Valerie Knopik, Ph.D

Valerie is the Ben and Maxine Miller Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University and E-RYT in Indianapolis, Indiana. Formally trained in classical ballet, as well as a former runner, Valerie has always been a believer in staying active but yoga is the perfect marriage of her work in mental health and her love of movement and anatomy.

With a Ph.D. in Psychology, Valerie is extremely active in mental health research, focusing on how our internal biology and our external physical environment (including yoga, mindfulness, and meditation) can interact to positively change our mental health landscape. Valerie’s sincere hope is that, while the physical asana practice might be the introduction to yoga (as it was for her), her students can utilize the asanas as a tool to find cohesion of body, mind, and spirit in order to experience fullness and purpose in their lives. Valerie lives with her husband and their two children (and a big, loveable Great Dane named Justice) in Indiana..