Leigh Snow is co-director of the Yoga Center of Newburyport with Manny Muros. She began her study of yoga in 1999 and started teaching at NCYH in 2003. Leigh completed a 200-hour Anusara™ Yoga Teacher Training with Todd Norian in 2004 and is registered as an Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher. She continues her study of Anusara™ with many teachers including John Friend, Todd Norian, Ann Greene, Betsey Downing, and Marc St. Pierre. Outside of the studio she is an architect/healthcare planner and a mom of two teenagers.
"Yoga is my primary way to touch base with my own center and from there to connect out to the larger universal energy. It brings me joy, peace, balance, stillness and energy. My practice has helped me see my limits, accept my limits and, many times, move beyond what I thought were my limits. I love that there is always more to learn and feel enriched by sharing that exploration with others. I am tremendously grateful to all of the teachers who have touched my life and expanded my practice."
Manny Muros is co-director of the Yoga Center of Newburyport with Leigh Snow. He is the founder of Svatantrya. He leads the Moving into Balance Series which he co-created with Mark Schultz. He created and leads the Spiritual Intimacy Series. Manny is a certified practitioner of Thai Yoga Bodywork and Reiki I and II and is designated as an Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher. He teaches Asana and partner/doubles yoga.
Manny began his devotional meditation practice in 1995 as a way to balance his life, and began his study of yoga in 1998. His teaching style blends his study and practice of many spiritual pursuits - including contact and partner yoga, transformational breathwork, and A Course in Miracles, among many others. This diverse background gives him a keen awareness of the many available paths which lead to self-realization.
"Since my early childhood, I have known that there was more to life than meets the eye. I have always been intrigued by how life "works", and the larger reasons for being. My life's purpose became the study, practice, and teaching of spiritual practices that lead to self-awareness and self realization. There are many roads leading to our own inner center and it is my deepest desire to help others to become free: to break away from the limitations we place on ourselves and others and to fully blossom into the beautiful and divine being waiting to come out. Life is not simply meant to be endured - it can be a magical journey of exploration and celebration!"
Abigail Axelrod is a dedicated student of both Anusara™ and Iyengar Yoga. In addition to group classes, she offers private yoga instruction, Massage Therapy, and Thai Yoga Massage in Beverly and Gloucester offices.
"My classes are fun, safe, informative, and challenging - a celebration of being alive. Ten years of yoga practice, teaching and study, in both America and India, have forged a life-long commitment to health. My experience has helped develop a growing knowledge of mind-body mechanics and an ability to support others' journey of self-discovery in a non-judgmental way. I am strongly committed to self-care and intend to pursue further education in Ayurveda."
Ann D'Allessandro discovered the gift of yoga in 1999. She is now a certified instructor (200 hour level) whose teaching borrows from her background in Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Anusara-Inspired™ training. Ann considers herself an eternal yoga student with an endless thirst for expanding her practice and her teaching in new and interesting ways. She is grateful for the opportunity share the great gift of this practice with others.
"The beauty of yoga lies in its ability to connect us to our true selves with love, acceptance and grace."
Jennifer Truppner has been practicing yoga since 1999 and is a certified Anahata Integrated Yoga instructor (Anahata is the Sanskrit name for the heart Chakra). She also practices Reiki and studies flower essences and Shamanism.
"Your work is to discover your world, and then with all your heart, give yourself to it." -Buddha
"Life is a wondrous gift. I am continually exploring what it is to be the Divine embodied. Yoga is one of the pathways I use to understand myself and the world around me. I have embraced Anusara™ in particular, although I believe all styles have healing and illuminating benefits to offer. Yoga has helped me overcome physical, mental and emotional limitations. I hope to offer the same to my students in fun, deep, and heartfelt classes that celebrate our journey to self-discovery. Thank you to my students and the center for creating a safe, loving and inspiring community. Also thank you to my teachers in Yoga, Andean Shamanism, Reiki and Flower Essence for teaching me to open to the flow of grace. Munay and Namaste."
Jim Vincenti is an Anusara-Inspired™ teacher who has been studying yoga since university. He has earned both Kripalu Yoga and Kundalini Yoga certifications, with over 500 hours of training, and he is currently on the path to Anusara™ certification. Although he has explored many styles of yoga, from Iyengar to Ashtanga, he finds Anusara to be powerful, therapeutic, and enjoyable. Jim has been an educator for almost 30 years, and he has spent 13 years abroad, teaching university in Canada, Japan, and Thailand and studying yoga and massage in India and Thailand.
“Yoga has meant so much to me on many levels, especially during the challenging times, and I wish to share my love of the process with others.”
Pamela Marshall
began a yoga practice ten years ago after having run five marathons as a way to compliment her running passion. After her first pregnancy she discovered vinyasa flow yoga ; "This style blended the rhythm of my running with the flow of the breath and asana." Pamela began teaching in 2004 and in 2006 she completed Todd Norian's extensive 300-hour Anusara™ Yoga Teacher Training
"What I love most about teaching is sharing with students the skillful alignment principles of Anusara™ and witnessing them transform both in their poses and in their lives. It's very inspiring for both teacher and student."
Rose Russo
teaches Ongoing Yoga, as well as the Easy Does It Yoga class, for those working on improving their mobility. Rose is a graphic designer, fine artist, Reiki Master and healer in Newburyport, and is registered as an Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher. She completed her first yoga teacher training at the Anahata Integrated Yoga Teacher Training with Chris Morton and Pam Britton and completed a 300 hour Anusara™ Yoga Teacher Training with Todd Norian and Ann Greene
"My interest in yoga came after I had major surgery. During my recovery, I found yoga to be the perfect way to stretch my body, strengthen it and calm my mind, all at the same time. I began to reconstruct a positive relationship with my "new" body and tapped into my body's natural healing abilities. Today, I teach from that incredible experience of discovery."
Christina Dubin offers prenatal yoga, having trained with Mary Barnes in The Barnes Method of Yoga for Two™. The Barnes Method combines Anusara™ Yoga, breath work, alignment, sound vibration, strength training, therapeutics and community for the health and happiness of both mother and baby.
What began as a way to strengthen her physical body quickly evolved into a journey of self-discovery. In 2008, she received her certification from Kripalu in order to share this life-changing practice with others. When not on the mat, she is at the potter's wheel, and believes that there is a strong parallel between creating art and practicing yoga.
"Whether molding clay on the wheel, body in asana or mind in meditation, one must be centered and work from their authentic self to create something beautiful and true."
Gary Phillips teaches Bujinkan Ninjutsu. He is a Christian, Husband, Martial Artist. Studying the Martial Arts of China and Japan since a young teenager, he was schooled in Shaolin Gong Fu and Qigong, and continues with this study in Chinese arts presently. Always interested in the Ninjutsu of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, his opportunity came and in 2005 he was blessed with a Shidoshi-ho teaching certification from Japan. In 2006 Gary founded the Bujinkan Toudai Dojo (Toudai is Japanese for "lighthouse or lantern"), as a beacon in the sometimes dark and misunderstood world of Martial Art. Now a student of Shihan Charles Collins of the highly respected Bujinkan Taka Seigi Dojo, headed by Shihan Phil Legare, Gary continues on the path of the legendary warriors of Japan.
"The Bujinkan is unlike any other Martial Art organization out there, where making new friends is a common occurence, there is no place for ego in the Bujinkan. Classes are always challenging to each individual, and always welcoming to those who are interested in forging a new path in their life. Kami wa ai de aru."
Joanne Rowley offers Restorative Yoga. She is a Holistic Nurse Counselor-Therapist and Interfaith Chaplain student. She shared in the creation of Bostons first Yoga & Psychotherapy center, New Directions. She began teaching in 1989 and is certified as a 500 hour Kripalu Teacher. She served as a founding Kripalu Yoga Teachers board member and a Program Director. Her yoga practice and teaching has been influenced by studies with creative Iyengar teachers and cross training in Body -Mind Centering, Experiential Anatomy, Mind/Body medicine, Spiritual Psychology and Mindfulness meditation. Joanne’s Restorative yoga classes are inspired by her studies with Judith Lasater and Carol Nelson, author and model of Relax & Renew.
”I embrace a feminine approach to yoga, inviting a creative curiosity that supports a depth of listening and a capacity to live more fully from the inside out. I find the practices to be a means to cultivate stillness, spaciousness and presence. With this, I aspire to bring to my teaching a warm authenticity and light hearted wisdom.”
Julie Sheehan teaches Viniyoga and Practices Reiki. She has been practicing and studying yoga for over ten years. Influenced by her interdisciplinary training and personal practice, Julie draws upon many styles of yoga and teaches in the spirit of allowing each student to practice at the pace and level that serves them individually. She offers her students a compassionate, supportive and safe practice. Julie is certified by the Frog Pond Yoga Centre and a registered yoga teacher with the National Yoga Alliance.
Julie is also co-creator and teacher of Find Your Spirit within Reiki Certifications for Kids and Adults with Liz Desmarais. She is a trained Reiki Master/Teacher in the Usui System of Healing. Julie provides each child and adult Reiki program in a loving, supportive and fun environment. She lives in Amesbury, Massachusetts with her husband and nine year old Reiki child.
Liz Desmarais is a Reiki Mom and Reiki Master/Teacher. She is the Administrative Director of the Newburyport Montessori School. Liz is a trained Reiki Master in the Usui System of Healing and a Shamballa Reiki Master/Teacher. She is also trained as a hospice volunteer providing Reiki to terminally ill patients and their family members. She is a writer and attorney living in Newburyport with her nine year old Reiki child.
Renee Le Verrier teaches Chair-supported, Less Is More (LIM) Yoga Putting the theory of “Less Is More” into practice, classes revolve around soft movement and a simple awareness of the breath, calming the mind, relaxing the body, and promoting healing, flexibility and balance. Renee has been practicing yoga since 1999 and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. She has also completed Yoga for the Rest of Us training with Peggy Cappy.
As both a stroke survivor and a person living with Parkinson's disease, Renee is directly familiar with yoga and physical challenges. Her focus is on building fluidity and strength despite limitations. She is the author of Yoga for Movement Disorders: Rebuilding Strength, Flexibility and Balance for Parkinson’s Disease and Dystonia (Merit 2008).
"Practicing yoga balances me emotionally and physically. My intention for teaching is to share with others facing physical limitations that the non-judgmental, peaceful center of our selves is a healing place. Yoga is a path to that center."
Rose Dobosz offers Tao Yin Fa, a meridian style Chi Gong. Rose has a Master's degree in acupuncture and has been practicing Chinese Medicine for over ten years. Since 2003, she has also studied at the school of Tama-Do, the Academy of Sound, Color and Movement with Fabien Maman and Terres Unsoeld. Tama-Do is a five element style of Chinese Medicine using the healing tools of the Tao Yin Fa exercise, tuning forks, sound healing, color, and essences. Rose is a certified practitioner of Tama-Do. For more information on Tama -Do, The Academy of Sound, Color and Movement see www.tama-do.com or phone 800.615.3675
"Our bodies, our minds and our hearts are a balance of the yin and the yang energy. This energy is always shifting and moving. Sometimes we have more yang energy, sometimes more yin. Practicing Chi Gong movements allow us to sense our fluidity in life and create moments of harvesting more inner strength and outer peace."
Cristina Muros Cristina is a gifted healer, teacher and dancer. She has a broad background in body mechanics, bodywork, and the journey of the soul.
Cristina, a native of Spain, was a professional ballerina. She studied, practiced and holds certificates in several massage and energy healing modalities including: Therapeutic and Sport Quiromassage, Foot Reflexotherapy, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Neurostructural Integration Technique, Reiki, The Universal Principles & The Metamorphic Technique, Somato Emotional Release, CranioSacral Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Medicine of the Soul & Numerology. She is a constant student of mind, body and soul processes.
Having faced serious health issues, Cristina used her own tools to return to a full and healthy life. This personal journey of self discovery and integration serves as the foundation for her work.
Cristina leads The Life Purpose Series, Yoga Ball Massage Workshops, Dance and Movement classes at the center as well as sharing her healing touch as an integrative bodyworker.
"I see the life as a masterpiece of theater where I can play, be amused, cry, and have the experience of the different roles. For me life is to be felt, to be played and to take risks, creating my reality from the experience of the present moment.
The hand of the Universe cradles and takes care of us at every moment. I have this total confidence in the wisdom of Nature, God, the Oneness. I know I am cared for and that deserves that I take risks in the game of life. What can I loose? Do I actually have something? Or has it been lent to me so I can play and experiment?"
Shaina Damm began practicing yoga in 2005 after an over-use injury sidelined her from her regular running and weight training activities. She quickly realized the benefits of the practice, both on and off the mat—healing her body and transforming her overall outlook on life. Being a former All-American track and field athlete, she was drawn to the detailed alignments of the Anusara™ method and the way these engagements unlocked a whole new way of moving and living in her body. She is passionate about sharing this same heart opening experience with others and completed Todd Norian and Anne Green's extensive 300 hour teacher training in June, 2009. She is honored to have the opportunity to teach yoga and considers each class to be both an offering and an opportunity for even more growth and learning.
"We are so deeply free—to what will we choose to bind ourselves?"
—Douglas Brooks
Yoga Center of Newburyport, 12 Maple Street, Newburyport, MA 01860
center@newburyportyoga.com
(978) 463-4354
Copyright 2008 Yoga Center of Newburyport