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INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES
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 BARBARA
COLBER
Barbara
is the founder
of Santosha Center for Yoga and Health. After twenty-five years
of social work, Barbara decided to follow her dream and passion
for yoga by opening a healing center. Santosha, Sanskrit for
"contentment," offers healing & personal transformation
through yoga, massage, energy healing, proper nutrition, and
healing arts. Santosha offers a full scope of body, mind, spirit
practices including mediation instruction and kirtan/chanting.
Barbara holds a Masters in Social Work, is a certified 200 hour
Sampoorna Yoga Teacher (the yoga of fullness), is ordained as
a Priest/Swami in the Kriya Yoga Tradition, and is certified
as a Reiki Master Teacher. She has studied Hatha Yoga with Yogi
Hari in Florida, Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow with well known Shiva
Rea, and Siddha Yoga Philosophy in India and New York with Swami
Muktananda and Swami Chidvilasanada. She brings a wealth of
knowledge and love to her yoga and mediation classes. She offers
herself in service to the upliftment of humanity in peace through
yoga. |
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 AIMEE
COLBER, RYT
Aimee is the Co-founder of Santosha Center. Aimee is also
the Director of the Santosha Yoga Teacher Training School through
Yoga Alliance where she certifies Yoga students as Yoga teachers.
She has a Bachelors degree in Biology and studied in a 4 year
postgraduate Naturopathic Physician program where she learned
Clinical Nutrition, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Clinical Diagnosis,
Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, Natural Pharmaceuticals, Natural
Childbirth, Applied kinesiology and much more. Aimee also attended
a masters in Physical Therapy program where she learned Pain
Management,
& Muscle Testing. She has been practicing Meditation and
Yoga for 32 years and received
her yoga teacher training from John Friend's Anusara Yoga in
Arizona and also became certified in Mat Pilates. Aimee studied
Sampoorna Yoga in Florida and received her 500 hour certificate.
She has studied with renown Shiva Rea in Vinyasa, and studied
with renown Manu Jois in Ashtanga. She has taught for many
years at various spas, resorts, gyms and studios in Arizona,
Oregon and CT.
Aimee continues to further her
studies in yoga and yoga philosophy. She loves teaching
students of All Ages and All Levels. Aimee will continue
her studies in Ayurvedic Medicine. Presently Aimee
offers private Pilates/Yoga lessons either at Santosha
or in your home. She offers a 200hr Yoga teacher training
and a 500hr yoga teacher training at Santosha Center.
Aimee helps people heal holistically by offering certain
combinations of juices and other ingredients as a
fast to cleanse and detoxify a specific organ of the
body, in this way that particular organ can function better.
She offers clinical nutrition consultations, and applied
kinesiology diffusions. Aimee also offers energy healings and
Bach Flower Essence consultations. |
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 SANDY
OPPENHEIMER
Sandy Openheimer is a graduate of the Santosha 200 Hour
Certified Yoga Teacher Training. Sandy teachs both yoga
and yoga dance at Santosha Center and in the local community.
She has created her own sequence called, "My Yoga
Dance" which combines yoga with a fluid-like dance
flow to music.
Sandy especially enjoys the outdoors and can be found
teaching yoga out in nature by the pond on nice days.
Sandy is interested in sharing what she has learned to
the community in hopes that they enjoy yoga and dance
as much she does as it is so beneficial to your well
being! |
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 ALISA
MASSON
Alisa took her first yoga class in 2001 after a knee injury sidelined her from
running and has been hooked ever since. She experimented with a range of yoga
styles, but loves the freedom and creativity that Vinyasa provides. Alisa received
her 200-hour teacher training certification in Vinyasa yoga from Greenwich Yoga
in Greenwich, CT. |
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 ALISA
POPOVIC
Our multi-talented Alisa Popovic is a 200 Hour Certified Santosha Yoga Teacher.
She has a Master's Degree in classical voice with performance specialization.
She was a teaching fellow to the choral department at CUNY Brooklyn College where
she received a performer's award. Alisa's warmth and congeniality puts you at
ease as you are introduced to a composite of asanas, pranayama, and chanting
for increased health and vitality. Alisa immerses herself in the teachings of
Kundalini Yoga. She brings her musical talents of voice and song to her yoga
class. |
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 KRISTIN
ROBERTS
Kristin holds both a Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree
in Clinical Psychology. She has always had a strong desire
to assist people in healing themselves physically, emotionally,
and spiritually. Kristin was called to yoga five years
ago as a way to stay healthy and in shape. However, the
deep transformational quality of yoga soon revealed itself
and she found herself devoted to the practice.
Kristin received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training from
Santosha Center for Health. Her classes focus on assisting
students in developing a deep relationship with themselves
through their yoga practice. Kristin recognizes that
each student comes to yoga for differing reasons and
at different stages in life. As a result, Kristin meets
each student "where they are at" by
incorporating into each class the wisdom of the physical,
emotional, and spiritual benefits of asana and pranayama
and strives to assist students in incorporating into
their life the insight gained on the mat.
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 LEESA
SKLOVER, Ph.D.
A Jungian oriented practitioner- Psychologist, Counselor.
Coach, certified music therapist, energy-sound healer,
Yoga therapist(IAYT)( Kundalini), musical performer/composer,
Creator of Optiself holistic learning programs, 12 years
at Canyon Ranch Spa’s Health and Healing dept,
Consultant and national lecturer on stress management
and the creative process for health. Composer of 4 cds
and an off broadway musical called “Mother Me
Therapy". Teacher at The Graduate Institute’s
masters program. Currently in the process of creating
programs for staff and patients, with the Planetree program
at New Milford Hospital. She is a Kundalini Yoga teacher
in the area, finishing her training this spring.
Her research and interests involve the power of the creative process to heal,
especially through imagery and music-sound, overcoming traumatic stress, ecopsychology,
ecospirituality, interspecies music and communication, research with lone whales,
neuropsychotherapy, blended family health and group dynamics. |
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 DEBBY
SCHERRER
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 TWINK
MCKENNY
Twink McKenney has been
studying yoga and astrology since 1985. Her passion for both
is evident and she loves to weave the two ancient bodies of wisdom
together in her class. Using planetary placements and moon phases
to inform and guide the class, students connect mind, body and
spirit in a Hatha yoga class that is both centering, strengthening
and renewing for students of all levels.
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 LINDA
DOHANOS-GILCHRIST
Currently, I practice and study
the Yang style. I am also a member of the Yang Family International
Organization of Tai Chi (www.yangfamilytaichi.com). My experience
includes chi gong, and rieki. I have been working with senior
citizens.
Tai Chi Chuan is a very rewarding, relaxing form of exercise
and can help reduce stress, strengthen the body gently,
and improve the immune system. By practicing the flowing
movements of Tai Chi, one may enter a meditative state. |
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 KAREN
PIERCE
Karen has been teaching in the fitness industry since 1990 and holds many certifications
including her 200 RYT certification. Her interest in the spiritual dimension
of life began as a teen and she has developed her own unique yoga style incorporating
her specialties into a vigorous class that blends Viniyoga, Anusara, Ashtanga
and Vinyasa. Karen focuses on being safe through modifications and adaptations
so you will learn when to push, when to surrender and when to rest. Karen is
dedicated to bringing the practice of yoga to ALL populations in a safe format
that is rooted in exercise science. Her approach focuses on falling in love with
Yoga and her students love her challenging, ever-changing classes and her upbeat,
relaxing style. She is also the author of a children's yoga book "YogaBear,
Yoga for Youngsters" and leads kids yoga workshops of the same name. Check
it out at; www.yogabearbook.com.
Karen is also available for private yoga sessions. She is currently working on
producing her own Meditations CD. You can contact her at karenJpierce@earthlink.net. |
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 JULIE WOOD
For the past 18 years, I have been a nationally certified group
exercise instructor and personal trainer in the Seattle area.
18 months ago, my husband and I relocated to Connecticut, and
have been enjoying exploring the Northeast. I have taught all
formats, from Step and Spinning classes to Plilates and Yoga.
I received my Pilates training and certification in San Francisco
from Elizabeth Larkam, an internationally recognized Feldenkrais
practitioner and Pilates
trainer. I have worked with men, women, and young people of
all ages, from 10 to 75. Fitness is my passion and I love working
out personally, and sharing my expertise to help others achieve
their goals, whether it is weight loss and better physique,
or just getting back into shape. |
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JENNIFER BELL FINEGAN
Jennifer
is a CT licensed
Massage Therapist. Bio coming soon! |
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