Faculty
Lotus Gardens Yoga School is honored to have the following gifted
and talented yoga instructors, physicians and training staff share
their knowledge as faculty.
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Lara Azzarito Ward, 500 E-R.Y.T., Founder & DirectorIn 1979, Lara was introduced to Masakazu Takahashi whom she
studied traditional Japanese culture, ki energy and martial arts under
for 20 years. In 1985, Lara had a minor car accident that left her in
chronic pain. Her love of eastern philosophy wellness and healing
combined with movement development into her own style of gently flowing
yoga she called Relaxation Through Movement. In the late 1980's Lara
began her quest to understand yoga and its many traditions. She began
studying with teachers such as Eric Schiffman, Rama Birch, Sandra
Anderson, Dr. David Coultier, Brian Kest, Ravi Singh and Richard
Freeman. For several years Rodney Yee became her major influence as
well as Ganga White and Tracey Rich of White Lotus Foundation and David
Swenson where she earned certifications. |
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Colleen Breeckner As a young woman, Colleen began studying yoga while traveling across the US. She has maintained a regular practice for over twelve years and received her 200 hour certification through Lotus Gardens. She has studied Hatha Yoga, Pranayamana, Yoga Therapeutics and Yogic philosophy in a variety of traditions. Colleen is a single mother of a spirited young boy. Once becoming a mother she quickly realized that practicing yoga and meditation enabled her not only stay fit but to also keep up with the demands of modern life: balancing career goals with family life. Colleen blends her dance background with her yoga practice to deliver a physically challenging vinyasa flow sequence. Her Yoga classes are designed to empower the spirit that lies within you. Colleen leads workshops & classes for adults, teens and children throughout Connecticut and in New York. She specializes in Anusara, Vinyasa, Yoga for self esteem, Yoga for health and wellness, Yoga for terminal Illness and posture alignment & sequencing.Contact Colleen at colleenlilayoga@gmail.com or (860) 868-3546 |
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Darlene Carman Darlene is a Lotus Gardens certified yoga instructor teaching private, corporate and public classes. In the ten years Darlene has taught yoga, her style has evolved from a strong fitness flow into a mind-fullness based practice of alignment. Darlene has studied advanced body work techniques and Thai Yoga. Contact Darlene at darcarmen@gmail.com |
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Penny J. Cidri Penny brings gentleness and compassion to her work in helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle. She earned her Health Fitness Specialist Certification through the American College of Sports Medicine and her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification under the direction of Lara Ward. In 2009, Penny continues to share her knowledge and passion for wellness and became a Certified Wellness Coach. As a former 9-to-5-er, she understands the necessity of keeping the body flexible and fit when much of our lives are spent close behind a desk. As a health and fitness enthusiast, Penny has successfully motivated many students of varying abilities and ages, providing them with the tools necessary to achieve their individual goals and stay active for a lifetime.Contact Penny at (203) 240-5069 or pcidri@att.net |
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Sara Holland - M.Ed. Sara is the owner of Growing Tree Yoga, llc and a firm
believer in
the connections between the mind and body, a passion that has inspired
her work with athletes from the elementary to collegiate level. As an
active child, Sara learned about the life lessons that physical
activities can generate: lessons in self-esteem, positive thinking and
imagery, self-discipline, teamwork, confidence, goal-setting, and a
love for an active, healthy lifestyle. Sara earned her B.A. in
psychology from the Univ. of Kansas and her M.Ed., specializing in
motor learning, from the Univ. of Virginia. Her resume includes
physical education instructor (K-4 and 7-8) at St.
Anne’s-Belfield School, Charlottesville, VA and assistant
softball coach at Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX and the Univ. of
Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Her love for working with children
also inspired her to begin a business dedicated to the well-being of
children and their families, after having observed the need to
emphaisze physical activities in young children. Sara is
certified through Karma Kids Yoga, YogaEd and Lotus Gardens 200 Hour
Yoga Teacher Trainings and is member of American Association of Health,
Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Sara is also certified
in Infant/child and Adult CPR. |
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Pat Lund By incorporating yoga into her daily fitness agenda, Pat has
achieved a sense of peace and balance that she now enjoys sharing with
her students. For thirty years, while Pat's career kept her confined to
a desk and computer, yoga was her place of peace. As a 200 Lotus
Gardens certified yoga instructor, Pat's outlook on life has changed
dramatically. In these "later years" when many of her colleagues are
looking toward retirement, Pat feels she is on the threshold of a whole
new, exciting, and very active life. Combining a light hearted, fun
teaching style with knowledge and experience of "the office place", Pat
creates a practice that can be surmised as a fountain of youth. |
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Jody Murray, M.A., L.Ac., A.T. C. Ms. Murray is a National Board Certified, Licensed
Acupuncturist, with additional training in Chinese Herbology from New
York College of Health Professionals along with post graduate training
in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics Jody
earned her Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and is a
Nationally
Certified Athletic Trainer. Jody gained years of experience
working for Danbury Orthopedics where she continues a reciprocal
connection working with the Doctors to improve client health. She
has a private practice in Brookfield, CT. |
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Anne Novak, R.Y.T Anne is a certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher, a Member of the
Yoga
Alliance, an ACE-Certified Personal Fitness Trainer with a background
in physical therapy and a certified Hypnotherapist, who has been
working in the health and fitness industry for over twenty years. Anne
teaches students of all levels of fitness and experience and focuses on
creating an environment that is safe, accessible and effective for all.
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Gloria Owens Gloria Owens is a co-owner of YogaSpace, a thriving studio in
Brookfield, CT and a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor who has been
teaching yoga since 1994. Her accessible & compassionate teaching
style is grounded in Kripalu's non-judgmental approach, and her joyful
classes also draw inspiration from her studies with Angela Farmer,
Lilias Folan and Daniel Leven as well as many dance and movement forms
including Kripalu YogaDance, Figure Skating and more. Gloria weaves
together yoga, expressive movement, energy awareness, conscious
self-reflection and creative visualization for a rich and varied yogic
experience that awakens the body's innate inner wisdom. As a talented
graphic designer, artist and photographer, Gloria brings her playful,
creative spirit to each class, and invites students to do the same. In
addition, she offers a wealth of practical knowledge about running
& marketing a successful yoga business.You can find out more about
Gloria and YogaSpace at www.yogaspace-ct.com. P.S. Gloria also designed
this website! |
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Elaina Weiser Elaina began
practicing yoga during her pregnancy with her second child and from the
first class she was hooked. As her love for yoga grew, it was a
natural progression into teaching. She completed her 200 hour
teacher training with Lara Ward of Lotus Gardens Yoga School in 2006
and has been enjoying teaching ever since. She is a registered
yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance. Yoga coupled with her
Bachelors Degree in Social Work, provides for a loving, nurturing
practice with a sense of humor mixed in. One of the things Elaina loves
most about yoga is the fact that anyone can practice no matter your
age, physical ability of flexibility. A motto she lives by is "do
what you can, with what you have, where you are." by Theodore
Roosevelt. For her this quote means staying present and working
to your ability in all things. She firmly believes that yoga can
easliy be taken "off the mat" and into everyday life. This is
proven every day in juggling life with her 3 young children.
Contact Elaina at |
