Meredith LeBlanc
Meredith began
her yoga practice in 1996 while living in Las Vegas,
NV. The moment she stepped on the mat she felt
transformed. Over the years her practice on the mat has
spread to her everyday practice of life. She always felt that
someday she would teach yoga and that goal was fulfilled
by getting her 200 hour RYT certification in 2007 at Soma.
Taking a class with Meredith is
insight into her own personal practice. She strongly believes
in taking classes with a variety of teachers combined home
practice and meditation. She feels breath
and inner alignment is the key to opening
and discovering the body, mind, and spirit. By communication
with ourselves and creating awareness we make space to acknowledge our
connection with all beings. Reading different viewpoints on
yoga and spiritual growth enhances her practice as well; her favorite
books thus far have been the Bagavad Gita, Ethics for the New
Millenium, The Alchemist, and Autobiography of a Yogi.
Meredith
enjoys gardening with husband Mike, making beaded jewelry, watching
romantic comedies, and reading. She and Mike live in Newport
with their yellow lab Nicki.
Mary Leonti
Mary has been practicing and teaching
the healing and creative arts for over a decade. Her
background is in figurative/anatomy-based painting, martial arts,
massage therapy, and yoga. She loves life, movement, people
and dynamic energy. This is apparent the moment you meet her,
and even more so in her classes. When she first discovered
her core and potential (in relation to chi or prana), she was like a
little kid in a candy store. Mary's goal as a teacher is to
share the inspiration of yoga. Her classes are creative,
strong, core burning vinyasa. She encompasses and infuses
guided meditation, breath and energy awareness, and focuses on
alignment and anatomy with energizing sequencing, while exploring mind,
body and spirit through asanas. Her classes are scripted from
her own practice and teachings from all the amazing people she has
studied with. Most notably, she has studied with Tonya
Zaloumis, received her certification from Larry Schultz, and is an Ana
Forrest yoga instructor. The resulting blend is a powerful
experience in yoga. She has a 200-hour Yoga
Alliance certification and over thousands of hours of self study.
Anne completed her 200-hour teacher training certification at Soma Yoga in
the spring of 2008, and she is a registered teacher with the National Yoga
Alliance. Anne's classes are all about flow. She guides her students
through sequences, encouraging students to find and push their own
personal and physical envelopes, while offering a variety of modifications
for more difficult postures. Anne's teaching and personal practice is
focused on the enrichment of mental and physical well being, restoring and
grounding through vigorous but tranquil sequences. As a fourth grade
teacher, wife and mother of three she deeply understands the need for
centeredness in our increasingly busy world.
Julie Batcho Julie turned to yoga in 2001 to help aid in recovery from a sport related injury. Discovering first hand the healing qualities (mentally and physically) of yoga she knew she needed to share this experience with others. In 2005 she completed her 200-hour teacher training certification at Yandara Institute, Baja, Mexico and is currently a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance. In Mexico she studied under Gloria Goldberg, director of the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Institute in Los Angeles. Although Julie is not a certified Iyengar teacher she emphasizes the importance of proper alignment combining what she learned with the more personal expression of Vinyasa flow. Julie has been teaching for the last three years and currently resides in Newport, Rhode Island. Sheri Cavanagh Sheri is a certified Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance and a teacher of Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga styles. She has completed teacher training with David Swenson and has studied with many other respected teachers. Her broad experience in teaching is complimented by her dedication to empowering students at all levels of ability. Sheri has also studied Thai Yoga Massage with Saul David Raye. When not teaching Yoga, Sheri is a certified Feng Shui practitioner and Interior Designer. Welcome back Sheri! Shiva Kunz Shiva has been practicing and teaching Hatha Vinyasa yoga for over 15 years. She is now pursuing her 500 hour RYT certification. In classes, Shiva guides students into deep alignment of mind, body and spirit. With a gentle focus on the integrity of the breath, she encourages students to infuse each asana with strength and power. Crystal Pilon John Roundtree
Anne
Richards
Crystal is Yoga
Alliance, R.Y.T . certified by the Nosara Yoga Institute, Guntacaste,
Costa Rica, following completion of 200 hour Interdisciplinary Yoga
Teacher Training and 100 hour Pranassage TM Practitioner Training in
February 2004. She discovered Soma Yoga immediately upon her
return from Costa Rica and has been a student and teacher here
ever since. Crystal's classes
strengthen and purify the body and emphasize breath in a "meditation in
motion" framework as a pathway to our innate intelligence and natural
relaxation response. Using Ujjayi, the "Ocean Sounding
Breath" and awareness of gravity, and Prana, students access a natural
state of energetic protection of the body and experience a challenging
and healing practice.
In addition to her
continuing education with Soma and the Nosara Yoga Institute, Crystal has
been devoted to Bikram, Kripalu, and Barbara Brennan, certified
instruction. Crystal lives in
Wickford, Rhode Island with her husband Bill.
I was taking Yoga when everyone thought it was for girls only and expected me to be a vegetarian who never got angry and walked around professing world peace and liberal views on war and politics. They also thought Yoga meant it was some sort of Indian Hindu practice where we chanted for hours and inhaled vast amounts of incense and prayed to 10 different Gods. Well truth is…the number of people who think that has only diminished a bit because Madonna and a few other celebrities popularized yoga and turned it into an American fad. Honestly, I hope it lasts, and maybe as an entry point where you start it only for exercise purposes, you'll eventually find yourself sitting cross legged for hours staring at an elephant god with needles in your eyes and then wonder how you ended up here. But by then, at least you won't be staring at the boob tube as much, maybe live more healthfully in body and mind and mostly feel a little less burdened by life. And that my friend is what you really only wanted from the start.
Michael Parsons
Michael began his inquiry into Yoga and the Healing Arts in 1994 with reiki and therapeutic touch. He received a 200 hour “Mind- Body” yoga certification from Finding Inner Peace in Abington MA in 1997 and became certified to teach Kripalu Yoga in 2005 while in residency in Stockbridge MA. He is currently working on his 500 hour teaching certificate and Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist certification through Kripalu Center He is a Polarity Practitioner since 1998 and a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2000, as well as an Ayurvedic Bodywork Practitioner. An advocate of daily pranayam, simple postures and enegy awareness, he teaches from a heart centered place that is both accessable and approachable. Learning, teaching, sharing and being will always be a part of his life."I have come to realize there is but one Energy and many ways to direct it. Acting as a clear conduit for this life force, we all are capable of both giving and receiving this light, and living in this never ending flow" Michael, along with his partner Adam Occaso, shares his time equally between Lenox, MA and Newport RI. Together they run a private practice and offer retreat-style healing programs in client’s homes. Michael also serves on the staff of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda and the Kripalu School of Massage. You can contact Michael at www.pranadudes.com
Karen Direnzo
Karen discovered Pilates in 2005 while trying to achieve balance with a hectic career and busy family life. She instantly realized the benefits of this exercise method that was developed to create a healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy life. This method of exercise was developed by German-born Joseph Pilates. In 1926, Joseph and Clara Pilates brought their exercise system, originally called “Contrology”, to New York City. The Pilates method is a physical movement program designed to stretch, strengthen, and balance the body. Pilates exercise focuses on postural symmetry, breath control, abdominal strength, spine, pelvis and shoulder stabilization, muscular flexibility, joint mobility and strengthening through the complete range of motion of all joints. Instead of isolating muscle groups, the whole body is trained, integrating the upper and lower extremities with the trunk. Exercise should be an important part of our lives, it should add to and not take away from our enjoyment of a full life and Pilates does just that; it focuses on training the mind and body to work together toward the goal of overall fitness. Karen became a Certified Pilates Instructor in Mat work including Advanced and Standing Pilates in 2007 through Pilates Physical Mind Institute. She completed the Pilates Apparatus Certification in 2008 and was certified through Pilates Method Alliance. As a Pilates Instructor, Karen enjoys imparting the knowledge, skill and confidence for clients to exercise for a lifetime.
Sharon Pearson
“The incredible Lightness of Being” aptly describes Sharon’s transcendental journey of yoga.Freedom is an unparalled gift that is enhanced by an enduring and enlightened practice. A native New Yorker, Sharon attended a class led by swami Arjal Ghati and never looked back. Her unbridled passion for yoga propelled her into teaching so others could share the joy and calmness of practice. Ms. Pearson began her training at Soma Yoga and earned her 200 hr. certification at Sonic Yoga in N.Y.C. Sharon taught in both NYC and Los Angeles. She has a Yoga Fit Certification and is a registered teacher and member of the yoga alliance. She is currently studying for her 500 hour certification and resides in beautiful Newport.
Jen Risio
Coming soon…