The Yoga House » Teachers

Teachers

Jacqui Nash

Through her teaching, Jacqui is inspired to help people find that same connection she felt upon her first yoga class. As an instructor, Jacqui weaves together mindfulness, alignment, and strength with softness in her flowing sequences. She guides students to move in harmony with their breath and to discover the obstacles and opportunities that are waiting to be met on and off the mat. Having sustained a serious arm injury, Jacqui knows how humbling the physical practice can be and encourages students to be sensitive to their bodies. As a trained Ashtanga teacher and with the experience teaching both advanced and beginner students, her classes are based on Vinyasa/Ashtanga styles for all levels.

When Jacqui is not teaching yoga, she manages an electrical contracting company, PAN ELDI, in Kingston, and enjoys time with her faithful dog and loving husband. Her journey with yoga is an ongoing adventure through the physical practice and everyday experiences, and she looks forward to sharing with students.

Leigha Butler

The first time Leigha took a yoga class, she felt she had somehow become more herself. Since then, she has observed that yoga has the power to align practitioners with their noblest intentions, their best selves. To share yoga, she believes, is to share joy and peace. Her classes are rhythmic, flowing and promise to challenge each student’s physical limits. She encourages students to modify, adjust or deepen postures to make the practice suit their bodies’ unique needs. She especially loves guiding students into inversions and arm balances.

Leigha writes about yoga, healing and wellness for Livestrong.com, Elephant Journal and local publications. When she’s not in the studio, she’s probably teaching literature or exploring the world on her kayak, in books or on foot with her dog Huck.

Stephanie Bifolco

Stephanie’s longing to live life from her heart has led her to discover many different techniques from Eastern and Western spiritual and wellness disciplines. She is eager to guide others to discover how these same disciplines can help them cultivate greater health and harmony in their lives. She has over 10 years experience promoting yogic practices, awareness techniques, and communication skills to individuals, groups, and organizations throughout the United States and Latin America. Stephanie is grateful for the guidance of her main teachers, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Dr. Douglas Brooks, Cate Stillman, and Christina Sell. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance and is a Certified Anusara-Inspired Yoga Teacher since 2008. Stephanie also has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Community Organizing.

Introducing Corinne, whose Sivananda class begins May 7th, 2013.

Corinne Maheshwari Cohen

After many years of studying dance in New York, Corinne started practicing yoga at Integral Yoga and Jivamukti in 1995. She completed the residential Sivananda teacher training in 2004. More recently, she took an immersion course and assisted senior teachers at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India. In addition, she has been studying Ashtanga and Vinyasa with many master teachers.

Corinne has nine years of teaching experience both locally and internationally. She has been teaching Vinyasa classes at Ashtanga Yoga of New Paltz. She has taught Hatha yoga at the Living Seed and various Sivananda ashrams. She has also led asana-intensive workshops at Yoga Vidya, Germany. Corinne’s classes focus on conscious breathing, relaxation and proper alignment in a compassionate style.

Introducing Michael, whose Thursday AM ”Yin Yang Yoga” class begins May 2nd, 2013.

Michael Gould

has been practicing yoga since 1999, when he tried it to reduce stress from his job. His love of the physical practice soon grew to include a love of the more spiritual and philosophical aspects, incorporating all of it into his daily life. He has studied all kinds of yoga styles, especially Anusara yoga, having completed the three Anusara immersions. He completed his teacher training with Michael Stein at the Ashtanga yoga studio in New Paltz, finding his voice as a yoga teacher by combining his natural attraction to playfulness, open heart, alignment-oriented sequences of poses, while building strength and flexibility, and encouraging self-discovery. He aspires to guide students to come to the same joy and fulfillment that he has found.

His “Yin Yang Yoga” class grew from his learning of the yin yoga principles as taught by Paul Grilley, making it a part of his own practice. He incorporated the ideas of Sarah Powers’ “Insight Yoga” practice into his teaching, which combines the yin yoga practice in the beginning of the class, progressing to the yang practice for the majority of the time. The yin yoga practice focuses on accessing the connective tissue in the joints, the bones, the cartilage, and ligaments, while the muscles are still cold, and doing it safely and therapeutically. This creates more space in the joints and freedom of movement, preparing the body for the very active, more muscular, faster-paced yang portion of the class. The inevitable results are a fit body, calm mind, and the connecting of the practice on the mat to our lives off the mat.

Introducing Katie, whose Saturday 4pm House Flow class begins May 4th, 2013.

Katie Fleissner

has been teaching yoga for 12 years. The seed of her practice began to germinate much earlier, in therapeutic explorations of movement, and a meditation practice which led to a residency at Zen Mountain Center in CA. In 2000 she was certified to teach Basic and Intermediate levels at Integral Yoga. Later the path led her to discover Vinyasa at Om Yoga Center, where she did her 3rd main training. She has also studied with Shiva Rea, Rodney Yee, Todd Norian, and others.

Her classes creatively draw upon many yoga styles as well as other somatic influences, including modern dance, Pilates and chi gung. She believes in yoga’s ability to foster a sense of community while simultaneously cultivating the awareness and tools with which to heal oneself! She works deeply with breath as waves of the ocean, drawing from its depth of emotional symbolism.

Craig Milano

In his practice, teachings, and in life, Jivamukti instructor Craig Milano tries to be as direct and straightforward as possible, searching for the most effective way of getting where he wants to go or needs to be. This search has led him to the practice and teaching of yoga, which he appreciates for its potential to help build awareness of body, mind, and of the world around and within us.

Much like Vinyasa yoga, Jivamukti offers a full and well rounded experience. You can expect from Craig’s class a fair amount of hands-on assists and a fair amount of rock ‘n’ roll playing for inspiration.

Cait Van Damm

Cait’s path to yoga began nearly ten years ago, when she first studied with Ami Jayaprada Hirchstein in New Paltz, NY. Trained in the Anusara method, she is dedicated to making conscious play available to all, and believes the healing and joy comes to us both on and off the mat when we engage the yogic superhero in each of us. When not practicing or teaching, Cait is pursuing a master’s degree in pediatric occupational therapy. She is particularly interested in making yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender or sexual orientation, or ability level.