About

A yoga practice isn't meant to fix you or turn you into someone else. It's meant to remind you that you never needed fixing. You are enough exactly how you are.

— Website Tiny Buddha

Jill leads classes that are designed to accommodate all bodies and encourage practitioners to explore how their bodies are most comfortable moving. Her classes encompass a balanced practice of breathwork, strengthening, and stretching with a focus on practical mindfulness techniques.  Jill is honored to hold a space that allows you to have your unique individual yoga practice in whatever way is relevant and meaningful to you.

On the Mat

Jill Simon (she, her, hers) has been practicing vinyasa-style yoga for 16 years and taught at Franklin Street Yoga Center from 2019-2023. Jill was inspired by one of her first teachers, Dolly Kaupp, who guided sunrise yoga at a local YMCA. It was then that she decided she would work towards guiding others in the same way. Since then, Jill has learned from the numerous, generous teachers who have worked at FSYC over the past eleven years. In addition, she studied with Tejal Patel, Libby Hinsley, and Michael Johnson. Jill completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training at Franklin Street Yoga Center and a 300-hour training with Asheville Yoga Center. She currently calls Recess Yoga in Carrboro home.

Off the Mat

Jill and her family have lived in Chapel Hill for 15 years. Each day begins with some journaling, a quiet cup of coffee, and a long walk with her dog, Daisy. The days are filled with keeping track of her two teen boys, learning how to be business and social justice minded, and volunteering. In the schools she has created two separate programs to help bring awareness to overlooked populations. One focused on welcoming international teachers, and another supporting food insecurity in the classrooms. She is currently the PTA president at her son's middle school. When it is time to rest, she loves to read, listen to podcasts, complete jigsaw puzzles, and sit on the porch and watch the rain.

Jill is constantly baffled by whatever the fork is happening in the world around us, so she turns to yoga to make it make sense. She is so grateful that Janet invited her into her first class.

Teachers Of Note

One who practices yoga is always a student, studying tradition across time and space. These teachers below have been particularly inspiring on my journey. 

  • Tejal Yoga

    The Tejal Yoga community is a place to experience the intersection of yoga and social justice. Tejal leads movement, meditation, and community gatherings. She has a robust and diverse community of teachers who take the time to include and empower others. Her space is dedicated to uplifting South Asian teachers.

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  • Michelle Cassandra Johnson

    Michelle's book Skill in Action is a must read for any yoga lover. Finding Refuge is just as compelling. Her clear and compassionate way of holding space and validating every voice in her presence is impressive. Her meditations, trainings, and movement practices allow each person the space to meet their own needs.

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  • Libby Hinsley

    Libby works both at Asheville Yoga Center and on her own at Anatomy Bites. Her intimate knowledge of anatomy makes any practitioner feel safe and confident. She empowers students to have autonomy in their bodies and learn what movements serve them. Libby's teachings are clear, accessible, and instill confidence in teachers. 

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  • Manoj

    Through the Tejal Yoga platform I’ve become a regular at Manoj’s morning sun salutations. He has such skill at weaving philosophy and the other limbs of yoga into a traditional morning sun salutation practice. It is peaceful, challenging, thought provoking, and community driven. I look forward to it weekly.

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  • Dr. Abha K Rajbhandari

    She is so smart and thoughtful! Abha leads the Tejal Yoga satsang on science and spirituality. This is a weekly session diving deep into the connections and the theories that developed and were taught in ancient texts, and how they appear today. It is so important to be a part of this community that offers thought provoking questions, and a place to explore how the traditional teaching and current science are supportive of each other.

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