E-RYT 500, founder of Pradipika, Jennifer trained with Alan Finger in ISHTA yoga and trained with Baron Baptiste in Power Vinyasa Yoga. Jennifer teaches a breath-centered practice in an inspired vinyasa flow that is adaptable for various levels of practice. Her classes are fun and light, yet strong and challenging. She aims to inspire and enliven her students in energetic classes that work the physical body, and awaken and balance the emotional and spiritual bodies. Her extensive study of alignment and injury prevention provides a safe environment to encourage students to play their edge. She taught nine classes a week in New York City for Be Yoga, now Yoga Works, as well as numerous private and corporate clients, and continued to teach as she traveled across the country. She's taught beginners workshops, supervised teacher trainees as assistants in her classes, as well as taught Yin and restorative yoga classes. Ultimately, she teaches the transformative power of yoga in a practice that connects each student to their authentic, radiant self from which to lead an extraordinary life. Jennifer also earned a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition and is a Registered Dietitian.
E-RYT 500, James has been a student of yoga and meditation with the Baptiste Yoga Institute since 2008. He became a full time Baptiste yoga instructor in 2009. James has accrued over 1200 hours of direct training from renowned yoga teacher Baron Baptiste and regularly assists Baptiste Yoga training programs around the world.
James recently opened Yogatomics Training and Wellness, a specialized yoga training and retreat center in Mystic, CT. Yogatomics offers a variety of educational trainings, as well as personal self-care services and retreats. Yogatomics Training and Wellness is an expansion branch of the Mystic Yoga Shala. James has been a teacher at MYS since 2008, and served as a lead trainer since 2011. James also designed the new Mystic Yoga Shala expansion in 2012, and he is the cocreator of the Mystic Yoga Shala/Yogatomics Training and Wellness 200Hr Teacher training curriculum.
James consults and coaches fellow yoga studio owners and teachers regularly and strives to maintain the highest form of integrity towards yoga education and business practices in the modern world. He travels frequently to many studios and communities so he can inspire and share powerful yoga workshops . His passion for the practice and the science of yoga is infectious and he looks forward to bringing his experience and education to pradipikaYOGA.
Lisa's passion for teaching enables her to connect deeply to others in a friendly and honest way, naturally through the practice of yoga. She believes that her contribution as a yoga teacher is a small step in helping her students create a more sustainable, way of coping with every day stresses through the physical practice of yoga and meditative breath work. One breath at a time, moment by moment, allowing for a more compassionate, joy filled existence, while moving through the gateway of present moment awareness. She has been teaching yoga in various studios and venues since 2005. She also loves working one on one with her students and small groups and integrates her years of experience as a certified personal and fitness trainer, with her training, credentials and knowledge of yoga. As a lover of nature she holds special outdoor classes throughout the seasons, as a reflection and reminder of the beauty and freedom of the the great outdoors, and her responsibility for stewardship to this planet.
RYT 200, Traci is 200 hour graduate of The Yoga Shop of Old Saybrook. Traci has additional trainings in yin yoga and Myofascial Release through Power Yoga Germany and restorative yoga through Pranakriya School of Yoga Healing Arts. Traci discovered yoga as an alternative to working out at the gym. After just a few classes, she quickly found yoga to be more than just physical and began practicing daily. She enjoys the physical challenges the practice offers, and embraces the opportunity to quiet the mind and spirit, while slowing down and releasing tension. Her yoga class provides a soothing sequence to promote health and flexibility, create calm in the mind, and restore balance and harmony in a mindful practice of breath, movement and meditation. Yoga has helped Traci slow down a bit and she feels the freedom of breath and movement is transformational. Yoga just makes life better. Traci finds the opportunity to share the practice with others a true gift.
RYT200, Sue completed her yoga training through YogaWorks with Angela Botta at pradipikaYOGA. Sue started coming to yoga five years ago after surviving cancer. She attributes her great health to her yoga practice which changed her life for the better and believes everyone can benefit from yoga! Sue focuses on creating a safe and welcoming environment, teaching a step-by-step approach while reminding students of their own breath and to listen to their bodies during practice. Sue also recently earned her Reiki II certification to enhance her connection with her students.
Emrys is known for a challenging, introspective and alignment-focused teaching style blended with gentleness and thoughtfulness toward the body and the whole self. She encourages curiosity and intends for her students to be safe at all ages.
She has been studying yoga and meditation for over 20 years. Grounded in the Iyengar tradition, she also has strong foundations in Vinyasa, Forrest Yoga and YIN. Her style has developed both locally and abroad through work with local teachers, as well as with Ana Forrest, Sadie Nardini, Jill Miller, Josh Summers, James Higgins, Cora Wen, Seane Corne and many others. Her studies in Pune, India included time at the Osho Meditation Resort and the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute.
Her classes lead students to explore how they can be more in tune with themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally, and how that may also deepen their awareness and make them more spiritually present. Practices are designed to prepare the mind, body and spirit to assimilate new ideas, take action to rejuvenate health and vitality, and awaken intuition through invigoration, restoration, and engagement of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Emrys is also a Holistic Health Counselor in private practice in Chester, CT. See more at www.decadent-wellness.com
RYT 200, Kat is an experienced yogi who has been practicing for over 5 years and completed her Baptiste style Teacher Training at The Mystic Yoga Shala under the supervision of James Conlan and Amy “Dechen” Zezulka. While first drawn to Yoga for it’s physical challenges and comprehensive workout, Kat has found herself slowly integrating other yogic ideals and philosophies into her life.
Kat attended the University of Tampa where she earned her Bachelors degree in Fine Arts. She then joined the Peace Corps and spent time as an English teacher and mentor in Rwanda. She is currently attending Southern Connecticut State University and it working towards her Art Education Certification. As an artist and a teacher, Kat has found the perfect combination of effort and ease in her life to create a happy balance.
Kat believes the physical demands of Yoga help to still the mind and hopes her students can experience this peace through her practice. Kat’s Baptiste style power-vinyasa classes are based on a vigorous flow that focuses on physicalness, possibility and empowerment. She encourages students to continually challenge themselves to go beyond their believed potential. On and off the mat, Kat seeks to attain balance in her life through the perfect combination of effort and ease.
RYT500 Erin, is also a SUP yoga teacher, Certified Reiki Level II and a life coach. She first completed her 200 hour training at Kripalu School of Yoga and attended Creative Kids Yoga School where she completed a 50 hour training. She then completed a Tibetan Buddhist meditation training which was led by the respected founder, Lama Allione.
Erin traveled internationally for four months to complete a month long Ashtanga yoga study program, Ayurvedic internship and a 200 hour Ashtanga yoga teacher training. She went back to Kripalu and completed the four 500 hour Modules of Vinyasa, Special Populations, Advanced Pranayama/Asana and Meditation. She has assisted numerous yoga teacher trainees at Kripalu and is a staff member of their relax and renew team.
Erin completed a Leadership Training Intensive, which was a prerequisite for a seven month Life Coach Training School that she graduated from in September of 2016. Erin obtained her Bachelor’s in Communications and is a firm believer that modern technology has faded our natural form of connection to each other, nature and ourselves. This is where she believes that yoga will shift these habits. Her mission is to empower any level student in a safe and nonjudgmental setting. For more info visit: evolvewitherin.com
RYT200, Petra found yoga after years of struggles with staying healthy, and grants regular yoga practice with finally being able to quiet her autoimmune system into long term remission. Petra believes that in order to take care of others, we need to take care of ourselves first. Once she fell in love with yoga, she knew she wanted to share her passion with others. She sees yoga as a way of living her most authentic self.
Petra’s style of teaching is centered around YogaWorks method, a Vinyasa-based flow method that balances precise instruction, detailed alignment, breath and fluid movement. Her classes are carefully themed to deepen the students’ experience of Yoga. Her classes consist of Sun Salutation flows and postures that are skillfully sequenced. She also offers variety of modifications and props that are used to individualize the practice for each of her students. Petra has been practicing yoga for over 3 years and recently completed her teacher training at pradipikaYOGA in Clinton under the supervision of Angela Botta of YogaWorks.
In her spare time, Petra likes hiking with her dog on local trails, reading books, horseback riding, studying Yoga Sutras and deepening her own yoga practice through continued learning from various teachers.
RYT200, Emily has practiced yoga since she was a high school student but decided to pursue her teaching certification when she was pregnant with her son, Hank. She thought it was an important time to strive to be the best version of herself. As a RYT 200, certified through Tiny Buddha Yoga in Ann Arbor, MI, Emily helps her students find their truest selves through their yoga practices. Emily studied dance at Connecticut College, and believes that body awareness is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Finding one’s potential and knowing one’s limits are important skills to learn on and off the yoga mat. Emily leads yoga classes with a focus on alignment, breathing, and mindfulness, and believes that yoga is so much more than just the physical practice.
RYT200, Anne is a licensed physical therapist and a certified Baptiste yoga instructor, having studied extensively with the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute. In addition to over 400 hours of studying with Baron Baptiste, Anne continues to study gentle and therapeutic yoga through physical therapy courses. Since 1993, Anne has worked in orthopedic physical therapy, treating patients who are recovering from injury and surgery. Anne has been teaching yoga since 2010 and practicing since 1999.
RYT 200, Tracee has been teaching yoga since 2009. She mostly teaches vinyasa, yoga basics, gentle yoga, parent child and baby yoga classes as well as her restorative yoga and massage workshops. Her teaching style is empowering, playful and reflective. Tracee is also is a licensed massage therapist. Her wish is that we all, herself included, soften our approach to ourselves on and off of our mats. She believes in the positive benefits of a yoga and meditation practice for all and is thankful to have the opportunity to teach.
Emily, ERYT 500, teaches classes drawing from her Anusara background offering very specific alignment instruction allowing for maximum benefit in each asana as well as injury prevention and therapeutics. She draws on her background with Ashtanga to balance focused awareness and alignment with a flowing vinyasa class that allows the practitioner to build internal heat and benefit from a more challenging practice. She is trained in therapeutics and precise biomechanical instruction for detailed asana instruction with a focus on anatomy and physiology, as well as advanced pranayama, contemplation and meditation techniques.
RYT200, Kayla completed her training through YogaWorks with trainer Angela Botta. Yoga is an avid practice in Kayla's life, as she was first captivated by the physical improvements in her body. From years of training and development, the physical workings of her yoga practice opened a gateway to coming to terms with her mental and spiritual self. Having earned a B.S in Psychology with a sub focus in biology, Kayla values the benefits yoga has on the mental body. Kayla’s passion is guiding students to connect to their breath and find inner awareness through movement. She strives to hold a space where students can work inwardly to deepen their understanding of self and strengthen their physical body. Kayla emphasizes optimal alignment in asana poses to create a practice that is suitable for all levels.
RYT200, George completed his yoga training through YogaWorks with Angela Botta at pradipikaYOGA. He is a proof that you don’t always know what you really want or need, but good things can happen as long as you’re open to the experience, no matter when it comes in life. A few years back, he wouldn’t have considered taking even a free yoga class, but since his first time, he was hooked.
George enrolled in the teacher-training program to learn more about the eight-limbed path of yoga and to refine his physical practice. He feels it’s important to infuse his classes with the knowledge that yoga is more than just a great workout. While it can do wonderful things to the body, it’s even better for the mind and spirit!
He has a BS in Zoology and an MBA in Marketing and Finance. When George is not practicing yoga, he writes full-time for a healthcare communications company and helps his wife keep the peace between their two “children”: Portia, a terrier mix, and Night Wind, their pure-breed cat.
RYT 200, Lisa is a graduate of Laughing Lotus in New York City. She’s had additional anatomy training with Alison West and Yoga Union, and is certified in Yoga Union’s Yoga with Slings and Ropes program. Lisa’s first yoga class was in the late 1990s at Dharma Mittra’s Dharma Yoga Center in New York City. After her first savasana she knew she had to come back, and she’s been coming back ever since. Her classes reflect twenty years of trying to find balance between discipline and abandon, both on and off the mat.
Because yoga helped her successfully rehab a herniated lumbar disk, two hip replacements and multiple sports-related injuries, Lisa believes deeply in the power of precise alignment.
She expresses humble and endless thanks to her teachers Kristin Leigh and Barbara Verroci of The Shala and Mary Dana Abbott and Kenneth Frisby of Laughing Lotus. “We begin where we are and how we are, and whatever happens, happens.”
E-RYT500, Caitlin is a YogaWorks certified teacher and trainer for YogaWorks 200 and 500 hour programs in the US and internationally.
After moving to New York in 1999, Caitlin turned to yoga for stability and solace. Today the alignment and precision of Iyengar yoga, combined with a meditative union of movement and breath inspires her practice. Caitlin's yoga classes are both physically challenging and quietly introspective. A slow flow, breath-centered approach teaches conscious transitions, integrated movement and embodied anatomy. Expect to work mindfully and deeply. Get to know your body better and walk away feeling stronger, lighter, and refreshed.
Caitlin's interest in anatomy has inspired her to deeper study of the human body – its layers and patterns, how movement connects us to our environments, to each other, and to the Self. As a teacher she empowers students with the tools to organize the body in a way that brings awareness of breath and focus to the mind, fosters a safe practice for those recovering from injury, and builds a solid platform for healthy practice.
RYT200, Dylan first discovered yoga as a winter cross training activity when it was too snowy to ride his bicycle. He quickly discovered however, that there was much more to yoga than just the physical aspect. The mindful, “meditation in motion” that yoga provided was enough to hook him. He has been practicing regularly since 2006. Dylan completed his teacher training with James Conlan and Amy Zezulka from Mystic Yoga Shala in May 2017. Dylan also holds a 2nd degree black belt in Renshinkai Aikido that he received while living in Tokyo, Japan. Dylan’s classes will challenge you to do your best. You will find the space where you think your limits exist and push beyond them with Dylan’s safe and supportive guidance.
