Training Instructors

Danny Arguetty is a yoga teacher and workshop presenter at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. His yoga training spans a wide range of topics and he has had the privilege to teach and be intricately involved with teacher training programs both at Kripalu Center, Todd Norian and Ann Greene of Anusara, as well as extensive study with Shiva Rea. His deepest passion in yoga is to support yoga teachers in expanding their practice while integrating effective use of yoga philosophy, themes and dynamic language into their classes. His book Nourishing the Teacher: Inquiries, Insights, and Contemplations on the Path of Yoga is a resource on the above topics for teachers, as well as a wonderful wellspring of inspiration for students.

Dr. Brett M. Carr (Anatomy and Physiology) graduated from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic and continued to earn a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport Nutrition Institute. he also completed post-graduate classes in nutrition, detoxification, weight control, rehabilitation, and sports. He is presently an Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic, and a Basic Sciences Instuctor at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy.

Andrew Burkamp is a Certified Kriya Yoga Teacher and Licensed Psychotherapist. His work is influenced by teachers from Eastern & Western traditions including experienced therapists, Master Yogis, and Native American Shamans. For over a decade he has worked with children, adults, couples and families, addressed addiction in various communities, and taught yoga & parenting groups.

Suzanne Choate has practiced yoga since 2000, and completed her first teacher training in 2004 with David Swenson.  She has been teaching ever since. Suzanne graduated from the 200-hour embodyoga® Teacher Training Program. She is continuing to study with Beryl Bender Birch at The Hard and the Soft Yoga Institute, working toward her 500-hour certification.Suzanne has found that practicing yoga creates a healthier and more balanced body, mind and spirit. She believes that everyone’s journey and needs are different and she caters every class to those attending.  Show up on your mat and continue your journey.

Sharon Cormier is a graduate of the 200 and 500 Sacred Rivers Yoga Teacher Training and has studied Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley and taken teacher training with Sarah Powers that includes the meridian work associated with Yin Yoga. She has also been fortunate to attend trainings led by two well-known teachers: T.K.V. Desikachar and Gary Kraftsow.   She has studied meditation with Lama Surya Das.Sharon is a practicing Buddhist and views the yogic teachings of the Brahma Viharas (Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Friendly Joy and Equanimity) as the basis for a healthy, peaceful and joyful life.   Her book, “Where The Lotus Blooms:  Finding Inner Peace Through Mindfulness, Yoga and Meditation” was recently published and is the basis for her creation of Wholeness Yoga.

Bridget D’Arco is an RN, registered Structural Yoga teacher, and wellness consultant. She is dedicated to providing yoga, fitness, aromatherapy and wellness programs that help students attain their goals safely and enjoyably, in a supportive and empowering environment and forever dedicated to making a difference.

Gauri DesRochers RYT -500 is a mantra instructor. YTT presenter and a Jyotisha (eastern astrologer). Jyotish means eyes or light of God. Gauri has been practicing yoga, mantra and meditation for over 23 years. She was influenced by Namadeva Acharaya or Thomas Ashley Farrand who taught mantras. Gauri spent most of the last ten years in India at her guru’s ashram chanting millions of mantras as well as doing other austerities which makes her teaching very authentic and brings the energy to the students from her associated lineage as a gurukula or satsang. As a Jyotisha, she was trained in India directly by a monastic. She was trained internally for yoga asana, which she has been practicing since age 13. Gauri leads Vedic ceremonies, and is also trained in Ayurveda. Gauri works with individuals on 40 day cycles to help them with their asana routine, yoga therapy, yogic diet according to the scriptures, mantras, pranayama and appropriate daily steps to weed out deep karma. Gauri’s mission is to use Jyotish to help people understand their karma and spiritual lessons for this lifetime and then use mantras to help burn their karma and work towards liberation. www.gaurismantrameditation.com | mantra.meditation1008@gmail.com

Jennifer Errickson completed her 200 hour teacher training at Sacred Rivers Yoga. She teaches the mom and baby series classes, All Levels Flow, and an Intro to Flow Series. Jennifer’s classes provide a supportive environment for mothers to explore yoga as they move, breathe, and connect with their little ones. Her background is in the field of education where she holds a Master’s Degree as well as experience as a classroom teacher. Teaching yoga has allowed Jennifer to use these skills and her own experience as a mom while bringing the beautiful gift of yoga into the lives of new mothers.

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.

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.

Marcie Mauro, RYT, CMMS, CMBM is a graduate of the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program of Sacred Rivers Yoga. Having been a wellness professional for the past 8 years, she has experienced first-hand what it’s like to struggle to turn her passion for holistic health into a profitable, sustainable business. Over the years Marcie has identified many common core challenges for feminine entrepreneurs by gathering tremendous experiences as a mental health professional, credentialed Yoga teacher, former personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and as a Corporate Wellness Program Coordinator for a Fortune 500 Company. She invested in herself through elite mentorship programs which taught her necessary skills for running a successful business – while still feeling authentic as a divine feminine being. Creator of the Holistic Business School Series™ – Marcie is a certified Money Breakthrough Method Coach®, is completing credentialing as a Money, Marketing and Soul Coach®, and is a member of the the International Association of Women in Business Coaching (IAWBC). As a business success coach, it’s her mission to help other service-based feminine entrepreneurs be paid well for their gifts while fulfilling their Purpose and helping more people.

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.

Lucy Rosenblatt, MA, LPC, LADC is a licensed psychotherapist who has been a practicing in the Greater Hartford area for 30 years. She is also a certified Yoga Meets Dance(tm) instructor and a 200 hour certified Creative Kids Yoga(tm) teacher. In 2008 Lucy combined her therapeutic skills with her dance and yoga experience to create a program of yoga and movement for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Lucy’s program became part of a research study on the effects of such a program on both the behavioral and core features of Autism. A paper reporting on this research was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in November, 2011. For more information, including the text of the article you may visit Lucy’s website at http://www.yogamovementtherapy.com/classes-workshops/yoga-for-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/.

Sarajean Rudman is a talented and enthusiastic 500-hour Kripalu-trained yoga teacher and a graduate of the Kripalu School of Ayurveda Health Counselor program.  She has over a decade of experience in personal training and group fitness.  An avid runner and hiker, Sarajean also is completing her graduate studies in Human Nutrition to become a Certified Nutritionist.  Sarajean’s compassion and warmth builds upon her commitment to fitness and wellness making her a formidable guide and companion on anyone’s road towards health and happiness.

Paula Scopino, E-RYT 500 hour, C-IAYT, CT Licensed LMT, YACEP Paula is the Owner/Director of Sacred Rivers Yoga and Allied Health Therapies. Paula is also the owner and director of ‘Sacred Rivers Yoga for Every Body’, a Yoga Alliance 200 and 500 Hour Registered School, as well as a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapy.) Paula was recently awarded her C-IAYT (Certified Yoga Therapist) by IAYT. Sacred Rivers Yoga is also a member school with IAYT, currently pursuing their accreditation. Paula also founded the ‘Yoga Therapy Public Clinic’ at ‘Sacred Rivers Yoga and Allied Health Therapies” for members of the public to come and receive free supervised yoga therapy consultations and practices. This is a win-win for the public as well as SRY teacher training students as they gain experience with different bodies and medical health conditions, learn how to do a health history intake, conduct research, etc. She is also currently enrolled in the IFM (Institute for Functional Medicine) Functional Medicine Coaching Academy, recognizing the rapidly expanding growth of Functional Medicine as the model for 21st century healthcare that both prevents and reverses chronic disease by treating root causes of illness with diet and lifestyle change. Paula was inspired at a young age by her parent’s spiritual explorations. 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, energy and nutrition have led her to study yoga, massage therapy and bodywork modalities, Reiki, (‘Master’) Feldenkrais, Pilates, functional medicine, nutrition, and positive psychology.

Paula has been a student of yoga since 1976 and has been teaching continuously since 1978 after receiving her first certification with Ruth Bender (pre Kripalu). Ruth Bender studied with Selvarjan Yesudian, who had a medical therapeutic approach to yoga. In addition to being a Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher ( E- RYT 500 hour) she 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 teaches 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. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (www.IAYT.org).

Paula would like to acknowledge the following teachers with deep thanks and gratitude: my Parents, Agnes and Richard Haesche, my Son, F. Daniel Scopino, Richard Hittleman, Clare Matthews, Ruth Bender, Baron Baptiste, Bikram, Viraj, Beryl Bender Berch, John Schumacher, Doug Swenson, Larry Payne, Lilias Folan, Judith Lasater, Rama Berch, Nischala Joy Devi, Dr. Dean Ornish, Ram Dass, the Iyengar Institute of San Francisco, Anya Foos, Patricia Walden, Bo Forbes, Barbara Benagh , Ravi Singh, Kripalu!, Seane Corne, Shiva Rea, Paul Grilley, Gary Kraftskow, Baxter Bell, and so many others too numerous to mention…Paramahansa Yogananda, Joel Goldsmith, and others in Spirit.❤️

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.

Graduate Testimonials

Linda

“My participation in the program over this past year, has had powerful influences for me. I’ve appreciated the input from teachers, co-students and reading. Thank you for all the loving care that you pour into making the program so deeply comprehensive.”

Contact us
Address:
28 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118
Phone:
860.657.9545