Lisa Bizier, B.S. - Teacher Training Faculty
Lisa is a registered Respiratory Therapist and instructs anatomy and physiology of the respiratory and circulatory systems along with breathing techniques. She was a clinical Respiratory Therapist for Danbury Hospital in ICU, Neonatal Care, and the E.R. for seven years. Ms. Bizier works in private practice with Western Connecticut Pulmonologist.

Colleen Breeckner - Teacher Training Faculty
As a young woman Colleen bgan 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 & Yogic philosphy in a variety of traditions.  Collen is a single mother of a spirited young boy.   Once becoming a mother she quickly realize dthat practicin g yoga and meditation enabled her not only keep 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. 

Sarah Britton, R.Y.T. - Corporate Yoga Teacher & Teacher Training Faculty
Sarah is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor who received her training at Lotus Gardens. Her accessible teaching style is reflective of her ten years of personal experience and her great passion for the transformational power of yoga. She incorporates asana (postures) with pranayama (breathing techniques) to quiet the mind and relax the body. She teaches students of all ages and all levels in the Hartford, CT area.

Penny J. Cidri - Corporate & Special Needs Yoga Teacher
Penny brings gentleness and compassion to her work in helping people maintain a healthy lifestyle. She earned her Health/Fitness Instructor Certification through the American College of Sports Medicine and her 200 Yoga Teacher Certification under the direction of Lara Ward. Penny enjoys sharing her knowledge and passion for exercise and yoga. 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, to stay active for a lifetime.

Jacqueline Flynn, D.C. - Teacher Training Faculty
Dr. Flynn is the Founder and director of the Balanced Body Wellness Center. She graduated from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic suma cum laude. The center is a realization of her vision to bring various healing practices to the community. Dr. Flynn is a board-certified Chiropractic Physician. She treats a variety of health issues through chiropractic techniques, rehabilitative exercises, and individualized nutritional counseling.

Kristi Gunnarshaug - Corporate Yoga Teacher
Kristi is a graduate of Lotus Gardens' 200 Hour Certification program and is currently working on her 500 hour certificate.  She is a graduate of Connecticut Center of Massage Therapy in Newington, CT. Kristi has a passion for yoga that came through her practice several years ago. She fell in love with yoga due to the over-whelming feeling of peace and acceptance that te yoga practice gave her.  She has taught classes to different populations from those with physical disabilities to 'seasoned' yogis, from children to teens to adults.  She teaches with a light sense of humor while holding the practice sacred at the same time.  Kristi's made a commitment to always teach with as much compassion and understanding as possible, encouraging all to look within and acknowledge the beauty and light we all hold.  Namaste.

Sara Holland - M.Ed. Growing Lotus Kids Certification Faculty 
Sara is 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 herself who was exposed to a variety of fitness  opportunities, Sara learned about the life lessons that sports and 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. There are benefits she wants to share with young people and adults.   As a former physical educator and coach with six years of experience, Sara's work has drawn upon her education background in child development, exercise and education.  She received her B.A. in psychology from the University of Kansas and her M.Ed, specializing in motor learning, from the University of Virginia.  Her resume as a teacher and coach include experiences as aphysical education instructor (K-4 and 7-8th grades) at St. Anne's-Belfield School, Charlottesville, VA; assistant softball coach at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX: and assistant softball coach at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. Sara also played softball at the University of Kansas garnering several athletic and academic honors.  

Sara's love for yoga and movement were inspired by her participation in variety of fitness activities over the years:  gymnastics, dance, softball, swimming, basetball, track, tae kwon do, volleyball, and tennis.  Each of these requires flexibility, self discipline, focused attention and self confidence.  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.

Pat Lund- Corporate Yoga Teacher
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 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!

Jody Murray, M.A., L.Ac., A.T., C - Teacher Training Faculty
Ms. Murray is a National Board Certified, Licensed Acupuncturist, with additional training in Chinese Herbology. She has post graduate training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics. Jody also holds an advanced degree in Exercise Physiology and is a Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer.

Stina Reed, R.N. - Teacher Training Faculty
Stina is a  Kundalini-certified Yoga instructor and an RN (registered nurse). She completed a year of teacher-training with Ravi Singh and attends Kundalini intensives and workshops all over the country.

Will Ward, L.M.T. * Couples & Partners Workshops
Will graduated from Connecticut Center of Massage Therapy in 1996.  Will is an experienced massage therapist specializing in Myofacial release.  He has worked as a Chriopractic Assistant teaching clients rehabilitative exercises with Dr. Edward Geddis.  Studying Contact Yoga with its founder Nateshvar Ken Scott, Will is very pleased to share his knowledge and experience with his wife Lara to bring fun and joyful workshops to yoga students and "new to yoga" students.