MEET KATHRYN

Kathryn D. Gaffney, RYT200 
Founder & Owner, Sun and Moon Movement LLC

Hello and welcome! My name is Kathryn and I hope that if you are reading this, we'll be able to practice together very soon.

​

Yoga has been a part of my entire life, truly, as my father studied at the Yasodhara Ashram in British Columbia, Canada, under the direction of Swami Radha, after he completed his undergraduate studies; for as long as I can remember (and well before I was born), yoga has been a daily ritual for him and, therefore: a part of my own daily life. As a dancer and athlete, my fair share of injuries and PT/rehab continuously led me back to yoga, and in more recent years: I began to appreciate and value yoga in a much deeper and holistic way, which is what inspired my journey to become a yoga teacher. I hope that I am able to play a role in your own yoga journey, as well. 

​

As a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT200), I am a globally registered yoga instructor, as recognized by the Yoga Alliance. I completed my certified yoga teacher training (CYT200) through the Luminaire School of Yoga in Vancouver, Washington, under the guidance of Caitlin Fowler, E-RYT500. 

​

Prior to becoming a yoga teacher, I was formally trained in modern (Graham, Horton), ballet (The French School, Balanchine), and jazz (Luigi, Fosse) dance technique; studied a variety of movement arts; and played and practiced an array of sports (soccer, tennis, boxing, running, hiking, cycling, Pilates). I spent two decades studying and performing as classical vocalist, so am always looking for opportunities to integrate music and movement. I bring elements of my background in dance and music, passion for all forms of movement arts, and history as a lifelong athlete and former dancer, to my own practice, my approach to teaching, and broader teaching methodology and philosophy.

My primary training is in Vinyasa, and therefore my classes - both group and 1:1 - are Vinyasa-based, though often incorporate aspects of other movement arts. I approach yoga with a deeply-held belief in a holistic, customizable approach to yoga; the importance of the integration of the 8 Limbs of Yoga in all asana practices; yoga’s healthful and beneficial properties, especially as they relate to my work with current and former dancers and athletes, where I focus on injury prevention and recovery/rehabilitation through yoga’s focus on balancing strength and flexibility. My practice is deeply rooted in my passion to make yoga accessible to and for all bodies. 

​

A native of the Pacific Northwest, I am deeply invested in ensuring that Sun and Moon Movement is a pillar of its community: offering free monthly classes and hosting "Fundraising Flows" and "Classes for a Cause" (classes for which all proceeds are donated to a chosen nonprofit organization). I am an official National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Collaborator, and am an Ambassador for Project HEAL. 

​

Beyond my yoga practice, I am a dual alumna of Seattle University, and have built the bulk of my "corporate career" in tech (cloud and web services, gaming, digital products and services). I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology with a Certificate in Diversity, Citizenship, and Social Justice, and earned my Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Albers School of Business and Economics, where I completed my graduate capstone in Competitive Strategy, and focused in Management and Marketing. I remain actively involved in the Seattle University community as a mentor to undergraduate (BABA) and graduate (MBA, MSF) business students. 

​

As a practitioner and teacher, my primary focus and chief concern is always the safety and wellbeing of my students, but I hope that you walk out of every one of my classes feeling better than when you entered, and gaining something new (and hopefully having some fun in the process!). 

​

Looking forward to seeing you on our mats soon!

Namaste.