Kat here, with one more installment of “Meet a Teacher.”

At the Teachstreet world headquarters, we recently spoke with Susan Snyder about all things Qigong. I’ll let the video speak for itself, but boy, I was so impressed to hear of the healing effects of Qigong (pronounced CHEE-gong) in everyday life! This interview is certainly one you don’t want to miss.

To learn more about Susan’s practice, you can check out her profile on Teachstreet.

There are quite a few qigong classes being held right now. You can take a class from Susan or find qigong listings in your location. Take a class!

This week for “Meet a Teacher,” we’re featuring Katrina Hellbusch, a belly dance instructor who knows all of the right moves. Katrina is the Artistic Director at Seattle’s Skin Deep Belly Dance Studio, and has been teaching American Tribal Style for quite a while now.

What’s American Tribal Style, you say? Well, check out this great conversation from our Teachstreet world headquarters.

If you’re interested in taking a class with Katrina, you can check out her profile on Teachstreet or sign up for the newly-listed Bollywood class coming to Seattle! Sway your hips on over to check out these great teachers and classes on Teachstreet.

At Teachstreet, we’re always looking to hear about what our teachers are up to, why they love to teach (and learn), and what they are truly passionate about.

We recently spoke with Seattle piano teacher Anita Manuel about her love of the piano. If you’re 5 or 50, Anita can sure teach you a thing or two about tickling the ivories! She shared her wealth of knowledge with us last week, including information about what type of piano/keyboard a beginning student should purchase, what types of books she uses with students, and about her classes for both children and adults.

You can watch the interview above, learn more about piano teacher Anita Manuel, or check out great piano lessons near you.

More of our interview series will be posted within the coming week. Stay tuned for more great interviews!

Ahoy hoy, teachers!

Kat here, giving you another opportunity to enter in to our Summer of Learning contest.

We’re looking for teachers in the following subjects to visit our offices for a short interview about the subject that ignites you in the classroom.

Piano
Cooking
Dance
Pilates
Dog Training
Belly Dancing
Meditation
Martial Arts

And hey, if your subject isn’t on this list, fret not! We can accommodate other types of demonstrations as well.

Ping me at kat@teachstreet.com if you’re interested. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

As the sun peaks and it starts to heat up, summer is increasingly becoming the source of inspiration for the creative side. Heading to the park with a sketch book or sitting on the porch with just a pen and paper is a great stress-reliever on a busy day.

Talking the trade
Here at TeachStreet, we’re talking the trade, chatting about chalk, and finding new ways to learn and express our own creative sides in art this summer. Some of our chatter is about how to achieve that shading effect you’re tackling, or sharing insider tips about setting up your own paint shop at home. Other times, we’re featuring a teacher who explains why he or she loves to teach art. We’re always abuzz about what we’re up to… engage in the dialogue with us.

Take a class
Whether it’s card making, glass art, or origami, there are tons of classes that span the gamut of topics and times for your convenience. There really is no excuse NOT to take a class. Who knows, you may see our TeachStreet team taking a new pottery class in Seattle, or enrolling in art session at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts!

Connect with others
You may have read that we’re working on TeachStreet Teams – and there is some interest in putting together a group for our artists! You can find out about a possible team of artists in your area, or start up a new team of your own… we totally dig it.

Hopefully, that will get you started on that half-finished Sistine Chapel you’ve been storing in the garage. Good luck! And may the acrylics be with you.

It’s a popular practice on both TeachStreet and the mean streets of Seattle. Yoga, in all of its forms, is applicable to everyday life and is even more applicable now than ever before. Center your lifestyle and hey, the economy’s bound to turn around  at some point!

Learning more from our teachers
This past week, our group of teachers and yoga enthusiasts spoke up about how to rejuvinate home practice of yoga, particularly if you haven’t fit in time for your downward dog lately. Teacher Susan Snyder also weighed in about qigong, yoga’s cousin. Check out Susan’s article that outlines the basics of qugong, it’s an interesting read.

Personal experiences from our staff
Teachstreeter and experienced excerciser Jenn has been wondering if her older yoga routine can be worked in with pilates workouts. Can these two workouts have the same (or better) effect as a hybrid routine? Check out Jenn’s Yoga vs. Pilates discussion and weigh in with your thoughts.
I, on the other hand, just started taking Hot Yoga classes. I really knew nothing going into the experience, even the very basic question of what to bring! Well, my dumb questions were answered and I posted an article on it. You can read all about how I learned to love hot yoga, and hopefully, you’ll be a step ahead.

Take a class
There are tons of classes in nearly every type of yoga practice at TeachStreet. Check out a yoga class in your city, contact a teacher with any questions you may have, or post that question to our forums! It’s a great way to learn and be ready for that first, eighth, or twentieth class.

Reading more into yoga
The great thing about yoga’s popularity is that there are so many great resources out there to consult before diving in head-first! In this case, our TeachStreet experts have found 16 great yoga blogs that you can check out for more information.

Education doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom. Learn something new!