Like so many, Jen first came to the yoga mat because of an injury, seeking nothing more than to feel better and balance her body for running. She comes back to the mat because yoga invites her to embrace her body and mind with all its imperfections and then to look beyond them to the greater Self.
When Jen became a mother, her yoga practice became even more important: for building strength and flexibility, as relief for the symptoms of pregnancy and then the stresses of parenthood, as a reminder of the miracle of the human body and of her own resources and capabilities, and a regular connection to her breath and true Self during a time of significant identity changes. Her weekly Itsy Bitsy Yoga encouraged her to embrace her daughter in the same loving, non-judgmental way that her own practice did for herself.
After thoroughly enjoying baby yoga classes during maternity leave and being unable to find one in the neighborhood that fit her work schedule, Jen stumbled on a listing for Itsy Bitsy Yoga facilitators training . . . and signed up. That turned out to be the first step on the path that lead to Breathing Space Family Yoga, ChildLight Yoga, and Yoga 4 Classrooms.
Jennifer Mueller has been teaching yoga students of all ages since 2008 and directs the children’s and family yoga program Breathing Space in Washington DC.
Jen is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher and Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT) specializing in yoga for children and families as well as prenatal and post-natal moms. In addition to being a trainer for ChildLight Yoga® and Yoga 4 Classrooms®, Jen holds a variety of children’s yoga certifications. She completed her adult yoga teacher training at Willow Street Yoga in Takoma Park, MD and her prenatal training with Janet Caulfield of Urban Yoga. Jen is also a Certified Educator of Infant Massage (CEIM) through Infant Massage USA and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Jen founded Breathing Space to create a hub for family yoga in Washington DC and to share her enthusiasm for age- and developmentally-appropriate poses, games, and songs with yogis of all ages and hopes to offer her students freedom she finds in yoga.
Prior to teaching yoga full time, Jen spent more than a decade in non-profit administration and advocacy communications. Her experience in social change movements and managing charitable organizations has been extremely helpful when working with schools and community organizations to implement yoga and mindfulness programs for children.