RENATA SUMAR GAERTNER      

Renata began practicing Yoga with her mother, Sonia Sumar, when she was only three years old. As a child, Renata took part in numerous Yoga courses and conventions with her mother, and at the age of twelve, she completed her first Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program at Brazil's Federal University at Minas Gerais (UFMG). By the age of fifteen, she had started teaching Hatha Yoga herself, driven by her passion for anatomy, neurology, physics, and physiology - all of which have informed her teaching style and approach to this day. Renata's goal is to inspire each one of her students to use their abilities to their fullest potential.

Renata went on to advance her teaching skills by completing the Teacher's Training Program for Yoga for All Abilities in 1989, and her career took a new turn in 1990 when she encountered Sri Swami Satchidananda, the great teacher and founder of Hatha Yoga Integral, during his visit to Sonia Sumar's Yoga Center in Brazil. By the end of 1991, Renata had gone to Satchidananda Ashram in VA. In 1994, she received her university diploma in Speech Therapy, and her thesis, "Yoga as a Method of Global Stimulation for Children with Down Syndrome," is based on her original research, which indicates that Yoga is an effective method for stimulating the development of children with Down Syndrome.

Renata returned to Satchidananda Ashram in 1995, where she spent seven months under the guidance of Sri Gurudev. During that time, Renata participated in courses and attended many lectures, constantly trying to increase her knowledge about Yoga. She also assisted her mother in teaching annual courses of Yoga for All Abilities at the ashram and in New York City. Renata is currently the Director of the Jai Vida Yoga Center in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and a member of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association, Yoga Alliance, and International Association of Yoga Therapy (C-IAYT.; E-RYT500, E-RCYT, and YACEP). Renata moved to the United States in October 2007 with her family, and she now works for Yoga for All Abilities as the co-director and global program coordinator, as well as the COO for Yoga for All Abilities. Renata is one of the Yoga for All Abilities Program teachers and teaches Part 1 and 2 Program, CPD, and Hatha Teacher Training (200H and 300H level). Her passion for Yoga is captivating, and she is always encouraging people to find their inner power and reach their full potential.