It is with a heavy heart that we share tragic news.

Our beloved friend and inspirational dance & yoga teacher, Françoise Esteve was accidently killed in her native France on 4/9/09. She was riding her bike home from teaching a class and was hit by a truck and died instantly. It is an incomprehensible loss! She was only 50 years old.

Françoise was an amazing teacher who helped us open our hearts and unleash our spirits through dance, yoga, and her bright, playful spirit. In the early years at YogaSpace, she taught Yoga in French and throughout the years led special events like Mother's Day, Valentines Day and New Years retreats. Her classes were creative, fun, sweet and sublime.

And even though English was her second language, she had a wonderful way with words - often poetic, silly or inspiring. Her petite, wildly capable body would stretch shake and shimmy in just about any way concievable. She had also been trained as a mime and a clown, so her playfulness was contageous! She was appropiately nick named "French Fry".

Françoise also had a way for bringing people toghether, including introducing Natasha & Gloria before YogaSpace even existed (and the rest is history, as they say). She has been an integral part of our Yoga community in Connecticut, and, even after she moved back to France, would draw a crowd whenever she returned to teach.

Please light a candle, say a prayer, do a dance, walk in nature, meditate, cook, be with animals, write, paint or do whatever you're inspired to do honor her.

Her presence will be missed and the gift of her memory cherished.