repair and installation technician by helping her to manage the physical and emotional stresses of her job. For this reason, as Coordinator of Atma Center's Yog@Work program, she is highly motivated, convinced that workplace yoga is a win-win proposition for employees and employers alike. 

Yoga has become a lifelong path for her as she seeks to deepen her understanding of its ancient science and rich traditions.  In 2009, Mary became the first person to complete Satyananda Yoga's inaugural Teacher Training 2 in the United States.

Mary loves teaching yoga because she wants to give to others what yoga has given to her over the years. She also finds that she learns a great deal about her own practice as she works with her students. Mary believes Yoga is important for anyone seeking to maintain balance, inner strength, and sanity in today's world.

In addition to her yoga classes, Mary has had a variety of interesting teaching experiences, including two years in Thailand as a Peace Corps English teacher. Later, in the USA, she developed a resource program for elementary children with emotional and behavioral problems and served as an elementary Career Education Specialist. Mary has also tutored in adult literacy with Project LEARN, designed & taught classes at a local women's prison, introduced Yoga for Stress Management to women in training for careers in the construction trades, and co-founded Hard Hatted Women.

Mary is an avid volunteer.  She instructs for the nonprofit group Yoga Academy of North America, teaches yoga to women in addiction recovery at Orca House, prepares and serves holiday meals at Orca House and annually participates in the Stand Down for the Homeless through Interact. In her free time, Mary enjoys creative writing, biking, gardening, and visiting her adult children and their children.

Mary is available for private classes and enjoys working with people interested in

• chair yoga
• yoga for healthy aging
• upper body strength
• post natal recovery
• stress relief at home and work
• restorative yoga
• Satyananda Yoga Nidra®
• yoga for hiking, biking, and gardening
• regulation of mind through breath techniques (pranayama)
• balancing poses

Education Background

• B.A., English
  
• M. Ed., Special Education
  
• M. Ed., Adult Learning and Development
  
• Peace Corps Training - Teaching English as a Second language

Yoga Education Background

• Accredited Yoga Teacher Level 2,
• Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance (ERYT - 500 hours)

Workshops, courses and other trainings:

• Yogic Studies 2,
• Teacher Training 2,
• workshops and satsangs
• Anusara teacher training and workshops
• Yin Yoga teacher training with Paul Grilley