SANDY GROSS, Founder/Director, E-RYT 500, certified Yoga Tune Up® teacher
“Sandy cannot be pigeonholed into any domain in the mind/body category. Her understanding of the human body and its dynamic versatility infuses all of her teachings with inspiring AHA moments that motivates lovers of fitness, yoga, therapy and beyond. Her eclectic approach exemplifies the name of her studio: EVOLUTION.” – Jill Miller, Creator of Yoga Tune Up®, author of The Roll Model
Sandy is the founder and director of Evolution Yoga, a nucleus for beginning & skilled yoga practitioners, athletes and movement educators. In her classes, she strives to meld the physical practice with mindful alignment, middle path thinking, inspiring music, breath awareness, relaxation and meditation. She also has a knack for seeing a students’ ability & their blindspots so she coaxes a little more out of them, helping them deepen their connection within themselves as they move, class by class, her devoted students – from yogis to CrossFitters to medical professionals to newbies- they then become more skilled off the mat, too.
Sandy has taught a variety of movement modalities since 1986 (dance exercise, weight training, water fitness, mobility training for athletes and yoga.) Her yoga training has been vast, but she chose teacher training with Cyndi Lee’s OM yoga and completed the 200 & 500 hour level trainings. She also apprenticed with Cyndi for 12+ years and credits the OM yoga’s unique method of blending vinyasa with alignment and mindfulness, as her greatest influence.
She is passionate about yoga for several reasons that go beyond its’ popularity as a workout and it’s spiritual nature. Sandy spends a significant amount of time studying and applying joint mobility & stability techniques from the physical therapy and massage worlds. She also stays plugged into Iyengar practice (Karen Allgire is her local teacher, whom helped her heal a neck injury back in 1998.) Sandy also studies the growing body of knowledge about fascia (connective tissue) & the hydration/dehydration connection there, and various self treatments for increasing hydration in tissues. This lead her to the study of the Yoga Tune Up® method and the work of it’s creator, Jill Miller. Yoga Tune Up® is a fitness therapy format designed to help students eradicate pain, improve posture and enhance performance through a unique blend of corrective exercise, self massage and yoga. Sandy is a Level 1 certified YTU® teacher and is in an ongoing mentoring relationship with Jill and the other senior YTU teachers who bring to the table, their varied backgrounds and education in physical & occupational therapy, strength & conditioning coaching, massage, Pilates and more.
As a business owner, Sandy is very accessible to both her staff and customers alike, and she is widely respected in the area for modeling supportive relationships among her fellow studio owners & teachers. While she has high standards for her team, she fosters evolutionary thinking and is always open to new ideas and ways of being at her best.
Sandy leads Evolution Yoga’s annual 200-hour “Vinyasa & Beyond” yoga teacher training/advanced studies program. She also teaches a 30-hour yoga teacher mentoring program, “Becoming an Evolutionary Teacher”, open to certified teachers of any lineage.
Sandy is also the co-author of the website/movement, Hot Yoga Science, whose mission is to educate and empower yoga teachers & students about the benefits, truths & myths of heated yoga classes.
Words from others about Sandy…
“So proud of my friend, Sandy Gross, and her awesome studio. She offers a smart, healthy, safe way to practice yoga and heal yourself all at the same time.” – Cyndi Lee, master teacher, author, creator of OM yoga, author, OM yoga in a Box series,May I Be Happy
“Sandy, we are deeply humbled by your vast knowledge & passion for yoga. You’re a straight shooter and a total badass. Much gratitude for your guidance and support.” – Anjua Maximo, life coach/owner, GrooveRyde®, Cleveland’s premier cycling, flow & bootcamp experience
“I enjoy Sandy’s classes immensely and always feel stronger, lighter and calmer. She is knowledgable and has a great sense of humor. Her classes are so interesting as she offers a variety of yoga “flavors” with seamless integration of helpful props and supportive gadgets as needed. Meditation and savasana at the end of her class is deep and restorative. The thing I most appreciate is her dedication to exploring updated yoga and kinesiology thinking to keep her students safe and strong. Evolution Yoga is a really good name for what she has created here.” – Kaya Brown, MS, OT, GCFP, Occupational Therapy and Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner
“I started yoga pretty late in life. You are a great, inspiring teacher. Thank you for helping me to see and believe more in my own potential. I am inspired to move some of my “aspire to” to my “can do” poses and some of my “not in 100 years” to my “aspire to” poses!” – Jerry Peppers
Find out when Sandy is teaching by visiting our MINDBODY scheduling website.
MARIANNE BURROWS, certified Nia blue belt instructor
Marianne has always loved the connection between music, movement and expression. Starting dance classes at the age of 6, dance movement has remained a constant in her life. Rotator cuff injuries and a 2 year stint rehabilitating them ended her formal dance training and began her search to find a modality that would give her the freedom of expression and the joy in moving she always experienced in dancing. She found this in Nia.
Nia is a fusion of 3 dance arts (jazz, modern and Duncan dance), 3 martial arts (tai chi, tae kwon do and aikido) and 3 healing arts (yoga, Feldenkrais and Alexander techniques). Their philosophies infuse Nia movements and encourage agility, flexibility, mobility, stability and strength while moving in a natural way, the way the body is designed to move. Join her class and discover what it feels like to move in your body, to explore and play with movement and feel the unity and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.
Besides teaching Nia, Marianne has practiced Kripalu yoga and tai chi; has done sessions in Feldenkrais and Alexander techniques; workshops in tai chi, tae kwon do, aikido and Ageless Grace; and taught acrobatic, jazz and tap dancing. She holds BS & MS degrees in pre-school education and has taught kindergarten, nursery school and was a nursery school director.
Sign up in advance for Marianne’s Nia class at our Mindbody scheduling website.
MICHAEL COHEN
Michael has been practicing insight meditation, also known as Vipassana meditation, since 2001. He practices yoga at Evolution Yoga and is a member of the Cleveland Insight Meditation “sangha.” Michael has attended many teacher-led, meditation retreats including two 10-day courses taught by the late S.N. Goenka. He holds a Masters degree in Counseling from Cleveland State Univ. and a B.A. in Journalism from The Ohio State University. Michael believes everyone can benefit by learning this simple technique for cultivating mindful awareness and self-compassion; all that is required is an open mind and the willingness to give it a try. Beginners, this is a great place to start.
Join Michael for Community Mediation on Saturdays at 9:15am.
AMBER DOWD
When Amber was first introduced to yoga during a high school gym class, she laughed the whole way through it. However, it sparked a lifelong path and passion. Amber has been practicing, subbing & mentoring at Evolution Yoga for about a year.
Amber is also a licensed Ohio attorney and practices patent law. Yoga helps her remain balanced, calm, and focused in a fast paced work atmosphere. Yoga also helps her immensely in another passion of hers, running, making her a stronger, more aware runner. Her yoga practice teaches Amber invaluable ways to prevent injury and take care of herself both mentally and physically in a sport that can be very physically demanding.
Amber believes yoga is meant to bring awareness to one’s own self, peace of mind, and most importantly, it builds community. She hopes through her classes that her students are able to laugh, have fun, and appreciate their bodies for all of its own unique abilities.
When not at yoga, you can find Amber running, reading, on Pinterest, riding bikes with her husband in Lakewood, or bragging about her twin sister and younger brother who she’s lucky to call siblings.
Find out when Amber teaches at Evolution at our Mindbody scheduling website.
ED ELLERT
Ed has been active in athletic and movement-oriented practices since childhood. He competed in swimming and fencing as well as Modern Pentathlon (which adds horseback riding, running and pistol shooting) through highschool. Of the many martial arts Ed has practiced, Aikido’s blending of spiritual and physical practice, combined with empathic and compassionate training methods, resonated most with him and he holds a Nidan from Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.
As a software engineer for the past quarter century, Ed has not only had to deal with the frustration of interacting with computers 
on a daily basis, he’s also had to cope with the negative physical impacts of sitting for long periods of time.
Seeking to heal some injuries, counterbalance the effects of sitting so much and to feel better physically, Ed began his practice of yoga in the early 2000’s. At first, yoga simultaneously helped and hindered the healing; helping by increasing flexibility, strength and body awareness; hinderering by overly increasing the flexibility in some places – leading to joint instability, and failure to strengthen other key areas. Ed went on to become a 200-hour certified yoga teacher and also a certified Yoga Tune Up® teacher, a method which is a fitness/yoga therapy format. Evolution Yoga is the midwest hub for Yoga Tune Up® trainings, workshops & classes and Ed began teaching & mentoring with Evolution’s director Sandy Gross, shortly after completing the trainings. He credits the methods and deeper awareness cultivated in the Yoga Tune Up® work in helping to heal and feel at his best.
Ed likes to spend the balance of his time doing things with his children or learning and exploring new things.
CATHERINE MEYER
Catherine has been practicing yoga for over 10 years and is a graduate of the OM yoga 200 hour teacher training program through Evolution Yoga. Her journey so far has included getting her masters degree in teaching, teaching high school English, raising 3 kids, and teaching yoga. She began teaching yoga at Evolution in 2011 and feels fortunate to be a part of this wonderful, unique community. She has also been mentoring with Sandy Gross for 2 years and has assisted in her Yoga 101 series many times.
Catherine’s dedicated yoga practice has exposed her to a wide array of teachers, styles, and philosophies and she has spent this year practicing the Iyengar method with Karen Allgire. She believes, “It’s all yoga and I am always inspired to learn more and incorporate new things into my teaching and practice.”
Catherine’s viny
asa flow classes are challenging, fun, and thoughtful with well chosen music that will support and inspire your yoga practice. She also teaches Flow Jungle classes which incorporate props such as chairs, blocks, and the rope wall. These classes are perfect for all levels; beginners will learn technique and alignment, more advanced students will have the opportunity to deepen and elevate their practice, and everyone will experience supported restorative poses at the end of class.
Catherine teaches at Evolution Yoga several times a week — visit our Mindbody scheduling website to learn more.
KATELYNE NATALIE
Arriving on the heels of two athletic brothers, Katelyn was destined for a life of physical activity. She played sports all throughout high school and college, along the way developing an appreciation for fitness. After a knee injury, Katelyn’s cousin (a yoga teacher) suggested she try yoga as a low impact way to work on strength and flexibility. Yoga fulfilled those requirements and soon, Katelyn started feeling the many other benefits of yoga: clarity of mind, improved balance, coordination and a more ‘awake’ approach to life. Hungry for more, she consumed all things yoga, finding an affinity with the more anatomical and therapeutic styles of yoga.
Katelyn was drawn to Evolution Yoga by the variety of classes and extensive experience of the teachers. She began practicing at the studio in 2009 and shortly after, began working at the front desk. Her background and degree Adaptive Physical Education and new found love of yoga led Katelyn to teach Kids Yoga in 2011 and begin a mentoring program with studio owner Sandy Gross. Katelyn lives with her new husband in Mayfield Heights and they are blissfully happy!
Find out when Katelyn teaches at Evolution by visiting our Mindbody scheduling website.
MEGAN TETTAU
Megan believes that yoga is an instrument for personal growth. To start, she had been dabbling in yoga as a hobby, but in 2003 decided to attend the Try4Life Yoga Teacher Training program. At that time Megan was working in long term care and benefitted from the stress relief that yoga provided. Slowly, she welcomed the perspective that yoga brought to her life during periods of change. Life brings change. Yoga helps a person accept, understand, and thrive in it. Today Megan measures success in the quality of her relationships: with her true self, her husband, Scott, and their daughter, Vivian, as well as with her family, friends, and yoga students. 
As everything in life, Megan’s personal yoga practice and teaching style has evolved. From a once heated and physically challenging vinyasa flow, today yoga on Megan’s mat has slowed down and deepened. She spends time breaking down poses, focusing on areas of the body, and adding the educational tools of yoga props (blocks, blankets, straps, bolsters, chairs, and the wall). Attending numerous workshops locally with traveling teachers, as well as national conferences through Yoga Journal and the Omega Institute, Megan applies influences from the traditions of Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Hatha, and Restorative yogas.
Sign up for one of Megan’s class in advance at our Mindbody scheduling website.
JOE TOMINO
In 2012, while living in New York City, Joe attended his first yoga class in over 15 years. What he took away from that class and those first few months of practice was way more than he could have ever imagined. To sum it up in one word: TRANSFORMATION. Yoga has become a very intrinsic part of Joe’s daily life since then. During the next couple of years, while traveling around the globe playing music, Joe became inspired to improve his practice by rolling out mats on hotel floors, practicing handstands on stage during sound-check, and finding any yoga class he could to learn and study. Yoga provided Joe with a good workout on the mat, but also a deepening of his ethics and an understanding of his purpose in life off the mat. It was during this time that it became apparent that Joe wanted to become a yoga instructor and share this practice with anyone who wanted to learn.
In 2014, Joe moved back to Cleveland and had a took a few months off from traveling for work. In 2015, Joe became at certified instructor at Cleveland Yoga and has attended workshops and learned from several teachers: Bryan Kest, Alexandria Crow, Sarah Court, Sandy Gross, Brooke Hamblet, Marni Task, and Jennilee Toner.
Joe’s teaching style is not to re-invent, but rather to re-invigorate. Teaching through proper alignment, breath centered awareness, and mindfulness through movement, Joe aspires to leave students empowered within themselves through their own abilities. Music plays an important part of Joe’s teaching, so expect to hear some interesting sounds coming from the speakers while attending on of his classes.
When Joe isn’t teaching yoga, you’ll find him behind a set of drums making noise, in the kitchen cooking plant-based food, riding his bike, or being a dad and husband.
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