yoga teacher training  

 

INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES

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.
 
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.
 
AlisaALISA 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.
 
AlisaALISA 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.
 

KristinKRISTIN 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.

 
LeesaLEESA 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.
 
DebbyDEBBY SCHERRER
 

TwinkTWINK 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.
 
LindseyLINDSEY REINIGER
Lindsey learned Yoga as a child from her father, who studied eastern philosophy, and from her stepmother, a Yoga instructor, herself. Lindsey began going to various Yoga centers around the country, offering a wide range of styles such as Kundalini, Hatha, Bikrim, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa. Throughout her intensive Yoga study, Lindsey has benefited greatly from the various methods to draw from in her teaching approach.
A Kripalu Yoga instructor, she finds individual posture expressions and in-depth personal awareness to be paramount. A musician and trained visual artist, Lindsey shows the organic beauty inherent within all beings by expressing this through Yoga. Through a synthesis of sustained asanas, breathing exercises, and meditative concentration, not only is the body revitalized, but the mind is also cleared.
She teaches a variety of class styles ranging from postures held while chanting or using various breath controls, to others, where more attention is brought strictly to postures and physical vitality. Lindsey immerses herself in Yoga, reading, painting and music to deepen her connection to life, and enjoys sharing this passion with others.
 

HarnamHARNAM SINGH (Tony Zatzick)
Harnam has been practicing Kundalini Yoga for eight years and it is a path that has helped him experience his divinity. It is from this place that he wishes to share this ancient wisdom with everyone. Kundalini Yoga is a sacred art and science that was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan from India in the late Sixties. This yoga incorporates many elements, including breath, mantra, mudra and postures to help people quiet their minds and experience shunia (a profound inner peace).

LindaLINDA 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.
 
KarenKAREN 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.
 
JulieJULIE 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.
 
GingerGINGER HANRAHAN
Ginger Hanrahan is a third generation intuitive, trained visual artist and teacher, astrologer and adept at tarot, numerology, and many other intuitive modalities. Ginger has tapped into her creative muse Gwyneth. Formally a columnist for the Connecticut Post, Ginger writes the "Astrology with Gwyneth" column and teaches creative art workshops at Santosha. For more information about Ginger/Gwyneth and information on your astrological forecast, please visit www.astrologybygwyneth.com, coming soon.
 
TRISH McDONALD
Trish is a registered nurse who received her yoga certification in New York. She is an asset to the communtity teaching yoga to all levels and all ages. Trish has been teaching yoga in studios, gyms, senior centers and youth organizations in the surrounding towns for many years. She teaches Chair Yoga at Santosha on Wednesday afternoons. Presently, Trish is in a Yoga Therapy Program working toward certification. Trish teaches gentle yet invigorating and meditative yogic classes suitable for all levels.
 
JENNIFER BELL FINEGAN
Jennifer is a CT licensed Massage Therapist. Bio coming soon!
 
GRACE LUPPINO
Grace is a priest ordained in the Kriya Yoga tradition and co host of the Art of Manifestation Workshop at Santosha Center for Yoga and Health.
 
ELLEN KRATKA, Healing Coach
Ellen Kratka is an esoteric healing coach, meaning she helps people connect with their own Soul as the driving force for their healing and spiritual growth. She specializes in guiding her clients to discover the reasons they have created their current reality and showing them how to heal their old wounds, change their core
imprinting (belief system) and create whatever they desire from a place of love, joy and conscious connection to Spirit. Trained in multiple modalities of soul-based healing, including (but not limited to) The Healing Codes, Motherwavework, Immunics, Shamballa, chakra work and Emotional Freedom Technique, she brings 15
years of research into energy, manifestation, consciousness, esoteric philosophy and
holistic healing to her work with individuals and groups. She works intuitively, checking with her inner guidance and her clients’ higher selves to learn what type of support is most appropriate for them.

To follow her Blog, subscribe to her ezine and/or learn about her various offerings, go to www.theloveandlight.net.

 


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