Heather Furtney
A spirit of curiosity mingled with an authentic verve for communicating principles of yoga make up the magic of Heather. The journey began in 2008 as Heather vowed to “try anything” to heal a lifetime of chronic back pain, she discovered the transformative benefits of a yoga practice as within months, the pain dissolved.
At Bend Yoga Center, Heather helps run the ship. She facilitates a love for the practice, and for the community where yoga is shared. As creative director, chief of scheduling, and master organizer, she seamlessly keeps the space sacred, lively and special so that students feel safe, warm and welcome.
In 2015, Heather underwent a pelvic reconstruction surgery to rebuild her hip socket after debilitating pain developed from hip dysplasia. A deep sense of calm determination cultivated from years of yoga practice pushed her through the recovery process – she went from wheelchair to Standing Bow Pose, using the assistance of a chair in practice to get her back on solid footing.
The more she unrolled the mat, the more Heather entered into a tapestry of self-discovery – her practice transcended the physical, and she weaved together threads of mental well-being. “I slept better, reduced stress, built confidence and came out of my shell.”
Heather started her teaching career with Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in 2012. She has been teaching and learning as she goes since. She completed a 500-hour Yoga Therapy Specialist Program. This knowledge allows Heather to create a personalized therapeutic plan for each student.
Heather enjoys spending mindful time outdoors climbing, biking and hiking – deep in the wild where the constraints of time are nonexistent. Though Heather takes yoga very seriously, her wit, creative spirit and endless enthusiasm and joy will leave you laughing.
