Teacher Training Program Information

Tuesday Evening Information Sessions: Please join us on Tuesdays at 6:45 for informational sessions with Paula Scopino, owner and director of Sacred Rivers Yoga. She will answer any questions about the 200 or 500 hour Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher training program. Please call 860.657.9545 to register for the information session or to set up an appointment at an alternate time.

Click here to learn about our Holistic Yoga Therapy Teacher Training

Read what people are saying about the Teacher Training Program at SRY

200 and 500 hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training or Personal Growth Training

• All Teacher Training Programs are Ongoing.

• We offer both weekday and weekend teacher training to help fit your schedule

• The 200 hour week day training is offered once a week on Thursdays and can be completed in 6 1/2 months (versus 12).

• The 500 hour week day training is offered once a week on Fridays and will be able to be completed in 13 months (versus 18).

• The day will begin at 9 am and end at 5 pm, with a break for lunch.

• The weekend training occurs one weekend a month. 200 hour training and 500 hour training will occur on the same weekend

The 2009 and 2010 Teacher Training Weekend dates are as follows:

Remaining 2009 Dates:

• November 21 & 22

• December 12 & 13

2010 Dates:

• January 16 & 17

• February 6 & 7

• March 13 & 14

• April 24 & 25

• May 15 & 16

• June 19 & 20

• July 17 & 18

• August 14 & 15

• September 18 & 19

• October 16 & 17

• November 13 & 14

• December 11 & 12

Tuition Costs

200 Hour: $2100.00 if paid in full up front via cash, check, or credit card
$400 savings if paid in full. $2500.00 if split into 3 consecutive payments of $850.00 apiece.
500 Hour: $3100.00 if paid in full up front via cash, check, or credit card
$400 savings if paid in full.  $3500 .00 if split into 4 consecutive payments of $875.00 apiece.

200 Hour
This 200 hour in depth study qualifies you to become certified as a beginning Yoga teacher and is in compliance with the standards of the nationally recognized Yoga Alliance. You will receive the 200 Hour Yoga Alliance Certificate upon successful completion of the program, as well as credit towards the 500 hour Advanced Training.

You will be granted the use of the Alliance Registry Mark -RYT 200. Yoga Alliance actively works to maintain a national registry of Yoga teachers and schools who meet the Alliance's recommended educational standards. It is dedicated to uphold the integrity of yoga, to provide support, to educate the public about the benefits of yoga, and to provide a vehicle for those who teach yoga to come together in unity while supporting the diversity that exists within the yoga community.

This program is also recommended for any serious Yoga student who wishes to deepen his or her practice and transform their life through personal growth and self discovery, or to follow the yogic path.

There is an application process for the year long program and students hoping to attend should have practiced and studied yoga for a minimum of six months.

500 Hour
For the first time in Connecticut, 500 Hour Yoga Alliance Teacher Training is available here, only at Sacred Rivers. Please call 860-657-9545 for information.

Books: Visit the "SHOP" section of our website for the required and optional reading lists - you can purchase the books online through Sacred Rivers Yoga and Amazon.com.

Instructors:

Susan McChristy Baldwin,OTR/L,RYT200
Yoga has had ever growing influence in my life after over twelve years work as an occupational therapist and previous occupations as musician, jeweler, teacher and mother. Yoga became a regular part of my life in 2002 when living in Scotland, and its presence has grown steadily since that time. When Sacred Rivers first offered 200 hour teacher training, the time and place were aligned for further expansion of my budding Yoga practice.

My occupational therapy practice has been primarily with adult populations who experience mental, physical, and spiritual health issues. My work over recent years has taken me to hospitals, nursing homes, private residences, universities, yoga and music studios, and several continents. Yoga brings a sense of being centered and here, now! into interactions with others. It provides new ways to look at living and dying, including breath, structure, alignment, relaxation, strength, endurance, focus, nutrition, acceptance, release, balance, and much more. Yoga has great value for health care professionals as we care for ourselves and others, seeking greater health. Yoga provides new and ancient tools for the job of living – for all of us.

Ann Marie Bazzano And Karen Mack-Piacentini (Restorative Yoga)
Ann Marie Bazzano, RYT, has completed 200 hr teacher certification and is currently working on her 500 hr certification with Kim Valeri of Yoga Spirit. Ann incorporates many styles of yoga practice in her teaching including Iyengar, Kundalini, and Ashtanga. Her eclectic background and open heart brings a wonderful nurturing flow to her teaching. She is a certified prenatal yoga teacher and has also studied Meridian Yoga, restorative yoga, and Yoga Therapy.

Karen Mack- Piacentini M.S., RYT 200 hr, has been studying yoga since 1994 and completed her teacher certification in Anusara-influenced Hatha yoga in 2001. Ansuara means flowing with Grace orflowing from your Heart. Karen brings this heart centered practice to her teaching. Her warmth, compassion, and humor encourages people to explore their true potential and touch their true nature ~ joy. She works with the universal principles of alignment to safely explore the body in each posture (asana). Karen is also a certified Chakra yoga instructor and has completed Level 1 and 2 of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training.

Ann and Karen's shared passion for helping others restore the rhythm of rest in their lives shines through in their teaching. Their teaching styles blend beautifully to create a safe, fun, and peaceful environment in which to explore the yogic path. They offer classes in restorative yoga, partner yoga, and parent and child yoga. Karen and Ann are recipients of 2005 Teaching for Diversity grant from Kripalu Teachers Association for their work bringing yoga to under privileged mothers and children in the Middletown area of CT.

Patricia DiFazio (Yogic Philosophy and Meditation) has been practicing yoga for 25 years and has been living a yogic lifestyle for the last 15 years. Patty has studied yoga with many of the great yogic masters of India. She has traveled to India seven times where she lived in an ashram. She was certified as a yoga instructor through the Yoga Institute in Houston, Texas and also through the Atma Vidya Ashram. Patty continues to study with her teacher Swamini Lalitanada of the Atma Vidya Ashram. It was her guru Swamini Lalitananda who gave Patty her spiritual name Divya Jyoti which means Divine Light. This personal, in depth spiritual teaching has prepared Divya to teach yogic philosophy and meditation techniques as well as lead asana.

Rick Haesche (The Art & Science of Traditional Thai Massage) Rick completed his initial massage training at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1994, where he was first introduced to Thai Massage during his last term of study. His interest in this beautiful and ancient body work led him to study Thai Massage in Boston, MA, and eventually in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1997. He has been teaching Thai Massage workshops to massage therapists throughout New England since 1999. Rick is a nationally certified, Connecticut state licensed massage therapist, and has a practice at Sacred Rivers Yoga.

Margo Hennebach, GCFP, LGSM(MT) is a founding member of the international trio, Mad Agnes, and a lifelong movement lover, especially yoga, dance, and Salsa. With a BM in Piano and a graduate degree in Music Therapy, she has been a Feldenkrais Practitioner since 2003. She teaches classes and workshops throughout CT and maintains a private practice in Bloomfield, CT. For more info, visit http://margohennebach.com/margo/fw/ or call 860-206-2746.

Kate Keefe
Spiritually known as Dhanya Devi - discovered her personal path with yoga in 2000 as a form of stress management while employed in an acute geriatric-psychiatric setting. In 2002 she received her first and second teacher trainings in YogaFit and began teaching yoga as a form of wellness to her co-workers in the health-care field.

She attended additional trainings in YogaFit Level III to deepen her practice and further her teaching skills. Through self study and a desire deepen spiritual practice she came to Sacred Rivers in 2006 and completed her 200 hour RYT in Hatha Yoga in 2007. Through further study of the condition of osteoporosis, she completed training at Kripalu in Bone Camp - Advanced Movement Concepts for Skeletal Health (Safe Yoga for Osteoporosis) with Sara Meeks, RPT RYT. Additionally, she is pursuing a Level I certification in Osteoporosis Rehabilitation in the Meeks Method.

Dhanya Devi is trained to teach Tai Chi for arthritis, Certified to teach Tai Chi for Osteoporosis and Falls Prevention, Certified as a Move Beyond Pain Clinician (chronic pain exercise and education), Shamballa Reiki level I and II certified and Basic Therapeutic Touch Practitioner.

In her current practice she works as an Occupational Therapist and Serves as the Director of Resident Services at Southington Care Center. She facilitates wellness and pain management both in the community and in the long term care setting. She continues to explore her personal path with self-study and exploration of Hinduism and Vedanta with her spiritual mentor Divya Jyoti. In March 2010, she will complete her Yoga therapy certification in "Yoga of the Heart" with Nischala Joy Devi.

Marybeth Keener (Eating for Wholeness)
Marybeth Keener, LMT, CCH, AADP is a biochemist with over 20 years experience working with the nutrition and cosmetics industries. She is a Traditional Asian Medicine Practioner who blends her knowledge of modern nutrition with the 3,000 year old healing modality of Asian medicine to create personalized wellness programs that help clients address root causes of imbalance and move toward wellness.
Learn more about Marybeth by visiting her website at www.wellnessthroughbalance.com

Swamini Lalitananda-(History, Philosophy, Styles of Yoga)
Education: Andhra University - Andhra Pradesh, India, V. Yoa Research Institute Tirapathi, India, Swami Shivananda Ashram Uttar Kashi India, Swami Dayananda Ashram Rishikesh, India and Arsh Vidya Gurukulum, Sailorburg, PA, USA, Kailash Ashram Rishikesh, India, Swami Dayananada Ashram, Anaikatti Tamil Nadu , India, Swami Lalitananda received a master degree in yoga and philosophy and was initiated into Sannyas in Shivananda Ashram
Experience: Andhra University, Andra Pradesh India: taught yoga studies, philosophy, and yogic sciences. Manhattan, New York, Shivananda Yoga Vedanta Center: taught yoga, Vedanta and sanskrit for eight years. Hindu University, Orland, Florida: taught sanskrit, yoga, meditation, sloka chanting, devotional singing, yoga nidra, Patanjali’s yoga sutras. University of Connecticut: guest lecturer in Vedanta, yoga and meditation. Founded the Atma Vidya Ashram in year 2000.

Jack Lynch (Ashtanga) received his formal training from renowned teachers Beryl Bender Birch and David Swenson. These accomplished mentors have instilled in Jack a deep understanding of the ancient Ashtanga system (both first and second series), and imparted an abundance of skillful adjustment techniques.

Jack has also studied with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Ana Forrest, Nancy Gilgoff and Doug Swenson. Through Continuous study and practice he is able to offer not only primary and second series Ashtanga classes, but also unique classes inspired by these other distinguished teachers.

You will enjoy the way Jack's sense of humor and compassion puts you at ease while fostering a safe environment in which to work the body.

Michael Pierce, MD
Michael Pierce, MD is a Psychiatrist practicing in Glastonbury. He is a Clinical Associate at the Western New England Institute for Psychoanalysis in New Haven, CT, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a member of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, International Neuro-Psychoanalytic Association, Association for Humanistic Psychology, International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine, and the Association for Transpersonal Psychology.

Michael values a holistic approach, which he brings to his practice. Extending his traditional training and interest in the mind and the brain, he has explored many alternative and complementary therapies. He has received the Munay Ki rites, a second level Reiki attunement, and has studied the Art of Living Foundation's sudarshan kriya, and Anodea Judith's chakra teachings, among others. He has been a yoga practitioner for a number of years after personally experiencing a number of positive changes. Michael maintains a private practice at 25 Concord Street, Glastonbury, CT.

Dr. Michael Reife (Anatomy and Physiology) is an adjunct associate professor of basic and clinical sciences at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic. He is an adjunct instructor in the Masters of neuroscience program at the University of Hartford.
Dr. Reife has board certification as a diplomate in the American chiropractic academy of neurology and is in private practice in Marlborough, CT.

Paula Scopino (Yoga For Every Body, Yoga Therapies, etc.) Paula Scopino is the Owner/Director of Sacred Rivers. Paula was inspired at a young age by her parent's spiritual explorations and discovered yoga at age 19. She has been a student of yoga since 1976 and has been teaching since 1978 after receiving her first certification with Ruth Bender (pre-Kripalu).
Paula has taught in many different settings, including corporations, hospitals, and fitness and rehabilitation centers. She has studied many different yoga styles all over the country and has been inspired and influenced by numerous wonderful teachers. Her love and interest of yoga, movement, and energy led her to study massage therapy, Reiki, Feldenkrais, and Pilates.

Paula is a Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher - 500 hour, and is a certified Cardiac Yoga Teacher, having studied Yoga of the Heart with Nischala Joy Devi (the stress management portion of the Dr. Dean Ornish program). Paula does yoga therapy for heart disease and cancer, and yoga therapy for chronic conditions, back problems, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. She teaches prenatal yoga, yoga for children, and yoga for 60,70, and beyond.

Paula graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1989 and is a Connecticut licensed massage therapist and member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She also assists her brother Rick Haesche in teaching the Art of Traditional Thailand Massage in massage therapy schools as a part of their regular and continuing education curriculum. In addition, she is certified in Karuna and Usui Reiki. She has maintained a private practice since 1989.

Anne Stamatakis (Subtle Energy Anatomy) has 27 years of experience in complementary touch therapies in England and California. She is a CT licensed massage therapist and Certified Healing Touch Practitioner and has a private practice in Rocky Hill. Her additional studies and international affiliations with spiritual teachers and relationship trainers have given her a well-balanced blend of modern, traditional and intuitive methods of natural healing. Anne's focus will be on teaching energy medicine and a heightened awareness of the subtle bodies. The chakras and the human aura, the electromagnetic energy field around and inside of us, will be explained and demonstrated throughout this series of classes. Anne will encourage you to directly apply this valuable knowledge to your relationship with your body, emotions, mental beliefs, spirituality and yoga practice. She loves yoga, loves life and firmly believes in the healing power of keeping a sense of humor.

Susan Taff (Kinesiology) Susan Taff holds a Masters degree in Counseling from Southern Connecticut State University and a Masters degree in Public Health from Yale University. Susan has been practicing massage therapy for 12 years, teaching kinesiology and massage therapy courses. She has also studied and has been teaching yoga in the style of B. K. S. Iyengar since 1989. She brings to her yoga teaching her years of study and interest in anatomy and movement. Susan especially enjoys adapting yoga asanas for students with physical limitations.

David Tinklepaugh, MD
"Happiness lies first of all, in health". –George William Curtis

"I have loved this quote from the moment I first read it. So much so that it has become the guiding principle behind my work in health and wellness. There is deep wisdom in this quote, as the link between health and happiness is as fundamental as that between sunlight and warmth. I have a particular vantage point from which to observe this relationship, that of a neurologist caring every day for those with devastating illness and disability. I have concluded that it is far more useful to try and maintain good health, or promote even better health, than to wait for illness to befall. One of the main obstacles to promoting wellness is that most healthy people don't think about their future health. Because optimal health requires a long term plan and dedication, it is difficult for busy people to commit to new life patterns of behavior. So it is that I have decided to try and combine education about illness and prevention with motivation and guidance in health."

Dr. Tinklepaugh was an undergraduate at the University of Washington, receiving a bachelor of science in zoology. He received his MD from the University of Virginia, and completed a neurology residency at Yale New Haven. Following residency, he took a fellowship in neuromuscular function and disease, also at Yale New Haven. He is currently board certified in Neurology and Psychiatry and is in private practice in Norwich, CT. Dr. Tinklepaugh cares for patients with all types of neurologic illnesses but integrates traditional medicine with alternative approaches to health.

Lectures Taught by Dr. Tinklepaugh:
1. Brain health, preventing dementia and expanding your mind.
2. Neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and others
3. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, etc.
4. Peripheral nerve diseases such as neuropathy (numb and tingling feet and hands), carpal tunnel, etc.
5. Headaches and spine pain syndromes, including anatomy and physiology
6. General nervous system physiology or how it works and how nutrition and exercise impact function and disease
7. Nervous system and supplements
8. Epilepsy

Emily Walker began practicing yoga in 1995, while a student in law school. She quickly became interested in anatomy & precise body alignment. Emily began teaching yoga in 2005 and now specializes in yoga therapeutics ~ healing the body with asana. She is trained in precise biomechanical instruction for in-depth asana instruction with a focus on anatomy & physiology as well as therapeutics, advanced pranayama, and contemplation/meditation techniques.

Having suffered and healed from her own chronic neck issues as well as a severe shoulder injury, she now heals others with chronic pain and injuries. With yoga becoming more popular every year, yoga injuries are correspondingly on the rise. Neck pain & shoulder injuries are some of the most common injuries that yoga practitioners experience.

Understanding proper upper body alignment will help heal injuries as well as correct habitual misalignments that lead to head, neck, shoulder & back complaints. Once an understanding of shoulder alignment is reached, it is important to build strength while incorporating the alignment principles. This can be accomplished with specific Yoga Therapy exercises designed to target the muscles of the rotator cuff, as well as by practicing yoga with the basic alignment tools necessary to heal & prevent injuries.

Emily's first Yoga Alliance Teacher Training was with Mitchel Bleier (Senior Certified Anusara™). In 2005 she was certified in flow/vinyasa style yoga. She went on to study Therapeutics with Mitchel Bleier and worked with several chiropractors and physical therapists to complement her Therapeutics Training. She is currently completing her Level 2 Teacher Training in Anusara Yoga with Sara Rose, Douglas Brooks & Darren Rhodes at Yoga Sanctuary – Northampton, MA.