Continuum Teachers

Beth Pettengill Riley, M.A. Dance Education, Stanford University, CYT, RSMT, RSME,  CCMT has invigorated the world of movement education through her passionate blending of Continuum, Yoga and Dance for over four decades.  Dancer, poet, choreographer and somatic educator, Beth arrived with a soul call: MOVE! 15 years of professional ballet training and performing later, she discovered modern with dance pioneer, Hanya Holm, while completing a BA in Literature at Colorado College. In 1981, she received her Masters in Education with a Dance Specialization from Stanford. Beth served on the faculty of Cabrillo College for 17 years where she taught all levels of dance, fitness, yoga and creative movement. At Cabrillo she also taught for 10 years in the Early Childhood Education Dept tutorials on teaching creative movement to children. Beth was a performing, teaching and administering member of Tandy Beal & Co, an internationally recognized modern dance company for over 10 years. In 1975, Beth began a passionate exploration of Yoga: origins, theory and practice. After two years at the Iyengar Institute in San Francisco, CA, she went on to become a founding member of Mt. Madonna Center where she served for more than 10 years, 3 of those year on the Board of Directors.  She helped found the well-respected Yoga Teacher training there. Baba Hari Dass continues to inspire her life and her teaching. In 2001, Beth received the Good Times award for the “Best Yoga teacher in Santa Cruz” in its annual readership poll. 
 

In 1978, Continuum became the vehicle for on-going renewal in every aspect of her life, putting her understanding of movement and the body through a radical transformation. She taught Continuum workshops and classes of Mt Madonna Center, University of California at Santa Cruz, Stanford University, El Camino Hospital, Santa Cruz Medical Clinic and Esalen Institute. She pioneered a graduate level course in Continuum Movement at the Santa Barbara Graduate Institute in 2004. She is passionate about the interface between science and spirituality, finding the perfect laboratory in the human body. Beth has developed training programs incorporating movement into curricula from pre-school through college, as well as educating Yoga teachers in innovation and asana.  For the past 7 years she has been developing Somatic Movement, Health and Wellness curriculum for teens at The Kirby School in Santa Cruz, CA, where she serves as  head of the Fitness and Wellness Dept.

Beth is the VP of the Board of Directors for ISMETA (International Somatic Movement and Therapy Association) whose mission is: “transforming the world through conscious movement”. She is actively exploring the interface between Education, Yoga and Continuum, having worked closely with Emilie Conrad for many years creating innovative approaches that address the deeper currents common to all.  She lives in Santa Cruz, CA with her husband, big fluffy golden doodle and cat she has 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters who bring great joy to the magical moments of the natural world and beyond.