William Prottengeier has been practicing yoga since 1975.
He founded the Minneapolis Yoga Workshop in 1979, where he continues to teach. He trained with BKS Iyengar in India, and is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. His primary teacher in the U.S. is Ramanand Patel. William brings the perspectives of Patanjali, Vipassana, Vedanta, and Tibetan Nature of Mind traditions to the practice of asana. His teaching emphasis is on asana as a practice that reveals our inherent freedom, by developing concentration and precision in asana practice, and mindfulness and compassion in daily living.

William: (612) 253-5115 or mplsyogaworkshop@hotmail.com


Level 1 Beginners
Tuesday 6:00–7:20 pm
Wednesday 6:00–7:20 pm

Level 2
Tuesday 7:30–9:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30–11:00 am
Saturday 10:30 am–12:00 pm

Level 2-3
Thursday 5:30–7:20 pm

Level 3
Wednesday 7:30–9:15 am

Level 4
Thursday 9:15–11:15 am

Click for Workshops with William

Click for the Yoga Studies Program with William

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Betsy Ricker has been studying Yoga since 1986 with William Prottengeir. She is certified and continues to study Kripalu Yoga. she also studies with Beryl Bender Birch. In 2007, she was certified to present Yoga Ed's "Tools for Teachers" professional development program. Betsy volunteers weekly at the Courage Center, assisting Matt Sanford's Adaptive Yoga program. Her teachings emphasize the development of compassion and inner wisdom through the awareness of the mind, body and spirit connection.

Betsy: (612) 702-8609 or betsyyoga@earthlink.net


Level 1 Beginners
Saturday 9:00–10:15 am

Level 1-2
Monday 9:45–11:15 am

Family Yoga
Family Yoga Class: 6:15–7:15 pm
Movie: 7:30–9:00 pm

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Laura Kennedy, received certification to teach yoga in 1996 from Mount Madonna Center in California. She continues to study Classical Yoga with Baba Hari Dass at least twice a year at Mount Madonna Center. She has taken pilgrimages to the Himalayas in Northern India and Mt. Kailash, Tibet. She also studies with William Prottengeier. The practice of Yoga has the potential for us to experience the fullness and ease of the present moment.

Laura: (612) 343-8851or casamaya@MSN.com


Level 1 Beginners
Sunday 9:00–10:15 am

Level 1-2
Monday 5:30–7:00 pm

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Clare Welter has studied yoga with William Prottengeier since 1990 and has taught since 2001. She has also been a certified nurse-midwife since 1997 and practices at Fairview Riverside Medical Center. She offers a prenatal yoga class at Minneapolis Yoga Workshop.

Clare: (651) 646-4656 or clarewelter@hotmail.com

Prenatal Yoga
Sunday 12:00–1:30 pm


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Maria Gomez-Tierney, MFA, RYT, is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor. Her primary teacher is William Prottengeier. She also has studied with Manju Patabi Jois, Govinda Kai, and Doug Swenson. She has a Master of Fine Arts in performance arts and has been a dancer, choreographer and teacher since 1990. Maria lovingly blends these sensibilities of the body, mind and spirit into her yoga teaching.

Maria: (612) 722-5220 or mtierne2@yahoo.com

Please note:
Maria will be on sabbatical from Jan. 2 through April 11.
Class will resume April 16.

Level 1
Monday 8:00–9:15 am.


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Amy Samson-Burke, MPT, CYT-C. Amy has been studying yoga since 2000 and has been a practicing licensed physical therapist since 1990. She is in the final stages of her training as a certified yoga therapist. She has apprenticed with William Prottengeier and continues to study with him. Amy also works with yoga teacher, Matthew Sanford, in his adapted yoga program at Courage Center in Golden Valley, MN. Her focus has been the incorporating the principles of yoga into her physical therapy practice, where she has witnessed the powerful, transformational changes that are possible with yoga. Amy wishes to share this experience in her Ambulatory Adaptive Yoga Class with those who feel they may be  limited from participating in a traditional yoga class.

Amy: (612) 859-4541 or amy@mindbodysolutions.org

Ambulatory Adaptive Yoga
Tuesday 9:30 - 11:00 am

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Christine Ojala has been a student of yoga since 1996. She holds two yoga teacher certifications and a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Minnesota. Her teaching reflects her background in the Ashtanga vinyasa system and the Iyengar yoga tradition. Christine considers William Prottengeier to be her primary teacher and is honored to be teaching in his space. Other major influences include Angela Farmer, Ramanand Patel, and many senior Ashtanga teachers, including Sri K. Pattahbi Jois.

Christine: (612) 804-4493 or christine.ojala@gmail.com

Ashtanga-based Vinyasa Yoga
Sunday 8:00–10:00 am

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Marie Mathay began studying Yang style Tai Chi 30 years ago with Sifu Jerry Gardner of the Red Lotus School in Salt Lake City, UT. Other teachers include Sifu Fong Ha of the Integral Ch'uan Institute in Berkeley, Dr. Paul Lam of the Tai Chi for Health Institute, Dr. Russ Smiley and Senior Instructors Keith Root and Heather Reade in the Twin Cities. Marie also practices Tai Chi Fan, Animal Frolics Qigong, Yiquan and Yoga. She is a certified instructor of Dr. Paul Lam and endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation. Marie welcomes students of all ages and abilities. A discount is offered to members of the Armed Forces.

Marie: (612) 770-5412 or mariemathay@comcast.net

Tai Chi Sun Style 41 Forms

Winter I  ~  Jan 8 - Feb 12
Beginners 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Advanced 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Winter II  ~  Feb 19 - March 25
Beginners 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Advanced 5:00 - 6:00 pm

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