YOGI OF THE MONTH
June 2026 - Margaret Drawbaugh
What first brought you to yoga and how long have you been practicing?
I was inspired by Anodea Judith’s book, Chakra Yoga, published in 2015. After buying it, I practiced some of her poses at home when I lived in Northern Virginia. A few years later, I joined a yoga studio near my home in Falls Church and took weekly classes. When we moved to the Northern Neck, a Reedville friend told me about Susan’s studio and I’m very grateful she did. I’ve learned so much from Susan and enjoy attending her Functional Yoga class each Wednesday.
What is/are your intention(s) for your yoga practice?
To enhance my personal health and fitness by incorporating yoga into my exercise routine, which also includes swimming, walking and a little light weight lifting.
What is your favorite pose and why?
Adho Mukha Svanasana, better known as Downward-Facing Dog pose. It just feels good.
What is your favorite class at InsideOut Yoga?
The Functional Yoga class I regularly attend is my favorite. I also enjoyed the Focus on Form series that Susan recently taught.
How has the practice of yoga influenced your life?
I feel better from head to toe because of practicing regularly. I’m stronger and my posture has improved. Most of all, I feel so much more confident when holding my grandchildren.
What advice would you have for a beginning yoga student?
Try the poses to the best of your ability. When a pose feels like too much, back off. You get to choose. Each person becomes more balanced, coordinated and flexible at their own pace in a yoga class.
What is your occupation?
I’m a recently retired elementary school teacher and para-professional. I taught first grade in Indianapolis before our children were born. When my kids were very young in New York, London and Chicago, I was a stay-at-home mom. When they went to school in Falls Church, I returned to the classroom as a teacher’s aide. When my sons went to high school, I taught kindergarten.
What activities do you enjoy?
I enjoy gardening, knitting sweaters for my grandkids, reading novels, swimming laps at the YMCA and racing our sailboat with my husband on the bay.
What is your favorite thing about living in the Northern Neck or Middle Peninsula?
Proximity to the bay and its beauty means a lot to me. Being close to the water brings new discoveries every season, whether it’s watching an otter scurry across the ice last winter or watching our local owl swooping into our yard each summer.
Is there anything you want to add?
A favorite memory of mine is a past yoga class one summer years ago on my birthday when my whole family attended class with me. Even my daughter-in-law came along. It was the first yoga all of them had ever done and it was such fun. None of them have done yoga since, but they all remain very physically active, cycling, running, sailing, windsurfing and even doing triathlons.
June 2026 - Margaret Drawbaugh
May 2026 - Lynne Cerar
April 2026 - Lisa Baechler
March 2026 - Shauna McCranie
February 2026 - Michelle Johnson
January 2026 - Nathan Martin
December 2025 - Joan Carlson
November 2025 - Carolyn Burns
October 2025 - Mary Logan Hill
September 2025 - Marci Robinson
August 2025 - Matt Shifflett
July 2025 - Kelsey English
June 2025 - Dana Smook
May 2025 - Albert Pollard
April 2025 - Brian Erwin
March 2025 - Dinah Bondzie
February 2025 - Aline Johnson
January 2025 - Irene Vest
December 2024 - Ken Beutel
November 2024 - Deb Beutel
October 2024 - Catherine Baker
September 2024 - Chris Collins
August 2024 - Sarah Haynie McCarthy
July 2024 - Terri Sanchez
June 2024 - Kirsten Knull
May 2024 - Pam Bickel
April 2024 - Jill Bessler
March 2024 - Dave Godwin
February 2024 - Nicole Leona
January 2024 - Carol Muratore
December 2023 - Steve Griswold
November 2023 - Lynne Haynie
October 2023 - Margy Childs
September 2023 - Sharon Seal
August 2023 - Pam Bailey
July 2023 - Lydia Haynie
June 2023 - Sri Bhagava Brachmacharya
May 2023 - Kelly Goodrich
Apil 2023 - Nancy Wilson
March 2023 - Alli Crowell
January 2023 - Candie Newman
December 2022 - Cindy Miller
November 2022 - Kati O’Brien Rose
October 2022 - Margot Bearden
September 2022 - Jim Purcell
August 2022 - Leigh Purcell
July 2022 - Steve Reiss
June 2022 - Carol Buchman
May 2022 - Carla Everton
April 2022 - Jill Zelman
March 2022 - Anita Riddle
February 2022 - Seth Weinstein
January 2022 - Denise Greene
December 2021 - Lisa MacNair
November 2021 - Michelle & Tom Wolf
October 2021 - Ken Laden
September 2021 - Paulette Laden
August 2021 - Ashley Duncan
July 2021 - Mindy Arnold
June 2021 - Luba Brice
May 2021 - Brian Burroughs
April 2021 - Joann Burroughs
March 2021 - Carey Gaenzle
February 2021 - Thyra Harris
January 2021 - Katie Conschafter
December 2020 - Jack Fackler
November 2020 - Christian Johnson
October 2020 - Peggy DeFranco
September 2020 - Susie Dunaway
August 2020 - Karen Kaechele Costantino
July 2020 - Julie Woods
June 2020 - Julie Zimmerman
May 2020 - Ainslie Hodges
April 2020 - Bhagava Brachmacharya
March 2020 - Melissa Kerby
February 2020 - Barbara Olin
January 2020 - Kelly Strickland
December 2019 - Angie McKinster
November 2019 - Cindy Hylton
October 2019 - Beth Johnson
September 2019 - Elizabeth Bulette
August 2019 - Lauren Leo
July 2019 - Janice Thomas
June 2019 - Jane Austin
May 2019 - Dianne Nichols
April 2019 - Milly Rixey
March 2019 - Holly Archard
February 2019 - Barbara Thorum
January 2019 - Brigitte Wolf-Small
December 2018 - Mohler Carlson
November 2018 - Sylvia Voreas
October 2018 - Lisa Shivers
September 2018 - Lynn Hower
August 2018 - Brenda Brinn
July 2018 - Ingrid Buell
June 2018 - Kaz Kazenske
May 2018 - Louise Mohardt
April 2018 - Art Gilbert
March 2018 - Connie Majeski
February 2018 - Amy Maloney
January 2018 - Jen King
December 2017 - Susan Whitlow
November 2017 - Sharon Topping
October 2017 - Betsy and Pete Liljeberg
September 2017 - Lena Okun
August 2017 - Sarah Rae
July 2017 - Gayle Chambers
June 2017 - Liz Seigler
May 2017 - Rita D'Amico
April 2017 - Suzie Beer
March 2017 - Andrea Latell
February 2017 - The Manyak Family
January 2017 - MJ Anderson
December 2016 - Susan Richardson
November 2016 - Vickie and Norm Grimm
October 2016 - Lydia Sellers
September 2016 - Ginger Houck
August 2016 - Ally Childress
July 2016 - Margot Angstrom
June 2016 - Dan Grohowski
May 2016 - Christine Potter
April 2016 - Mary Beth Fox
March 2016 - Liliane and Michael Merrill
February 2016 - Consi Palmer
January 2016 - Scott Witthaus
December 2015 - Missy Reed
November 2015 - Page Wittkamp
October 2015 - Christine Whitaker Wiggins
September 2015 - Jameson Crandall
August 2015 - Pris Regan
July 2015 - CJ Carter
June 2015 - Nancy Sledd
May 2015 - Cherie Kazenske
April 2015 - Eva Abel
March 2015 - Pamela Witthaus
February 2015 - Corey Hassman
January 2015 - Adrianne Bugg
December 2014 - Kimberly Vail
November 2014 - Julie Perkins
October 2014 - Cathy Mecke
September 2014 - Kae Kindle
August 2014 - Hatley Bright
July 2014 - Maureen Lynch
June 2014 - Davy Nichols
May 2014 - Caroline Shifflett
April 2014 - Bob Weekley
March 2014 - Debi Isbrandtsen
February 2014 - Janet Hill
January 2014 - Susan and Bob Wayland
December 2013 - Anna Mendez
November 2013 - Kathy Morchower
October 2013 - Jim Philbrick