All Synergy instructors teach exclusively at our studio. They are required to hold a current certification in a mind/body discipline from a nationally accredited organization, a current CPR certification, current professional liability insurance, and a minimum of 100 hours of teaching in their chosen discipline.
Petti Groth
PMA-CPT, E-RYT200, RYT500
Petti Groth has been the proprietor of Synergy since 2007. She began her yoga teaching with a regional men's cycling team in 2005. Since that time, she has been teaching yoga and Pilates at a number of locations, including Tennessee Technological University's Fitness Center and the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Since 2007, Petti has been a full-time yoga and Pilates teacher, and currently teaches group and private sessions at Synergy.
An experienced movement therapist and teacher, Petti received E-RYT200 designation from Yoga Alliance in 2012. The same year, Petti also received RYT500 status, graduating from the Yoga Teachers School of Excellence in Jackson, Tennessee as a Certified Yoga Therapist. Additionally, she has studied with many popular yoga teachers in recent years, including Jill Miller, K. Lea Gifford, Doug Swenson, Elise Browning Miller, Baxter Bell M.D. and Mary Paffard. Petti also had the privilege of attending the first ever Yoga Alliance Professional Development conference in 2011, where she had the opportunity to study with many gifted teachers including Devarshi Steven Hartman of the Kripalu School, Siddhi Ellinghoven, Dr. David Frawley, Rhadeya Michael Plasha, and Lilias Folan.
Petti has also completed a Pilates studio apprenticeship program, accruing over 1000 hours of formal teacher training under PMA certified mentor and teacher trainer, Susan Butkus. Since 2007, Petti has held a Certified Pilates Teacher status with the Pilates Method Alliance®*. She is also a graduate of the Pilates Excel program, a secondary eduaction program for experienced Pilates trainers and studio owners, and has had the privilege of completing a Pilates-specific cadaver anatomy lab, under the instruction of Dr. Rebecca Love at the naturopathic medical school of Bastyr University in Washington. Petti has also completed two Anatomy Trains courses: Body Reading, and Myofascial Meridians for Movement Therapists.
Rather than following the traditional fitness approach of identifying a client's imperfections or weaknesses, and setting goals to "fix" them, Petti takes a holistic mind-body approach. Emphasis is placed on the journey, rather than the destination. Based on her belief that the pursuit of physical health and wellness must be practical, and woven into the tapestry of your lifestyle, she strives to find balance for her clients. She energetically works with them to identify ways and means that are specific to their bodies, personalities, lifestyles and goals."This has helped me to discover things about myself that I never knew. I'm doing things that I never thought I could. These disciplines have given me a non-threatening and non-competitive way to develop a physically strong body. Plus I reap the rewards of a better sense of balance--overall. I want to share that with other people."
Petti practices Karma yoga in giving back to the community. She volunteers her time to teach yoga regularly at New Leaf Recovery, the alcohol and drug recovery center of Plateau Mental Health. She also supports the American Cancer Society by working with the local Breast Cancer Support group. She is involved in animal advocacy, the local arts community, and other local charity and non-profit organizations.
*The Pilates Method Alliance® is the certifying organization for Pilates Teachers worldwide, assuring professional standards for education, safety, and teaching in the Pilates industry.For more information: www.pilatesmethodalliance.org.
Yoga Alliance® is the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States, working in the public interest to ensure that there is a thorough understanding of the benefits of yoga, that registered teachers of yoga value its history and traditions, and that the public can be confident of the quality and consistency of instruction.