Bravery begins here.
Durga Yoga House is a welcoming home for all — a place to ignite the fire within. Join us Sunday mornings at the Rainier Beach Community Club for practice rooted in courage, clarity, and compassion.
Who Is Durga?
A symbol of courage.
In Sanskrit, Durga means "invincible." She is a goddess whose strength protects what is true. In the stories, she is shakti embodied — eight arms, riding a tiger, carrying the cosmic tools that cut through illusion and guard the vulnerable.
Her anger is a protective force, awakened only when harm or injustice arises. In the tradition, her fire exists to burn away what obscures clarity — negativity, illusion, old patterns — so that what is good can remain.
This is the same disciplined intensity a yoga practice asks of us. Durga's power is the power of clarity, of meeting yourself without turning away and discovering the steadiness that rises when you do.
Yoga Lineage
Continuity, care, and integrity.
Durga Yoga House is rooted in the traditional Ashtanga method: a breath-led, disciplined practice passed through generations. This lineage teaches that transformation comes from consistency, humility, and attention. It offers structure without rigidity and challenge without pressure, meeting each practitioner exactly where they are.
We honor the teachers who carried this method forward with sincerity and respect. Their guidance shapes how we teach today — with clarity, warmth, and an understanding that yoga is a lifelong path.
Here, lineage is about continuity, a knowledge passed from one practitioner to another with care and integrity.
Upcoming Dates
Come as you are, any Sunday.
Pick a date below and reserve your spot through Eventbrite — it takes less than a minute, and you're welcome whether it's your first class or your hundredth.
You're Invited
Reserve through Eventbrite — pick any upcoming Sunday from the list below and join us.
Reserve on EventbriteSunday mornings are just the beginning. More offerings are on the way, including new practice times, additional class styles, special workshops, and immersive experiences designed to deepen your strength and steadiness.
Check back here, or message below to hear about new classes and events as they unfold.
Meet Your Teacher
Gretchen Ramsey
Founder & Lead Teacher, Durga Yoga House
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.
Practice & Lineage
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2014
Vinyasa training with Liz Conner, student of Shiva Rea. Vinyasa teaching certification.
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2015
Ashtanga study with David Garrigues, student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
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2019–2022
Practice with Elizabeth Crozier, student of David Garrigues and Eddie Stern.
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2022–2026
Study with Troy Lucero, student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Tim Miller, and Richard Freeman. Practice with Brendan Smullen and Christiane Costa, students of Manju Jois.
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2025
Ashtanga teaching certification. Began teaching at Yoga Shala Seattle.
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2026
Durga Yoga House founded to share traditional practice with the South Seattle community.
Get In Touch
Questions before Sunday?
Reach out about class prep, accessibility, private sessions, or anything else — Gretchen reads every message.
info@durgayogahouse.com @durgayogahouse