Bobbi Poncé-Barger
Bagheera Yoga is the teaching practice of Bobbi Poncé-Barger. A practioner of yoga for over 28 years, Bobbi's teaching combines Hatha Yoga (postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques) and Eastern and Asian yoga philosophy.

Bobbi has studied with a broad range of nationally renowned yogis. She holds teacher certification from the schools of Pru-Yoga and Ma Yoga Shakti. She also holds a special certification to work with students who have heart disease. She is a registered Yoga Teacher at the Experienced Master Level (500 hour) with the National Yoga Alliance. Bobbi is past-president of the Mid-Atlantic Yoga Association. Résumé is available upon request.

Bobbi's Yoga studio is located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C. As featured in Yoga Journal, "Bobbi Poncé-Barger teaches in her beautifully wood worked studio in the heart of Adams Morgan. Her classes are small (6-8) and she enjoys tailoring her teaching to the needs of the class on any given day. And, there is a special feel to Ponce-Barger's space: located on the third floor of an apartment building, the studio has a woodsy smell and feel. Tall, leafy trees fill the view looking out of the many windows around the studio." - February 2002.

Since the summer of 2000 Bobbi has found and cultivated a deep connection to Soto Buddhism as taught by Shogaku Shunryu Suzuki Roshi (the Founder of the San Francisco Zen Center) and his students. It has been a natural and subtle progression to move from embracing the code of conduct of Yoga’s Yamas and Niyamas to the deeper precepts of Buddhism.

On August 16th, 2005 Bobbi received the precepts from Dairyu Michael Wenger in the traditional Jukai ceremony (Zen Buddhist lay ordination) at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.  Bobbi has continued to study with Dairyu and is preparing  to ordain as a priest .

L to R: Danny Parker, Edward Espe Brown, Micheal Wenger and Bobbi Ponce-Barger

A regular zen meditation group (All Beings Abode Sangha) has used the Bagheera studio space for gathering since the Winter of 2004.


Francy Mess has trained with Bobbi Ponce-Barger and Prue Kestner. Francy's style is gentle and has an emphasis on opening the body through asana and relaxation. She is also a Sign Language Interpreter. She can be reached at fstilwel@umd.edu

Elizabeth Bourne practiced Iyengar Yoga before studying with Bobbi Ponce Barger and Prue Kestner. She likes to focus on movement with breath, balance, and alignment. She is also a licensed massage therapist with a practice close to the Bagheera Yoga Studio. She can be reached at listentothebody@gmail.com