Gretchen Ramsey is a former professional ballerina turned yogi, blending discipline, artistry, and devotion in every class. A believer in yoga's power to transform how we see the world and our place within it, she teaches from the heart of Durga's philosophy — courage, clarity, and compassion in motion.

Her journey began in 2014, while commuting daily between Manhattan and Philadelphia. Amid the rush, a Rumi quote — "What you seek is seeking you" — sparked a pause and a return to breath. That moment led to vinyasa teacher training with Liz Conner, and several years of teaching outside Philadelphia.

Seeking deeper understanding, Gretchen stepped into the traditional Ashtanga method in 2015 through study with David Garrigues, a longtime student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. From 2019 to 2022, she deepened her daily practice with Elizabeth Crozier — a student of David Garrigues and Eddie Stern — at Ashtanga Yoga Philadelphia.

Since 2022, Gretchen has continued her study in Seattle with Troy Lucero, whose own teachers include Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Tim Miller, and Richard Freeman. In 2023, she joined Yoga Shala Seattle to practice with Brendan Smullen and Christiane Costa, students of Manju Jois. She earned her Ashtanga teaching certification in 2025 and began teaching Mysore and guided classes at Yoga Shala Seattle — before founding Durga Yoga House in 2026 to share this traditional practice with the South Seattle community.