Guru Girls Yoga
Our Roots
Guru Girls Yoga
Founder
Guru Girls Yoga Founder, Margot Brinley, is a licensed social worker that works as a school counselor with kids in grades K-5. As a yogi herself, Margot is passionate about the benefits that can be achieved through the practice of Yoga.
Margot obtained her Masters in Social Work from the University of Chicago. She has since expanded her credentials to include:
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Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (RCYT) with Yoga Alliance.
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200 hour teacher training certification from Asheville Yoga Center.
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Children's Yoga Specialty Certification through Grounded Kids Teacher Training in Atlanta, GA to focus on tweens and adolescents.
Over the past 20 years Margot has supported children ages 5-18 and their families as a Counselor and Yoga Instructor. Margot is working to help create families, communities and a world filled with meaningful connections, positive relationships and peace. Margot contributes to this vision by creating and facilitating Guru Girls Yoga. Guru Girls Yoga is based in Charlotte, NC.
Guru Girls Yoga was founded in 2015 by Margot Brinley. Margot founded the Guru Girls Yoga program to address a growing need in her community. Margot consistently heard, personally and professionally, about the anxiety parents and adolescents faced as they navigated the challenges of Middle School. Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, yoga instructor and mother of three children, Margot has spent the past 25 years working primarily with adolescent girls and their families in therapeutic settings. Combining Margot's love of Yoga, athletics and experience working young people, the Guru Girls Yoga program was created.
Margot designed the program for middle school girls, because adolescence is a time of identity development and increased independence. This developmental period establishes habits that can help or hurt an individual for years to come. Adolescent girls tend to judge their self-worth compared to others, and can find this time turbulent with friends. This “Frenemy” mentality, coupled with increasing demands and busy schedules can lead to anxiety issues, which may result in negative coping methods.
Guru Girls Yoga is a combined Yoga/Life Skills program designed to increase Adolescent Girls’ self-confidence and resilience through the power of the mind-body connection. The Guru Girls Yoga program supports Middle School Girls who are living in a fast paced, social media driven world and teaches them to become more intentional, empowered and grounded in their personal values and relationships. We strive to accomplish this through a curriculum that provides a “social and emotional toolbox” which incorporates:
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Positive Psychology and Mindfulness Activities
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Breathing techniques
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Yoga Poses (individual, partner and group)
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Journaling
The program has multiple formats, which can be adapted to meet the needs of the participants. The flagship program is a 10-week program where participants meet for 90 minutes weekly. The program has also been modified for a 1-week half day summer camp. The Guru Girls Yoga program is based off the Chakra System and uses Yoga as a metaphor to highlight the positive impact of the Mind/Body Connection. Each session involves the power of journaling, music, mindfulness activities, breathing exercises and yoga poses to help participants create healthy life habits that can last a lifetime. Regular “practice” and email communication are used to reinforce the lesson and practice.
Both parents and adolescents have found this program helpful in providing coping techniques and healthy life skills. The Guru Girls Yoga Program helps root adolescent girls in their values and provides structure for them as they forge their path through middle school.