Meet the Instructors

Catharine Eberhart, CPYI 2,000 Hour,
E-RYT 500, C-IAYT (certified yoga therapist)

Catharine began practicing yoga in 1996 to help manage stress and soon discovered it to be a powerful guide for her physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Through regular practice and teaching, she feels stronger, more joyful, and deeply connected to the present moment.

She studies regularly with the founders of Purna Yoga, Aadil Palkhivala and Savitri, and has traveled to India with them. Catharine is on the faculty at the College of Purna Yoga at Alive and Shine Center in Bellevue, WA, where she teaches advanced teacher training. She also leads teacher training programs in Clayton, NC, at Purna Yoga East.

Catharine is a Certified Purna Yoga Instructor (CYPI) with over 2,000 hours of training, a Certified Yoga Therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), and the director of Purna Yoga East. She also holds a master’s degree in education. In addition to her yoga credentials, Catharine is a North Carolina Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (#2034), with specialized training in trigger point therapy, deep tissue, and relaxation massage. She has been practicing massage therapy since 2001.

Trusted and compassionate, Catharine is honored to share her knowledge, skills, and experience to support others on their path to wellness.

"Yogi Bob" Maiers, CPYI 2,000 Hour, RYT 500

Bob began his study of yoga in 2001 out of an interest in athletics and health. Having lived an active lifestyle for over 70 years, he was drawn to the positive energy and welcoming community he found in yoga classes.

He studies regularly with Catharine at Purna Yoga East and continues his education by attending Purna Yoga workshops with Aadil Palkhivala and Savitri, as well as trainings with Bryan Legere, one of the inventors of the Great Yoga Wall.

In June 2009, Bob graduated from the College of Purna Yoga’s 200-hour teacher training intensive at the Alive and Shine Center in Bellevue, WA. In 2010, he completed the 500-hour level of training and has since accumulated over 2,000 hours of teacher training in Purna Yoga to become a Certified Purna Yoga Instructor (CYPI).

Bob is eager to share yoga with his students. He teaches with sincerity and lightheartedness, bringing both humor and a sense of calm to his classes while creating a safe and supportive environment for all.
Bob has four grown children and four grandchildren. He enjoys spending time at the beach, grilling out, and learning how to fix things.

Emily Hurr, CPYI 500 hour, E-RYT 500

Emily teaches yoga as a practice of coming home — to your body, your breath, and the wisdom within. She creates a supportive space for students to develop a deeper connection with their bodies and cultivate inner awareness.

Rooted in the lineage of Purna Yoga, Emily’s classes blend alignment-based movement, meditation, and yogic philosophy in a way that’s both accessible and meaningful. She’s known for her steady presence, thoughtful instruction, and the genuine connection she brings to her teaching.

Before becoming a yoga teacher in 2012, Emily taught middle school and holds a bachelor’s degree in education. It was during her first year of teaching public school that she initially sought out yoga as a way to manage stress and sustain her energy. The peace of mind she found in yoga classes was transformational.

More than just shapes or sequences, Emily sees yoga as a path to greater self-awareness, resilience, and wholeness. She currently teaches ongoing yoga classes, workshops, and yoga teacher trainings.

Cathy Marraccini, RYT 200

Cathy has been studying yoga at Purna Yoga East (formerly East Second Street Yoga) since 2006. She began to learn more about yoga after interviewing Catharine Eberhart (PYE director) for an article for the local newspaper, The Clayton News-Star, back in 2002. Although her busy work schedule as news editor at the newspaper and an even busier family life initially kept her from pursuing a yoga practice, once she attended her first yoga class she was hooked!

Over the years, Cathy has experienced the many benefits of yoga, including increased strength and flexibility and a greater sense of well-being that comes with taking time to care for oneself. However, she believes the greatest gift of studying yoga at Purna Yoga East has been the wonderful friendships she has developed with her “yoga buddies” – caring instructors and fellow students.

She also has had the privilege of attending workshops with Purna Yoga co-founder and master teacher Aadil Palkhivala as well as Bryan Legere, co-inventor of the Great Yoga Wall.

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Cathy and her husband, Jerry, moved to North Carolina in 1988 and to Clayton in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and communications from Buffalo State College, and works as box office manager at The Clayton Center. Cathy received her RYT-200 certification in April 2013, and she is eager to see where this new path on her yoga journey will lead.

Jessica Bousquet, RYT-200

Jessica began taking classes at Purna Yoga East in 2009. Juggling two young boys and a career as a laboratory manager, she originally began coming to yoga classes to relieve lower back pain and stress, but she found much more.

Although she had been practicing yoga since 1999, she didn’t realize how much she was missing. Not only did Purna Yoga assist with physical aspects of her life but also the mental.

In 2015 she completed the 200 Hour Purna Yoga College teacher training so she could share what she has learned with others.

Cortney Trasti, RYT 200

Cortney began her study of yoga as part of her journey into natural wellness. After working as a stylist and salon owner, the physical demands and stress on her body resulted in numerous surgeries and an unhealthy lifestyle. As a massage client of Catharine's, she was introduced to Purna Yoga.

Enrolling in the 200-hour teacher training, Cortney learned and grew in more ways than she could have imagined. Practicing yoga has provided physical relief while Heartfull Meditation has given stress relief. “All life is Yoga” is the realization that her journey has just begun.

Cortney has furthered her training to include the use of singing bowls, chimes and rain drum in her last Sunday of each month Flow and Frequency restorative class from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Veronica Hall, RYT-200

Veronica began practicing yoga in 2003 as a way to manage stress while balancing the demands of college and a busy work schedule. What started as a personal outlet quickly became a meaningful and lasting practice. After college, maintaining a consistent yoga practice helped her cultivate balance, resilience, and mental wellness through the many seasons of life.

Through yoga, Veronica developed a deeper mind-body connection—something she believes is an invaluable tool for navigating both the challenges and joys of life with greater awareness and presence. Her personal experience with yoga inspired a passion for helping others cultivate that same sense of connection and balance within themselves.

Veronica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Public Health, bringing a whole-person perspective to her teaching and approach to wellness.

In 2024, Veronica completed the 200 Purna Yoga College Teacher Training. She is especially interested in helping people maintain strength and mobility at every age through the practice of yoga. Veronica strives to create welcoming, accessible classes where students can build confidence in their bodies, move with greater ease, and develop a deeper sense of balance both on and off the mat.

Carolina Rodriguez, RYT-200

Carolina began her yoga journey drawn to the sense of calm, curiosity, and self-awareness it brought into her life. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2024 and recently completed her massage therapy training, further deepening her understanding of the body and its natural capacity to heal.

Having experienced recurring pain throughout her life, Carolina discovered yoga and massage as powerful tools for relief, helping her cultivate greater mobility, flexibility, and ease within her body. What began as a personal healing practice has evolved into a meaningful path of exploration, growth, and connection.

Carolina is passionate about creating a supportive space where students and clients can feel seen, empowered, and connected to their bodies. She looks forward to guiding others as they build trust in themselves and discover practices that support their own well-being.

Larisa Putnam, RYT 200

Larisa began her study of yoga in 2003 as a way to heal the body after multiple "Weekend Warrior" injuries and the physical demands being part owner of a local plant nursery where she tended acres of plants.

Most recently she began studying the deep mind-body-heart and soul connection that Purna Yoga fosters. It was through this exploration that Larisa pursued her Purna Yoga teaching certificate and is excited to share the gift of yoga with you as a Purna Yoga 200-hour graduate from The Purna Yoga College and as a Yoga Alliance 200 hour registered yoga teacher, RYT-200. Once a classroom teacher in Johnston County Public School System, Larisa is excited to flex that teaching muscle once again.

By day, Larisa is the People and Operations Generalist at the Triangle Community Foundation; supporting her colleagues and their space, so they, in turn, can take care of our community at-large!

Larisa has one grown son who lives abroad so she often spends vacations exporing the world with him.

Catharine Eberhart, CPYI 2,000 Hour,E-RYT 500, C-IAYT (certified yoga therapist)