J. Renée DeTar

Jean Renée DeTar, is the founder of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies. She is of Native American descent, a certified Citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Renée has been practicing yoga since 1973, teaching since 1991 and continues studies under her very first Iyengar teachers, Bobbi Goldin (Iyengar) and Aadil Palkhivala, founder of Purna Yoga. She spent over 24 years studying under Aadil while he was an Iyengar teacher and now is continuing her studies in the Purna Yoga 2000-Hour program. Renée was initiated in the Himalayan Tradition, by Dr. Rolf Sovik under the tutelage of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. She studied the use of herbs and kinesiology with Hanna Kroeger, became a Unity Minister while working with Hanna, and trained as a medical intuitive in the early 90's with Dr. Norm Shealy who discovered Carolyn Myss, one of the most acknowledged medical intuitives in the world. Renée implemented the work of Caroline Myss into the foundational courses of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies after being inspired in graduate school by Caroline and her work using archetypes described by Joseph Campbell. She worked with Genesis Health Clubs of Kansas to develop their yoga and Pilates programming for over 12 years. Her fellow colleague, Dr. Ray Long, MD, author of the BandhaYoga books, visits Kansas City annually and provides a fresh look at what is happening in traditional medicine and how the current procedures can be enhanced by yoga therapy. Her Ayurveda studies continue with Dr. Vasant Lad. 

Renée opened the first Barefoot Studio in Wichita, Kansas in 1999 and founded the Institute of Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies in 2000. She created the school curriculum after her own learning journey, a liberal arts yoga school that included the structure and function of Iyengar yoga and using complementary therapies including Pilates, to facilitate healing. She had overwhelming support for her efforts by some of the most famous yoga teachers in the world: Rod Stryker, Erich Schiffmann, Aadil Palkhivala, Mukunda Stiles, Shiva Rea, Judith Lasater, David Williams, Doug Swenson, Bobbi Goldin, Liz Lark, Tiffany Cruikshank, Ray Long, MD, Ricky Tran, Doug Keller, Seane Corn, and Jodi Blumstein..to name a few.

She created the Life Centre's teacher training program in Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom and this program is now known as YogaCampus.com. 

Renée holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Communicative Disorders & Sciences, Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies, specializing in the neurological development of the preterm infant and has post-graduate work in Counseling, Educational and School Psychology from Wichita State University. She currently holds the following registrations and certificates: 

1998 - Yoga Alliance, E-RYT 500 & Prenatal Yoga Teacher, Unity Minister

1999 - Opened Barefoot Studio | Wichita, Kansas 

2000 - founded the Institute of Interdisciplinary Yoga Studies (IIYS) and joined IAYT

2002 - Certified in the Pilates Method, with Colleen Glenn

2004 - 2011 Regional Yoga Director, Genesis Health Clubs

2017 - Certified Yoga Therapist, International Association of Yoga Therapists & Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider

2018 - Ayurveda Yoga Specialist, Himalayan Institute

2019 - Pulse Diagnosis & Assessment, The Ayurveda Institute, Dr. Vasant Lad, registered as a Yoga Therapist with the Australian Association of Yoga Therapy (AAYT), opened Barefoot Studio |Kansas City

2020 - Yamuna Body Rolling and Intensives.