Karen Moss, Owner/Director, ERYT 200 RYT500 in progress
The rewards of teaching and sharing yoga are sometimes are so deep it is hard to put to words. Over the years, watching people transform, physically, emotionally and spiritually, is breath taking. Having students come to you and share how yoga has changed their lives is so rewarding it is the confirmation that I am doing what I am suppose to do in life and gives me the desire to keep doing more. I quite often think I don’t work because sharing the greatness of yoga is so wonderful I can’t call it a “ job”, it seems unnatural.
It has been my experience that asana, pranayama and meditation are so healing, that once students experience the inner calmness that naturally unfolds, it becomes a need/passion for them. I feel very strongly that yoga does not discriminate and it is available for everyone and it my goal to have everyone from all walks of life to experience the benefits, which includes very different “recipes” for people.
We live in a world that teaches us from the moment we are born to get our needs and satisfactions in life from the outside. Yoga and the philosophy of yoga, teaches us quite the opposite, it teaches us to go inside ourselves to find the key to inner peace and happiness. The world needs yoga and as teachers we need to be examples of the great gifts we have experienced and help others to achieve the same. It is so simple but yet so hard. We complicate life by making everything a “heavy”. So, my focus is how do we make inner peace attainable? To me the answer is “just be”. I know that can bewildering to people because it is so foreign to us, but I have watched people learn to “just be” and blossom….that inspires me!
I say to myself everyday that I am a beginner in learning and experiencing all that yoga encompasses. There is so much to learn and experience that no matter where we are on our path…just walking through the doors of a yoga studio for the first time or walking through for many, many years, we still have something to learn. Every day I am grateful for another day to learn, experience and share. I had a friend say to me once, “Every day before your feet even hit the floor, think to yourself, that every decision you make can change the world” and that is how I start my day and live my life.
Tammy Owens, RYT 200/500 RYT in progess
Tammy has been practicing yoga for four years. She discovered yoga at the Springboro YMCA when a new Pilates teacher, who was also a yoga teacher, started to gradually introducing yoga into her classes. Several yoga classes later, Tammy realized how wonderful she felt afterwards compared to other workouts she had tried.
Tammy attended a Doug Swenson workshop in Centerville in 2005 and completed the 40 hour Ashtanga Teacher Training in Dayton in 2006. She just attended a workshop with Elizabeth Silas on Jivamukti Yoga, in Cincinnati. Tammy has completed her 200 hour teacher training in Cincinnati with Anna Ferguson in 2008. This training includes the power and soft vinyasas for all age levels, Taoist Yoga and exposure to prenatal yoga. She is currently studing for the 500 hour teacher training.
“I am really excited about being able to share all the different styles of yoga that I am getting exposed to in my training and how yoga has made very positive changes in my life. I haven’t felt this energized and happy since my early college days!”
Missi Hendrickson, RYT 200
Missi started taking yoga classes in the fall of 2004 at the local YMCA where she instantly recognized the beauty and benefits of yoga asanas. In 2006 wanting to strengthen her personal practice and better understand yoga philosophy, she took the RYT-200 yoga course in Dayton, Ohio. She completed the 200 hour Sakti Yoga Teacher Training in June 2006 and later completed a 40 hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training with David Swenson in October 2006. She has also taken part in two weeklong yoga workshops with Tim Miller.
" I truly enjoy the path of yoga. I look forward to sharing what I have learned with others."
Jennifer Gleason, RYT 200
Jennifer was born and raised in Maryland where she taught elementary school for several years. In 1995 she got married and her husband's career in the Air Force moved them all around the country. While living in San Antonio, Texas, Jennifer's friend convinced her to give yoga a try. After a few classes, Jennifer was able to see the wonderful benefits that a yoga practice could offer.
Wanting to learn and study more, Jennifer was able to take workshops with Andrew Eppler, Doug Swenson, Bryan Kest, and Tim Miller. In 2005 she completed training with Doug Swenson. In 2005 Jennifer completed the Yoga Alliance 200 hour Sakti Yoga Teacher training in Dayton, Ohio. Then in 2006, opportunity came again to Dayton and Jennifer completed the 40 hour Ashtanga Teacher training with David Swenson. Jennifer loves to combine all of her learning experiences and tailor them to meet the needs of each individual in her class.
Yoga helps to keep her grounded, healthy, and focused, thus, enabling her to keep up with her two children's very busy schedules. Jennifer loves to share the joys and benefits of yoga to everyone who is interested.
Laura Sennet RYT200
Laura began doing yoga when she was introduced to it in college. She loved it from the beginning and saw the many benefits it offered both physically and mentally. Her yoga practice naturally led her to study meditation as well. One of the highlights of her practice was getting to study meditation at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand. Experiences in yoga and meditation have taught her to try to live her life fully and mindfully. In addition to teaching yoga, Laura enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and teaching chemistry at Springboro High School.
Tandy Klarquist RYT200
Seeking to address work-related physical difficulties and general fitness, Tandy joyfully found that yoga is much more than a physical practice. Upon reading the definition of yoga in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as the restraint of the modification of the mindstuff, she was hooked. Yoga applies to every aspect of life. A Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) through her Teacher Training studies with Anna Ferguson of World Peace Yoga in Cincinnati, Tandy continues her yoga education with particular interest in the practice of yoga and aging. Tandy lives with her husband and a host of furry critters.
Melissa Dornacher RYT200
Melissa first found yoga ten years ago, but it wasn't until after the birth of her son in 2009 that yoga became a focal point in her life. Initially, yoga helped Melissa shed over 50 lbs. of baby weight and was pivotal in her struggle with adjusting to motherhood. After overcoming these physical and mental obstacles, she began delving deeper into the emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga. It was through this experience that Melissa has found her dharma, or purpose. She is now dedicating her life's work to helping others through the practice of yoga asana (physical poses) and yogic philosophy.
Melissa believes that yoga is accessible to anyone who really wants it! She offers beginning instruction, gentle yoga, vinyasa flow, prenatal, therapeutic, restorative, chair yoga, children's and family yoga, all connecting breath and motion for a unique and transformative experience. Her classes go beyond the physical to incorporate other aspects of yogic tradition, including pranayama (breathing techniques), mantra, self-study, and are always sprinkled with necessary humor!
Melissa received her 200-hour Yoga Certification from Sri Yoga Center in Dayton, Ohio. She is also a certified Color-Me-Yoga children's yoga instructor. Melissa received her level I&II Reiki Certification from Reiki Master Katy Stahl in 2011 and plans on receiving her Master attunement in Spring of 2012. She has also attended workshops on yoga nidra (deep relaxation), mantra and the yoga of sound, intelligent sequencing, ancient yogic texts, chakras and more. Melissa has shared yoga in studios, schools, in homes, and in businesses. She feels blessed to share the gift of Yoga and Reiki with others, and is grateful to her many teachers.
Elizabeth Hulsman RYT200 (in progress)
Elizabeth was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio and later moved to the Dayton area after meeting her beloved Todd. Before embracing motherhood she worked in Healthcare as an STNA for 8 years and was an Activity Coordinator on an Alzheimer's unit for 5 years. Elizabeth began practicing yoga as a way to maintain weight control but it wasn't until she became pregnant with her first child [and preparing for childbirth] that she saw a glimpse of the other benefits of yoga.
After the birth of her first son she lost touch with it and became immersed in new motherhood. During her second pregnancy yoga found her once again, this time becoming more aware of the true benefits that yoga has to offer its students. Elizabeth fell in love with yoga and ultimately decided that she wanted to become a yoga teacher to deepen her spiritual and physical journey.
In May 2010, Elizabeth completed Level I and Level II Reiki training at World Peace Yoga Studio in Cincinnati. In May 2011, she completed the Master level training and is currently working to become a Master Teacher.
Practicing Yoga and Reiki are changing and growing every aspect of my being in a positive manner. I find myself becoming more balanced and loving as I nourish and explore the connection between my inner self and God, The Great Spirit of Us All. This beautiful unveiling makes me want to share the many healing joys of practicing with everyone I meet!
- Elizabeth Hulsman
Elizabeth lives in with her husband, Todd, their two boys, and their two dogs, Toby and Kaylie. Elizabeth will complete her year long 200 hour yoga teacher training course at LeeLaa Yoga in Springboro in September of 2011. Her poetry book, In The Waking World I See Through My Dreams, is available at Amazon.com.
In April 2011, Elizabeth completed a 16 hour Color Me Yoga Workshop and received a Color Me Yoga for Children Foundations Instructor Certification from Marsha Therese Danzig, RYT 500, M.ed, Color Me Yoga Founder.
Jennifer Fries, RYT 200
Jen was born and raised in Wadsworth, Ohio and moved to Dayton when she started college at the University of Dayton, and now lives in Franklin with her husband, Eric; dog, Rudy (Go Flyers!); and cat, Kitten.
After Jen graduated from UD with an Engineering degree she felt that something was missing from her life. “I was really stressed out and felt that I had an emotionally and physically unhealthy work/life balance”. To find balance in her life, she desperately turned to many activities including a dance class, yoga, gardening, and quilting. After her first yoga class at LeeLaa Yoga in Springboro, she knew that she had found just the thing she was looking for; in fact, it was more fulfilling than she imagined. “I felt better physically and emotionally after leaving class and looked forward to learning more”. Jen enrolled in the yoga teacher training program at LeeLaa Yoga so she could share these benefits with others.
Jen completed her 200 hour teacher training at LeeLaa in September 2011. In Aug 2011, Jen received her Level I and Level II Reiki Attunements from Katy Stahl.
