South Boston Yoga

Amanda’s journey with yoga began in 2004 after completing a 26 mile marathon. Amanda discovered that while running and other competitive sports she had participated in left her body strong, her heart was empty. Amanda sought out yoga initially for relaxation, but began to see yoga’s true power as the painful layers she carried were broken and her true self was recognized.

Amanda knew she wanted to bring the gift of yoga to others and in late 2006 completed her 200 Hour teacher training through Open Doors Power Yoga studios and began teaching at their Canton studio. She also completed her Reiki I and II certifications. After about a year of teaching, Amanda began to realize that her job as a Development Director wasn’t as fulfilling as the two or three classes she taught a week. Fear was holding her back from taking the leap to teaching yoga full time. In November 2007, that all changed. After returning from a week long inspirational and transformative yoga retreat with Sue Jones in Italy, Amanda quit her job, took on the role of part time Volunteer Coordinator at yogaHOPE, and decided to pursue teaching yoga full time. She hasn’t looked back since!

Since that time, Amanda has studied with a variety of teachers, considering Richard Lanza, Jene Rossi, Jacqui Bonwell, Sue Jones and David Vendetti to be some of her greatest mentors, and is inspired by the dedication of her longtime students. Currently Amanda teaches at the Open Doors in Westwood and is thrilled to become a part of the South Boston Yoga community. Amanda’s classes are challenging with an emphasis on alignment. Her teaching methodology involves creating space in her classes through breath and exploration so that her students can bring honesty and awareness to their practice, and integrate this into their lives!

A self-proclaimed "yoga mutt," Ame's style is a hybrid of many different influences; most notably Vinyasa, Forrest and Anusara. She is known for lacing her classes with humor and music as well as instilling the importance of proper alignment and injury protection in her students.

Ame considers herself a tour guide on her students' yoga adventures and encourages free-style and expression on and off the mat. She reminds her students to leave criticism behind, appreciate their bodies and find their inner rhythm.

In her classes students can expect to laugh, sweat, work and sigh through creative flows, deep core work and intelligent alignment. Ame wholeheartedly believes yoga can be an amazing addition to anyone's life and does not need to be achieved or attained, just enjoyed.

Among her greatest teachers and muses are David Vendetti, Bryan Kest, Sadie Nardini, Seane Corn and the entire family at Kula Yoga NYC. She is indebted to these teachers and many more for inspiring her practice and her teaching. Ame is a Lululemon Ambassador and was recently named Best Yoga Instructor in the 2010 Boston magazine "Best of Boston" awards.

I came to the practice of yoga as a form of exercise that developed into a form of self expression. At its beginning I would use it to balance the strain I was putting on my body from running. I think it took about a month of practice for me to stop running and completely immerse myself in yoga. I was smitten. The years that followed transformed my definition of the practice many times over, a process that continues to this day.

Since I began teaching yoga I have realized a total expansion in my own personal practice. This has lead me to want to practice more on my own, to build my knowledge and skills as a practitioner, to learn more about the human machine and grow and develop as a teacher. I received my 500 Hour Certification in May of 2011 through David Vendetti, Todd Skoglund, and the South Boston Yoga Body Awakening Teacher Training.

I take the knowledge that I gain in my personal yoga and meditation practice and apply it to how and what I teach. I hope to help students recognize their own power and energy as well as their softer, gentler sides; balancing the hard and soft aspects of ourselves. My classes are energizing and challenging with a focus on proper alignment and mindful sequencing.

Yoga allows me to be who I am without struggle. To notice, breathe, remember and enjoy this body, this moment. I love returning to my yoga mat to play in the body awakening, breathe into a heart wide open and find gratitude for the infinite that I forgot was me. Classes integrate a clear foundation in anatomy with intelligent alignment, hands on adjustments and ever evolving flows to heal the body. Students are encouraged to cultivate a deep passion for self examination, light hearted exploration and drop everything in order to find out that when we hold on to nothing, what is left, is all we truly need.

It has been an incredible gift to have studied and trained in yoga, structural bodywork and meditation. I have been honored to meet and practice with so many talented and amazing teachers whose work I cherish and share now as I teach. Thank you Patricia Walden, Ana Forrest, Tom Myers, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Lynne Begier, David Magone, Andrew Cohen, Bo Forbes, Sundara, Pamela Wilson, Arthur Kilmurray, Sri Louise, Byron Katie and Glenn Black for reflecting the limitless.

David co-owns South Boston Yoga. David won both 2011 and 2005 Best of Boston Yoga Teacher for Boston Magazine and is the 2012 (formerly 2009) Boston Prudential Lulumon Ambassador for Yoga.

I love yoga. My practice began in the fall of 2006 with the intention of building core strength and flexibility-I was in training for the 2007 Boston Marathon. After my first class, I felt amazing..on the inside and out, and not only on a physical level. Soon I was hooked and it was no secret to my family, friends and complete strangers that yoga had my heart. There seemed to be a marked change in my way of being - how I was with myself and with others. Finding calm and quiet self-reflection following my practice, I welcomed a new sense of rhythm and balance in the midst of my every day. I received my 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification, followed by consistent work with one of my greatest teachers, Jacqui Bonwell, who continues to profoundly inspire me. Yoga is a gift and a beautiful teacher as it offers a gentle reminder to slow down, to breathe and to meet yourself exactly where you are, no matter what. That’s what I love the most about it. As a yoga teacher, I teach with the intention of guiding my students towards finding a soulful practice that feels right personally, in the interest of calming mind, opening heart and restoring body.

In addition to teaching yoga, I feel blessed with the opportunity to weave my passion for music with my great love for yoga. I am honored to play for dynamic teachers as they guide their class through the yoga flow, offering students a sense of rhythm, soothing sounds and healing vibrations as they practice. With my guitar in tow, I serenade yogi ears and hearts weekly and monthly for studios in the Greater Boston area. Music is a powerful and beautiful compliment to the ancient practice of yoga. As we breathe space into our hearts, we create room for happiness, joy and the healing sound of song to enter. www.ericamagro.com

I fell into yoga on a whim 3 years ago and I have been in love ever since! After much consideration I decided to take my practice one step further by entering David Vendetti's 200 hour teacher training program. Having completed the training I am ready to rock and roll!! My classes are inspired by the love and dedication of those teachers who inspired me. Each class will challenge students to go further while encouraging them to be happy with where they are that day. My hope is that you leave the class feeling stronger, more supported and more centered. I believe that the daily practice of yoga has the ability to help us overcome the stresses of everyday life.

Georgia received her 200-hour certification in 2006 at Sonic Yoga in New York City where she studied under Jonathan Fields, columnist for YogaFit, and Lauren Hanna, assistant to Shiva Rea. Soon after, she found Schuyler Grant, developer of Kula Yoga and co-creator of Wanderlust, at Kula Yoga Project, where she is currently working towards her 500-hour certification. She has also studied with David Life, Sharon Gannon, Shiva Rea, Tias Little, Richard Freeman, Ana Forrest, Glenn Black, Elena Brower, and Desiree Rumbaugh. Upon completing her teacher training, Georgia taught at Sonic Yoga until she relocated from New York City to Boston in 2008.

Georgia teaches flow classes with a strong emphasis on alignment. She is known for her smart, creative and authentic sequences that are challenging yet accessible. Through the use of repetition, pranayama (or control of the breath), bandhas (or internal locks), groovy tunes, and with a deep respect for the cleansing power of sweat, her classes are designed to ease her students into a transformative space where she lovingly encourages and guides them across boundaries into unknown territory. Georgia tries hard to acknowledge and honor all transitions that occur in her classes, whether in physical poses, state of minds, or state of beings. Her intention is for students to learn and find inspiration in every class.

In addition to being a certified yoga teacher, Georgia is a Columbia University trained mental health counselor, an adoring wife, and an ever-loving and ever-grateful mama.

After over a 10 year career in Social Work, I left the field to intensively study and teach the Yoga teachings. I am a graduate of URI with a degrees in Psychology/Sociology and a specialty in Family Violence. I feel the sole purpose of my life is to be of service. I am a graduate of the Open Doors teacher training program out of Weymouth, MA. This program not only touched on the teachings of Yoga (power vinyasa, hatha & restorative yoga) but included strong energy healing components, Yoga philosophy and history. I am a Reiki healer and am regularly inspired by my Reiki Master, Pat Iyer. I am completely inspired by my teachers: Sharon Gannon & David Life, David Vendetti, Rolf Gates and Johnny Gillespie and have spent time in training with each of them. Really, the list of those who have inspired me and taught me life & yoga is seriously endless. But, both of my children have been my greatest teachers, along with my mother.

I am deeply grateful. www.jacquibonwell.com

Yoga is a tremendous force of healing for Joanna. Living in New York City and working in the fashion industry for over 5 years, Joanna was always on the go and she found her mind and body over-worked and extremely stressed. It was in her yoga practice where she began to observe from within, quiet her mind and listen to her heart. What started as a hobby, turned into a new path in Joanna's life. As her practice grew, so did her appreciation and love for not only the flowing movement, but the spirituality and philosophy behind the practice. Joanna is truly honored to share her love for the practice with others through teaching. Her classes are deep and dynamic, emphasizing fluid movement, strong alignment and grace - creating a place of self-acceptance in a safe and welcoming environment. She encourages her students to smile, laugh and celebrate life through their yoga practice in hopes to inspire all to open their hearts. Joanna completed her 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga teacher training from Yoga High in New York City and is forever grateful for the guidance and inspiration from all of the wonderful teachers she continues to study and train under.

I came to yoga through the circus world.

I've spent the last nine years teaching and performing various circus arts including fire performance, hula hooping, and aerial acrobatics.

My passion is the interconnectedness of movement with mental and physical freedom, strength, and balance. The physical, emotional and psychological power behind being present, and how little these layers actually differ from one another, compel me to both explore deeply and to facilitate others' explorations.

I perform as Dominique Immora. I have been featured three times on the world-wide spinning arts competition DVD, Circles of Light, and appeared on season four of America's Got Talent. I earned my Teaching Certificate at Brandeis University, completed the New England Center for Circus Arts' Trapeze Teacher Training, and coordinate the curriculum for the WildFire Training Retreat. I am certified in Myoskeletal Alignment Therapy, CPR, and First Aid.

I am currently enrolled in the 500 hour program here at South Boston Yoga and Tom Myers' 200 hour Body Language program. I am studying Thai Yoga Massage through the Lotus Palm School and Personal Training through the NSCA.

My classes encourage you to listen to the innate wisdom of your body. The stillness, energy, and answers you seek are all there. Tune in, change your perspective, fly.

Joanne Flaherty has been teaching yoga classes for several years and is excited to be in the Boston area. Her training includes studying with may world renowned yoga masters as well as being a second degree Reiki practitioner. Her class setting is safe and sacred. Joanne believes in the life changing effects a daily yoga practice can bring. She encourages you to go to the edge and beyond, to take the journey within. Joanne teaches in a loving and gentle manner while she leads her students through a vigourous vinyasa.

Kate became deeply passionate about yoga for over 12 years ago when yoga and meditation helped to manage her own anxiety and depression. Yoga allows Kate to return home to her true self, providing perspective and the opportunity to move through each moment with acceptance, awareness and freedom. Even after many years of practice she is continually delighted, humbled, and challenged by each unfolding moment on her yoga mat.

As a yoga teacher, she has a lighthearted yet honest approach which allows each student to work with feeling, clarity, and intention. Each class explores the physical and subtle body through asanas, pranayama, mantra, and meditation with a strong emphasis on alignment. Her teaching is inspired by David Vendetti, Elena Brower, Shiva Rea, Ana Forrest, Gary Kraftsow, and Patricia Walden.

The founder Soulful Yoga Therapy, Kate also specializes in therapeutic yoga, bringing together her experience as a mental health counselor and yoga teacher to offer students emotional healing through yoga. Kate is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, has experience with research studies on yoga and mental health, and teaches trauma sensitive yoga group at the Brookline Trauma Center.

Kate Greer (Hanspal Kaur) began teaching yoga in NYC after completing a 200hr Vinyasa certification at Sonic Yoga. At that time, her personal practice and teaching were informed by her study at Kula Yoga Project and with Sri Dharma Mittra. Following an injury, Kate was led to the alignment based practice of Anusara, and Elena Brower and the teachers at Vira Yoga. Kate later became Anusara-Inspired, going on to study with Amy Ippoliti, Darren Rhodes, Noah Maze, and John Friend, and she continues to honor aspects of the Anusara system in her teaching today.

Anusara taught Kate not only about healing injury through asana but also introduced her to Tantric philosophy. This piqued an interest that led Kate into further study and the practice of Kundalini, which she studied with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa and Hari Kaur Khalsa at Golden Bridge Yoga. Kate completed her Level I teacher training at Yogi Bajan’s Ranch in Espanola, NM, and currently assists Level I trainings with Guruatma Singh and Prem Pyar Khalsa of Franklin Yoga.

She is currently pursuing the teachings of Shadow Yoga through her teachers Scott Blossom, Chandra Easton, and Matt Pesendian.

Kate creates a safe and sacred space in her classes. She combines body knowledge from all of her Hatha studies with an emphasis on optimal pranic flow in every pose. In addition she offers a place for people to connect to that which inspires them. Shiva, God, the incredible power of human love - whatever it is that moves you will make your yoga meaningful.

"To all my teachers, the ones who teach me in life, love, and laughter — Sat Nam and Namaste."

Please visit www.kategreeryoga.com and www.openheartsyogaschool.com for more info.

With a history steeped in professional ballet, yoga, and physical therapy, Kathy has deeply studied the body, the mind, and the quiet strength that unfolds from connecting the two. This mind-body connection is used to build the framework for all of her classes, where custom-tailored and breath-guided movement is encouraged and supported. Kathy earned her 200 hr certification in Elemental Yoga with Bo Forbes in 2007, and she has continued to develop her knowledge of anatomy, physical injury and rehabilitation with continued yoga and physical therapy education. Ongoing experiences as a yoga instructor, physical therapist assistant, dancer, and most importantly, as a yoga student, inform, enrich, and inspire her teaching.

Better known to students and friends as Kitty, I originally turned to yoga for exercise in my mid-twenties. What began as a quest for a workout more interesting than the elliptical machine developed into a deeply meaningful practice that changes my life every day.

I am blessed to have studied closely with Kate Greer, Nicole Clark, and Ame Wren, and thank Emily Frank, Glen Cunningham, and Terry Connell for opening the doors to this practice, to which I am now deeply devoted.

I received my 200-hour certification in Back Bay Yoga School of Yoga’s inaugural class and presently teach Vinyasa yoga classes, from Gentle Beginners to flowing, playful Hot Yoga. Whether walking students through their first Sun Salutation or helping them discover how to fly I encourage students to honor their practice without expectation or judgment, and hopefully discover a little peace, quiet confidence, and healing love along the way.

I started practicing yoga in 2004 when a studio opened locally in my hometown in New Jersey. Always drawn to physical activities such a swimming, competitive cheerleading/dance and collegiate-level rowing, I was instantly intrigued with the yoga asana practice and it didn’t take long before I was completely hooked. Though I admittedly began the practice for its physical attributes, it was the calm awareness and balance that it brought to my daily life that continued the love affair.

I strive to create an environment where students are comfortable exploring their physical and mental capabilities each time they come to the mat. Focusing on thoughtful sequencing and anatomical awareness, my classes will give you a combination of strength and power with movement and fluidity. I believe that yoga is for everyone and that ultimately it is up to you to cultivate a practice that is suitable and enjoyable for your body and mind at each moment in time – knowing that it is always evolving and adapting. I am beyond grateful to able to help guide you along the way.

I’ve been lucky enough to practice with so many extraordinary teachers and I have deep gratitude for all of them. Most notably, my teaching is influenced by my time studying and practicing with David Vendetti, Todd Skoglund, Ame Wren, Melissa Griffith and Jami Snyder.

Kristen is a manager and assistant to the owners at South Boston Yoga.

"Be like water." - Bruce Lee

The mind, body, & soul are the only things in the universe that will become clearer, more balanced, and stronger, the more frequently and further they are challenged. To uplift the world around us, begin with the individual. Work with wisdom, play with enthusiasm, take breaks when you need to, and honor and care for yourself. Be easy. Be like water. These qualities will spread into all aspects of your life and to those around you.

My body, a result of competitive athletics and a one dimensional training regime, began to break down; several severe athletic injuries required surgery, months of physical therapy, and the orthopedic surgeon’s warning that my body, and it's abilities, would likely never be the same again. Under encouragement from the attending physical therapist, I tore down my western concept of “What is fit?” and began to design a new platform around “What is functional?” It was at that point when I found my mat.

Following the encouragement of my incredible instructors; Ame Wren, Georgia Reath, David Regelin, Todd Skoglund and David Vendetti, I completed my 200 hour training through South Boston Yoga in early 2011. My intention as an instructor is to provide my students a tangible way to access balance of mind, body, and soul, no matter the time, no matter the place. These powerful classes are vinyasa fueled, inspired by traditional yoga, focused on anatomy, alignment, and most importantly, functional fitness. Drop in anytime.

“The world is a beautiful place, and it’s worth the fighting for.” -Hemingway

Pat brings a lifetime of spiritual and artistic experimentation to teaching a safe, powerful, eclectic vinyasa yoga. He began practicing yoga in 1995, hoping to improve his breathing and performance as a professional saxophonist. One class became a lifelong study, as he continues to explore the various facets of yoga in all parts of life.

His classes embrace a mix of yoga styles and movement patterns, from power yoga and martial arts to kriyas and therapeutic bodywork to challenge and awaken the bodies and spirits of all his students. He received his 200 and 500 hour certifications from David Vendetti and the Body Awakenings school, and has also completed trainings with Jill Miller and Baron Baptiste.

Pat received a Bachelors of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Masters of Music from the New England Conservatory. His third CD as a bandleader, Who We Are Together, will be released in 2012.

*Peter's schedule begins Friday April 20th

Peter has practiced yoga since 2002. His classes incorporate ten years of yoga training in Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Forrest yoga systems.

Peter has a reputation for teaching dynamic, powerful yoga sequences that include inversions and arm balances and techniques for accessing the inert strength to achieve these poses. On the flipside, Peter offers an opportunity to slow down and feel the effect of an embodied practice that pursues safety and alignment as much as strength and sweat. While his classes are a physical workout, Peter encourages inquiry into deeper aspects of a meditative practice that nurtures introspection and self-discovery in a non-competitive environment. Peter’s classes address practitioners of all-levels. His sequences cultivate strength and flexibility yet set strong roots for a safe and lifelong practice.

As a child and young adult Peter led a fairly sedentary life and struggled with eating disorders as well as other addictive behavior. Having built up these coping mechanisms to endure severe depression and the abusive and fearful environment in which he was growing up, Peter entered his twenties with emotional and physical pain.

Peter believes that his yoga practice began years before he ever stepped on the mat when he discovered the power of ecstatic movement through dance. Immersed in club culture throughout his college years, Peter found physical and emotional FREEDOM when surrounded by high-energy music and crowds of dancing bodies. This FREEDOM to move and transcend the stuck and sedentary provided a path of healing where Peter could strip away layers of physical and emotional shielding and discover the first glimpses of profound JOY.

A few years later, Peter attended his first Vinyasa yoga class at the recommendation of a dear friend. Peter grew physically strong and spent a year practicing Baptiste Power Vinyasa and Ashtanga Primary Series. In 2003, he moved to San Francisco to participate in a 200-hour Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with Larry Schultz of It’s Yoga and began teaching later that year.

Following a neck and shoulder injury brought on by habitual patterns of holding stress and tension, Peter discovered Forrest Yoga in 2004. He embarked on a four year process of physical and emotional healing that helped him confront both his shoulder injury as well as his compulsive and addictive behavior. Ultimately, this led to his participation in the Forrest Yoga Foundational and Advanced Teacher Trainings with Ana Forrest. In 2008, Peter left the field of architecture to pursue a full-time career teaching Forrest Yoga and Core Vinyasa.

In 2009, Peter fused elements of an embodied and celebratory yoga practice with the ecstatic dance and music that inspired him ten years earlier to create Freedom Joy Yoga (FJY). FJY promotes the serious pursuit of fun and is the “ultimate exercise in letting go”. Peter offers FJY on Friday nights to help others let loose and discover, through fluid yoga and non-choreographed dance, true FREEDOM and profound JOY.

Apart from yoga, Peter is involved in ongoing training with the Upledger Institute and offers CranioSacral Therapy to his private clients.

Grateful for the authenticity and discipline of his mentors, Peter’s approach has been non-linear. He encourages exploration, practices humility, teaches authentically, and every week, he joins his students to dance the stress away.

A chronic low back injury brought me to yoga, but after one week of "trying" a daily practice, I was permanently hooked. Not only did I begin to heal and strengthen my body, but I found my yoga practice also addressed the needs of my mind and spirit.  As I began to see the interrelatedness of my emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical states, my whole world view shifted.  From a place of perceived alienation and depression I thought was "reality", I have come to find joy and a sense of being at home in myself and in the world.

Yoga is a journey, not an end destination.  Each pose begins with a  first step that anyone can do, and each student is challenged to bring their practice a step further. My classes are fun, challenging, and definitely all levels.  If you can breathe, you can do yoga!

My yoga classes and my life are deeply indebted to my trainings with David Vendetti in his first Body Awakening Teacher Training, and Ana Forrest in her Foundational Teacher Training.  But just as deeply, my practice and classes reflect the love, laughter, and dedication of the broader yoga community.  When you come to the studio, you'll see my teachers all around you.

I came on to my yoga mat to heal multiple injuries from a long career of gymnastics and ballet. After the very first class I took, I knew that my mat was home. It was the first time I had ever been so aware of my breath, and of the quality of my mind. I felt so present and focused. The healing had begun: mind, body and spirit started to unite. This was such a unique and euphoric feeling for me, I knew right away I wanted to share this with other students one day. So I practiced and practiced. Now, 9 years later, I do what I can do help spread this beautiful feeling to anyone who takes my classes.

You can expect many different variations offered for each pose taught in my classes, to ensure that every body can find a space that feels good. I like to give precise instructions, to build a strong foundation.

In February 2010 I completed my 200-hour teacher training through YogaWorks at Back Bay Yoga Studio in Boston, MA with Natasha Rizopolous. I owe many thanks to Julia Tirabassi, Natasha Rizopolous, Kevin Courtney & Dana Courtney, Lynne Beiger, and every dedicated yogi that spends time devoting themselves to their practice, and continues coming to my classes!:)

I stumbled into an Ashtanga class at Gold's Gym in Poughkeepsie, NY in 2003 and have been on a mat ever since. That first class led me on a yogic journey which has helped me heal from years of physical and emotional trauma, reconnect with my body, focus my mind and bring a sense of joy and clarity into my daily life.

That first class gave birth to a practice that includes Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga, Forrest, Anusara and many other styles and movement modalities. I draw inspiration from them all to create joyful, powerful flow. I have been blessed amazing teachers like Sondra Loring, Kate Greer and Nicole Clark, who have helped me open the door to practice and teach with devotion and lila or "divine play" I am a firm believer that no matter how crazy the pose- the hardest yoga is off the mat.

I am a RYT 200 graduate of Back Bay Yoga's first teacher training hosted by Lynne Begier and led Kate Greer and Nicole Clark and I am currently pursuing advanced teacher training with Kula Yoga Project in NYC. It is my honor to be able to share that practice with my students- to sweat and play and fly and maybe stumble on deeper truth.

I create space for people to explore new and unknown possibilities. My classes combine core strength, balance, joint mobility and creative movement to challenge your muscles and mind, making way for new paths and perspectives. It's not a class of 'tricks', but a deliberate sequence of moves and postures to bring you safely to a place of challenge.

My classes are hard. That doesn't mean you have to be able to do a split or even touch your toes. But you must be present in the room and motivate your self to do your best and know your own limits. A challenging practice is what helped me break through my own crap. It's what I know, what helped me, and therefore what I teach. When I'm balancing on my hands, or carefully working into an advanced stretch, I HAVE to be in the present moment and fully focused. There are no short cuts to a safe, "advanced" practice.

Yes this all sounds purely physical, so where's the yoga? Well, where isn't it? There is NO division between a physical and spiritual practice. Yes, meditation, pranayama and asana are yoga, but so is running. Cycling is yoga, lifting weights is yoga, washing the dishes is yoga, walking the dog is yoga. That's the point: to unify, bring together, no divisions or limitations. Once you get over all that and stop worrying about who says what is and isn't yoga, then you can really look at your practice to make sure it's smart, safe, and what you really need.

So come to class, make your choices, and fully engage and participate in your life.

Huge thanks to all my amazing teachers who have directly and even indirectly inspired my practice (aka, my life): Ana Forrest, Glen Black, David Vendetti, Shandor Remete, Cameron Shayne, David Magone, David Regelin, Brock & Krista Cahill, and too many more to name.

Todd co-owns South Boston Yoga. Todd was a 2009 and 2012 Boston Lululemon Ambassador for Yoga.

photos in red by KadriKurgun.com

Tom teaches a flowing Vinyasa class that synchronizes breath with movement while incorporating simple and clear alignment cues. Each class is consistent in its therapeutic goal of safely opening each part of the body, while expressing the spontaneity and freedom of a flowing style of practice.

Tom was first introduced to yoga eight years ago, while attending a lecture on Tibetan Heart Yoga by Michael Roach, the first Westerner to earn the Buddhist title of Geshe, or master. After living for years with a stirred-up mind and mixed-up emotions, Tom was amazed by the clarity with which Geshe Roach described the relationship between the physical body, the breath, and thoughts and feelings. Very simply put, move a muscle, change a feeling.

Tom has practiced many different styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Sivananda, Power, and Yin, and is a firm believer that the best style of yoga is the style that you actually practice. He is trained and certified at the 500-hour level in the Sampoorna system of yoga by Shri Yogi Hari of Miramar, Florida, and is currently continuing studies with Rolf Gates of Santa Cruz, California.

Hanneke did ballet for several years and discovered Pilates in 2001 when she was at University in South Africa. Having left the barre she was desperate to find something that worked the same muscles as ballet, and Pilates did exactly that. She loved it after just one class and throughout the next 8 years she grew addicted to it.

She moved to London in 2004 and working a stressful job, Pilates was a great escape and relaxer for her body and mind. In 2006 she started toying with the idea of becoming a Pilates instructor and then finally in 2009 life handed the opportunity to her. Having just moved to Boston she started her certification journey with STOTT and finished her Anatomy, Mat (Essential/Intermediate), and Reformer (Essential/Intermediate) courses in 2009. In 2010 she did the BBU Mat One Certification.

Hanneke's repertoire has greatly benefited from being a Pilates student in 3 countries and she continues to further her training and education to bring her own students a fresh and wonderful experience of the Pilates method.

Stacey Schaedler completed her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science at UMass Amherst in 2006. She is a Certified Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine. She holds Russian Kettlebell Certifications RKC as well as Art Of Strength AOS Kettlebell Certifications. Stacey completed her RYT with David Vendetti and the National Yoga Alliance. In addition she is a Certified Functional Movement Specialist FMS allowing her to design specific plans for each of her clients which prevents pain, reduces injury, increases cognitive functioning as well as improves performance.

In her spare time Stacey is also a Professional Figure Competitor with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation WNBF.

Despite her tough exterior Stacey's knowledge of the body and fierce passion for teaching others combines to produce amazing results. With the influence of specifically sequenced corrective exercise, mind body integration, and solid strength training Stacey is able to help anyone reach their goals.

www.staceyschaedler.com

Irene Soléa blends traditional and non-traditional kirtan with soulfully dynamic vocals, urban and world rhythms in a band that has quickly rooted itself within the chant/kirtan world. Trained as a music therapist, she was introduced to the heart-opening potential of kirtan in 2000 and has been hooked ever since, offering concerts and workshops across the country filled with love, laughter and devotion. Irene has been a featured artist at venues including Denver's Yoga Rocks the Park (CO), Prague Spirit Festival (CR), Kripalu (MA), Integral Yoga (NYC), Yoga Tree (SF), Boston Yoga and Chant Fest and her homebase, South Boston Yoga. The anticipated 2012 release of her second album --eight tracks featuring original melodies, lush vocal harmonies, and Pop/Soul, Latin and Reggae flavors-- comes on the heels of her now sold-out 2010 EP. For more info: www.irenesolea.com.

I came to meditation in 2006 through the Boston Adult Education Center. On the advice of a friend I signed up for a vipassana meditation course in the tradition of S.N. Goenka. This first retreat provided a solid foundation and inspired me to continue a daily practice. Soon after, I complemented my meditation practice by taking up yoga. The classes I attended with many inspiring teachers in the Boston area gave me the greater sense of spiritual purpose that I had been seeking. After receiving guidance and support from Ruth Hartung and David Vendetti I began leading meditation groups in 2010. In June of 2011 I sat my first retreat with Noah Levine which greatly enriched my understanding of insight meditation and the two wings of wisdom and compassion. Every moment is part of the journey. You can start whenever you like. “Life is Meditation, Meditation is Life.”

As a former American Buddhist monk, meditation and the search for truth and a powerful heart are William Jackson's passion. It is the cultivation of mental health and acuity through Buddhist meditation and science that allows his to further pursuit of these goals.

William has had the opportunity to study with and receive personal direction from many great teachers including, Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, HH Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ven. Dhammadipa Thero, Ajahn Brahmavamso, Thich Thien Son, Ven U Revata, Su Co Lien Tuong and many others. As well William continues to keep abreast with latest research in psychology and neuroscience. He currently works with Harvard’s Greene Moral Cognition Lab and is preparing to enter a PhD program in clinical psychology where he hopes to study, the effects of Buddhist methods of mental cultivation on mental illnesses.

In his classes William draws upon his personal retreat experiences in Burma, Sri Lanka, and European and American center’s. With 9 years and 3000+ hours of meditation experience William still considers himself a beginner. His transparent classes, center on cultivating emotional freedom, self-acceptance, deep relaxation, cultivation of mental vitality and insight. In the class we will primarily focus on anapanasati (mindfulness of the in and out breath) in which students are gently guided and taught how to practice in the classroom and out.

As an Integrative Nutrition and Holistic Health Counselor, Colette provides information, guidance, and support to clients seeking to improve their lives through better eating, wellness practices and stress reduction. Drawing on approaches from both eastern and western traditions, she specializes in eating for disease prevention, digestive wellness, and hormonal and energy balancing. Colette has had a successful private practice for the last six years and has worked in the food and nutrition fields for over 10 years. She speaks professionally on the topics of holistic nutrition, cleansing and detoxification, specialized diet plans and energy balancing and will soon be offering webinar coaching on these topics.

As an Integrative Nutrition and Holistic Health Counselor, Colette holds a A.B. In Biology from Bowdoin College and an M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Maine at Orono and a certificate in Holistic Nutrition from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is a long time Buddhist meditation practitioner (25+ years) which greatly informs her life and coaching.

I started practicing yoga in 2004 when a studio opened locally in my hometown in New Jersey. Always drawn to physical activities such a swimming, competitive cheerleading/dance and collegiate-level rowing, I was instantly intrigued with the yoga asana practice and it didn’t take long before I was completely hooked. Though I admittedly began the practice for its physical attributes, it was the calm awareness and balance that it brought to my daily life that continued the love affair.

I strive to create an environment where students are comfortable exploring their physical and mental capabilities each time they come to the mat. Focusing on thoughtful sequencing and anatomical awareness, my classes will give you a combination of strength and power with movement and fluidity. I believe that yoga is for everyone and that ultimately it is up to you to cultivate a practice that is suitable and enjoyable for your body and mind at each moment in time – knowing that it is always evolving and adapting. I am beyond grateful to able to help guide you along the way.

I’ve been lucky enough to practice with so many extraordinary teachers and I have deep gratitude for all of them. Most notably, my teaching is influenced by my time studying and practicing with David Vendetti, Todd Skoglund, Ame Wren, Melissa Griffith and Jami Snyder.

"Hi there! As studio manager of South Boston Yoga, I rejoice everyday in the energy of my workplace: a community that provides so much for so many. It is my happy responsibility to help make sure things are running smoothly, and I seek to always further experience myself with the many details and skills that are needed to support everyone who comes to our studio.

With my experiences in a variety of approaches to wellness (and how to organize, manage, and promote them), my studies in music performance, and my own ever-growing yoga practice, I gladly spend my mornings (and more!) at 36 W Broadway, helping as I can to provide an excellent environment for the SBY kula."