Erica Taxin Bleznak Erica's love for yoga began the day she first entered a yoga class to hopefully avoid surgery to repair a torn hip ligament sustained while training for a marathon. Since that day her hip has recovered and she has not parted with her yoga practice. Erica has a Master's Degree in Social Work and spent over 8 years as an HIV/AIDS Social Worker. Her yoga training began with David Swenson in the Asthanga tradition and she completed her PranaKriya training with Yoganand Michael Carroll. She gives gratitude and reverence for her teachers Yoganad Michael Carroll, Connie Beaudoin, Sarah Powers, Bart Marshall and to all the students who have provided her the opportunity to share the gift of the yoga practice.
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Julie Pogachefsky Julie grew up being the last one chosen for EVERY team! So, in 1995, when she was introduced to yoga by her friend and master teacher, Kirin Mishra, she was certain that the experience would end badly. She could not have been more wrong. Through yoga, Julie found a way to exercise that made her body feel strong and appropriately challenged. As she continued, she became equally drawn to the more esoteric aspects of the yoga tradition. In 2002, she trained with Baron Baptiste and then received her 200 hour yoga alliance teaching certification from Corina Benner through Wake Up Yoga. She has found inspiration and insights from Yoganand, Michael Carroll. She also, enjoys learning from Joan White. Julie's classes demand self inquiry and commitment. Through her talks and readings, as well as through her dynamic sequencing, Julie’s classes provide an opportunity to safely grow physically and emotionally.
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Yoganand Michael Caroll, Yoga Teacher Training Yoganand Michael Carroll has been recognized as a Master-Level teacher in the Kripalu Yoga tradition. Yoganand is Erica, Julie and many other JAI! instructors teacher and mentor. Through many years of intensive study and practice of the Kripalu approach to yoga, Yoganand has gained a profound ability to distil and interpret esoteric yoga texts and techniques. After studying with Kripalu Yoga masters in India and America, Yoganand taught at Kripalu Center for more than 15 years before founding Radiant Well-being Yoga Center in North Augusta, South Carolina, where he leads Pranakriya Yoga 200 hour Basic and 500 Hour professional Level Yoga Teacher Training and a variety of other programs. Yoganand is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT500 level teacher and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists -IAYT. |
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Lisa Kroiz It was a need to connect with something deeper, to dive into her spiritual being that brought Lisa to her first yoga class. Eleven years later, it is still the spiritual connection of body and mind attained through the practice of yoga that Lisa loves most. In December of 2005, Lisa received her 200 hour hatha vinyasa certification from the Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in New York City. In her classes, Lisa moves through and explores asana, pranayama and meditation as a way for her students to open their hearts and be present. Lisa also loves to laugh and creates a space that is playful and fun while gliding on the waves of the breath. Lisa is forever grateful to the practice of yoga for allowing her to move through the changes of life with grace and compassion. Lisa is honored to be a part of the Jai community.
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Sheryl Goldberg Sheryl has been called a healer her whole life by providing massage and compassion to friends and family. She received her massage certification professionally in 2000. She is proficient in a variety of massage techniques including therapeutic, deep muscle, prenatal, craniosacral, intuitive, as well as others. Her clients feel that her healing massages affect them beyond the physical body. Sheryl has continued her healing education, studying under energy healer Bradley Hess. She feels blessed to be part of the Jai community; A community of support and caring, spiritual growth and compassion. A dedicated professional, Sheryl manages to make time to help as massage coordinator at Camp Dream catcher and be a full-time parent of her 2 children.
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Sarah Sall, Massage Sarah has been doing bodywork since 2003 after graduating at the top of her class at the Pennsylvania School of muscle therapy. For the past six years she has been building her practice around studying various corrective muscle therapy techniques. After growing up in Villanova, Sarah received a business degree at the University of Delaware. After graduating, she continued her career with horses as a professional trainer and traveled on the show circuit. It was through horses that Sarah developed her understanding of how the body works and that all aspects need to be considered. In tandem with her training Sarah also plays and coaches girls rugby. She currently travels with the USA men's national rugby team, most recently traveling to Japan. Sarah also has traveled with the USA girl’s national U-19 team, and local professional athletes. It is through her work with horses and athletes that Sarah has learned to treat the body by looking at all issues involved, not just the initial problem
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Steven Groff Steven Groff is a true Bhakti (devotional) Yogi. This is demonstrated in his diverse charitable work and his passion for mantra chanting. He believes that mantras invoke aspects of the Divine that exits within us: inviting that peace and joy into our lice. Steven's spirited style of chanting enhances and enriches any physical yoga practice. You can hear the beautiful sounds of Steven's chanting at many of our yoga classes.
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Kayla Fell Formerly trained as an actor & dancer in Europe, Kayla toured extensively since her arrival in North America 8 years ago; highlights include being the only non-Russian woman to join Slava’s Snow Show for its record-breaking Off-Broadway run. Upon completing her teacher training at Wake Up Yoga Philadelphia, Kayla combines her joy in movement, with a focus and grace that brings a playful curiosity to her classes. Complicity with the breath, and the breath with movement, she believes is the foundation for a grounding and empowering yoga practice. And that our joyful discoveries of renewed peace, vitality and well being radiate throughout all aspects of our lives; with as much laughter as possible!
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Renata Gregori
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Jennifer Nehila Jennifer was introduced to Ashtanga Yoga in the summer of 2004 by a friend who had a hunch she would benefit from it after a series of intense life changes. As a former gymnast and competitive athlete for more than 16 years, many postures came naturally, but also lead to injury--at which point she decided to journey down a more prudent and mindful study of what yoga entailed in all it's forms--this lead to teacher training in the Fall of 2009. She also enjoys acrobatic yoga, slackline yoga ( tight rope) , climbing, and running, and finds traditional yoga practice to be a great compliment to all of these endeavors. Jennifer finds that yoga is always there to support you, like a comfortable and constant friend, and thinks of the mat as safe space where the one "learns to abide in one's true nature" (as the sutras say!)
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Micki Ramondt When Micki Ramondt took her first yoga class many years ago it was love at first pose. Initially it was the physical challenge of it. Then she noticed how it started to calm her mind. She found that the world seemed more quiet while practicing, and she began to develop more love, compassion and contentment for herself and for the lives around her. In 2008, Micki completed her 250-hour teacher training at Wake Up Yoga under the watchful, caring and extremely talented eyes of Corina Benner and Jill Manning. As a teacher, Micki strives to show the many beautiful facets of Yoga, not just the asana practice. She encourages each student to appreciate their strengths and accept their weaknesses so they can begin to find their true Selves and a state of Yoga. When Micki isn't practicing yoga she is reading almost anything that has to do with it or she's cooking with her husband Steven...and maybe dropping vegetable bits on the floor for her dog, Kiko, and her cat, Maxwell.
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Marla Willner Marla began her yoga journey in 1999, and after practicing on a consistent basis, she began to experience the broader spectrum of yoga’s benefits. In May 2002, Marla received her yoga teacher certification from Yoga on Main in Philadelphia. Her practice stems from the Vinyasa tradition, and in 2004, she completed a Vinyasa Flow teacher training with Shiva Rea. Marla teaches with a peaceful confidence and encourages her students to ride on the gracefulness of every breath. Through yoga, she has learned to live a calmer and more compassionate life and imparts these virtues through her teaching. Marla is also a cooking instructor and boutique caterer of vibrant vegetarian cuisine. Like yoga, cooking is a way for her to relax into the moment and to inspire others to reach higher levels of awareness.
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Trish Robayo Trish’s yoga journey began at a little studio in Manhattan Beach, California. After spending many years in the performing arts world Trish felt her heart pulling her in a new direction. Unsatisfied with where her life was heading she new that a change was ahead. Stepping into Julie Radar’s class began to put that change into motion. Originally heading to class to find a new way to move her body, she found so much more. Julie not only taught her an amazing vinyasa flow but she taught her how to go with the flow off the mat as well. Using positive thoughts and learning how to let go of that which no longer serves us Trish saw her life begin to change. Bringing to light the life she had always imagined she could have. Moved by what Julie had guided her to discover she wanted to give back the wisdom she had gained. Through her teachings she hopes to encourage her students to let go of their dark on a path to their undeniable light.
Trish finds inspiration from her students, her loving husband Alberto and their son Vicente.
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Liz Richter She began practicing yoga because of the physical challenges it presented and the peaceful feelings it produced, but she quickly found that yoga was so much more. A desire to study the teachings of yoga in depth and to deepen her personal asana practice led her to the Yoga teacher Training at Main Line Yoga. Liz completed the 200 hour certification in August of 2008. She began teaching vinyasa classes upon graduation and thoroughly enjoys sharing her love of yoga and all that it encompasses.
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Kate DeRosa Kate received her teacher training from Wake Up Yoga 2009-2010 under the direction of Corina Benner, Victoria Ladd, and Julie Pogafchesky. Dedicated to the study and practice of Vinyasa Yoga for nearly ten years, she is eager to share her passion and knowledge with others. Coming from a background in physical theatre, Kate offers an experiential understanding of the relationship between breath and movement garnered from study of a variety of disciplines—corporeal mime, aerial dance, Balinese dance, Capoeira, and Commedia dell’Arte— but finds deepest fulfillment in the integration of body and mind through physical yoga practice. Dynamically sequenced and compassionately led, Kate’s classes are designed to empower students to delve deeper into their own practice, exploring each pose with a spirit of curiosity and joyful expectation— not of what can be achieved, but of what may be discovered. Kate takes her seat as teacher with profound gratitude to her teachers and the teachers who came before, all the way back to the source.
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Nathalie Wetzel Nathalie's love of Indian literature and her fascination with the physical body merge seamlessly in the practice of yoga.
In what other field of study can the obsession with devotional poetry and unending curiosity about the deltoid process intertwine so naturally. With infinite gratitude for her teacher, Yoganand, Nathalie continues to learn from whomever she can, read everything she has time for, and is pursuing her 300 hour yoga therapy certification as well as her 500 hour certification both with her teacher, Yoganand through Jai.
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Kelly Love Kelly has been in the fitness industry for over fifteen years. Her passion for fitness evolved into a passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals. After many years of teaching high energy classes like kick-boxing and spinning, she stumbled into a yoga class and found her home away from home...a place to achieve fitness goals in a non-competitive environment, a place where she could "just be" without judgment. Kelly has completed many yoga trainings and workshops with reknowned yoga teachers such as Baron Baptiste, , Bryan Kest, Beryl Bender Birch, Simon Park and Twee Merrigan. She has her 200 hour certification in Power Yoga as well as certifications in mat pilates, standing pilates and pilates appartus training through the Physical Mind Institute. Kelly's journey has evolved into a continual exploration of body awareness and the mind-body connection. Every day is a journey...a journey to be shared by those who share the same passion for overall well-being.
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Maura Manzo Maura Manzo began to practice yoga to "learn to breathe" after a fire destroyed her home in 2006 and has been in love ever since. She contributes her training as a competitive gymnast in her early years and year round athleticism thereafter to her immediate physical attraction to yoga but she quickly recognized the significance of the connection of breath to mind, body and spirit. Her classes are challenging, creative and inspiring (and always have a good playlist!) Maura is an up and coming leader in the Philadelphia health and wellness movement. As a yoga teacher and health coach, she is committed to helping people become the best version of themselves possible. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious! All of her classes and programs are empowering and fuse in her sense of humor. She is an activist and founder of the Local for Global Project and raised $20,000 in 2010 for HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa as part of Off the Mat, Into the World's Seva Challenge. She is deeply committed to connecting with and engaging in communities on both a local and global level. |
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Brittany Policastro Brittany completed her first 50 hour teacher training six years ago, less than one year after her first experience with yoga. In 2006 she discovered Anusara Yoga and since then has completed the 200 hour Anusara Teacher Training, two 20 hour Yoga Therapeutics Trainings, a Prenatal Yoga Training and the Level 2 Anusara Teacher Training. Brittany has also received training in kid's yoga through Yoga Child. She has over 5,000 hour of experience teaching and was recently featured on NBC's The 10! Show demonstrating poses for healthy backs. Brittany brings an enthusiastic and energetic approach to her classes while focusing on proper alignment, cultivating awareness and opening others up to their own magnificent potential. In 2008 Brittany created the One World Many Hearts Project in which she raised $20,000 for the Cambodia Children's Fund and in 2009 traveled to Cambodia with Seane Corn and the Off the Mat into the World Team to experience Sacred Activism first hand. |
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Sam Rossitto Sam chants and plays harmonium, enhancing our Hatha classes and participating in other Kirtan events at Jai Yoga. His goal is to live life joyfully having one foot in the heavenly realms and the other planted firmly on the ground. Yoga practices and following yogic philosophy have been the primary guide for Sam's journey as he experiences life as a father, businessman, and a practicing lawyer/conflict mediator delicately balanced with his love of "all things yoga" and music. In 2007, Sam released "Lotus Tattoo", a lovely chant CD. Many of us know Sam as Kirtan artist, David Newman's keyboard player.
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Brooke Welsh, Massage Brooke Welsh began practicing yoga in 1998, and has been teaching for nearly as long. Yoga quickly became a doorway that opened her up to discovering a multitude of mind/body healing modalities. In 2002, Brooke received her massage certification through Omega Healing Arts School. She has maintained a steady practice, working all over the Philadelphia area, including the Main Line. Her massage is an integration of various bodywork techniques including deep tissue, cranio-sacral and thai massage, shiatsu, the collard method and energy work. The intention of her massage is to bring people into an experience of connection in their bodies through touch.
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Bethany Robinson, Massage I graduated from the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca, NY in 2009 with 1,000 hours of training. At FLSM I received a well rounded foundation in Hydrotherapy, Swedish Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, and Shiatsu, modalities which I have continued to develop in my independent practice since my completion of the program two years ago. Throughout the two past years I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of people, toward the goal of relaxation and stress reduction, as well as an assortment of ailments spanning from herniated discs to frozen shoulder syndrome, quadriplegia to pre-menstrual cramping, and bursitis to neck and shoulder cramping. I approach each session with a combination of practical knowledge, focused intuition, and the intention of offering the greatest healing.
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Zachary Weiss, Massage Zach is a graduate of the Cortiva School of Muscle Therapy, having received training in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point, and Craniosacral Therapy. He works with a variety of people, including yogis, body builders, teachers, photographers, coaches, novelists, and semi-professional athletes on a wide array of issues including chronic pain, physical training, and injury recovery. In addition to the physcial, Zach appreciates and strives to create space for energetic and emotional healing in his sessions as well. He believes that in today's society, people are starved for touch. Modern technology and culture makes it easier to connect, but also makes it easier to feel separate from each other and from ourselves. Through massage, we can connect to that which is most basic to our human experience – our self. By taking time out of our day to get a massage, we are able to open up lines of communication with our self that are difficult to access in this fast-paced world full of responsibilities, distractions, and fear. With this in mind, Zach uses bodywork as an avenue to help people to get back in touch and experience themselves in new and profound ways.
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Lana Jaclyn, Yoga and Massage Lana took her first yoga class in 1999 in a little loft in NYC and fell in love with the practice right away. "I remember walking down the city streets after class with a newly found sense of clarity, lightness and groundedness. The practice has continued to inspire me and deepen my awareness of myself and my relationship with the world around me." In the spring of 2009, Lana completed a 250 hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification at Wake Up Yoga, adding another dimension to her experience as a bodyworker. She has continued her yoga studies with Yoganand Michael Carrol, partaking in his Asanas as Spiritual Doorways workshop at Stillpoint Yoga Studio. In July of 2010, she took a week long intensive workshop in Kripalu with Anodea Judith and Selene Vega, Psychology of the Chakras. As a teacher,Lana is dedicated to meeting the students where they are in their practice and from there helping them to grow. Students can expect a gentle yet challenging class with mindful hands-on adjustments, inspiring poems and quotes, in a fun lighthearted atmosphere.
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Marlysa Sullivan, MPT, RYT 500 Marlysa is a professional therapist and Yoga instructor. Her experience in becoming a yoga teacher and her pursuit of further knowledge in meditation has shown her how building awareness and knowledge of the body and mind can empower a person in their own healing process. This has led her to practice therapy in a way that focuses on mind body awareness through traditional therapeutic treatment combined with Yoga, breathing and meditation. Marlysa continues to research and develop new methods for integrating Yoga and physical therapy. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and is pursuing further certification and study with Yoganand. Marlysa is an instructor of Functional Anatomy and Therapeutic Yoga and collaborates with therapists across the country on the integration Yoga into current therapy practices.
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Ashley Paulsworth
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