Joy. Liberation. Celebration. Inclusion. Evidence-based. Empowerment.
Much Heart was founded by Bethany Ranftl (known as B by her friends and students). Bethany is a 500-hour certified Vinyasa yoga teacher, a certified birth doula and a Reiki practitioner. She specializes in prenatal yoga. She has a 95-hour children’s yoga certification with an emphasis on neurodivergent children and teens, an 85-hour prenatal yoga certification and a 50-hour Restorative Yoga certification. She has completed over 1,000 hours of yoga training in the areas of Bhakti Yoga, yogic texts and philosophy, ayurveda, pranayama, gentle yoga, accessible/adaptive yoga, yoga transcending gender binaries, prenatal yoga, children’s yoga, trauma awareness, functional anatomy, alignment, yoga teaching and energy of the subtle body. Bethany is a lover of Bhakti Yoga and a big fan of joy. She serves students and families in and outside Charleston, SC. She received her doula certification through DONA International.
Where does the name Much Heart come from?
While living in New York, Bethany began affectionately signing her emails and letters, “Much heart, Bethany.” Much Heart became synonymous with Bethany. To her, Much Heart represents all that we feel but cannot always find words to express. Much Heart stands for the gratitude, love, joy, devotion, loyalty and celebration she has for everyone and all they offer this world.
In her own words and pictures…
New York City…
I moved to New York City at 19 and discovered yoga while taking a gym elective in college. The teacher gave me a coupon for a free yoga class at Jivamukti Yoga. With no idea what to expect, I signed up and was instantly hooked. I remember my first Jivamukti class vividly. The teacher seemingly floated as he transitioned between inverted and standing poses. The Jivamukti classes were experientially a whole other level. With innumerable yoga studios populating New York City over the years, I continually returned to Jivamukti. Jivamukti on Lafayette. Jivamukti in Union Square. Jivamukti uptown. When I needed yoga most, Jivamukti was my sanctuary.
Photo Production…
In my mid-twenties, I seriously considered becoming a yoga teacher. Though, other exciting opportunities simultaneously presented themselves. I began an incredible career in photo editing, production and creative direction, primarily for music and documentary journalism. It was during that time, that I began signing emails and letters, “Much heart, Bethany.”
India…
Something happened… I reached an impasse, like the next chapter in my personal growth would begin only after visiting India. (If there is something your heart calls you to do, make it happen!) I purchased a one-way ticket to India and spent several months traveling much of the country independently, volunteering in orphanages, and practicing yoga. I didn’t practice yoga in ashrams as I had expected. I practiced on my own, on rooftops, (sometimes with friends on similar journeys) and in tiny rooms where I could look out tiny windows and see peacocks, monkeys, large turtles and the Ganges. My next chapter had begun.
North Carolina to Charleston, SC…
I relocated to North Carolina to complete my 200-hour yoga teaching certification with my beloved Jivamukti yoga teacher, Nicole “Narayani” Nichols at Republic of Yoga. During that training, a fellow student became pregnant, and I became fascinated with the reciprocal relationship between yoga and pregnancy. In that same way I intuitively knew I needed to go to India, I knew I was going to teach prenatal yoga. I completed my 85-hour prenatal certification at Blue Point Yoga in Durham, NC. And as things do when you move with the Universe, I began teaching prenatal yoga. I became a certified birth doula with DONA International after students repeatedly asked me to support their childbirth experience.
After six years in North Carolina, I now call Charleston, SC home. I completed my 300-hour teacher training with Janet Stone Yoga in 2022 and completed my Level 1 Restorative Yoga and children’s yoga certification in 2023.
Much heart, Bethany
Photo Credits Slider L-to-R from Center: Aaron Ranftl; Courtesy Client; Bethany Ranftl Archive (2); Roxanne Lowit; Bethany Ranftl Archive (2); Tana Oliver; Aaron Ranftl. Below Slider T-to-B: Tana Oliver; Bethany Ranftl Archive (2); Aaron Ranftl