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Jennifer Conner Jennifer first came to yoga seven years a go through watching yoga DVDs in hotel rooms while traveling often for her work. Having built a fifteen year career in a Fortune 5 company, and working in a high pressure environment, Jennifer developed a personal practice to help balance her life. Ultimately, she came to realize the benefit of a regular practice and the desire to study the philosophy of yoga… far beyond just mastering physical asana poses. Through encouraging introspection and connection to one’s self, Jennifer has an eclectic style of teaching and enjoys interweaving different disciplines into all levels of Vinyasa flow classes. With a personal philosophy that yoga is a preventative medicine as well as a healing modality, she structures classes that allow students to experience structure and flow, physical and emotional connection, and meditation to ultimately bridge the mind-body connection. Jennifer holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from N.C. State University and an M.B.A from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She graduates from Dover Yoga’s Training of Energy Flow 200 hour RYT program this June and is attending Rasamaya teacher training this summer. She wishes to thank her teachers: Carrie Tyler, Daniel Orlansky, and Jenn Brown for their knowledge, guidance, and inspiration. |
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Arielle Margot
Arielle (Eckhaus) Welch’s eclectic lifelong background in teaching and guiding children and adults in ski and water sports education eventually led her to practice yoga as a way to improve health, find clarity, and relieve pain and depression. She brings experience, insight, compassion and dedication to her entire practice of yoga. Her rich inner wisdom and over 250 hours of professional teacher training allow her to have a calm and unwavering supportive atmosphere in all her classes. Arielle currently teaches all levels of Vinyasa yoga, and Prenatal yoga. A dedicated ractitioner since 2001, Arielle has developed “the tools to be at peace… I’m empowered with the ability to heal myself and be really happy.” Arielle’s professional training includes Baron Baptiste’s Level I & Level II Teacher Training and Assistant Training, as well as studying Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga extensively with Coeli Marsh and Gregor Singleton at BPYI in Cambridge. She studied the Anusara yoga system with Todd Norian; and the blending of Vinyasa and Anusara yoga with Rolf Gates and Roman Spzond. As part of her continuing exploration, she plans to take a 200 hour Rasamaya Yoga Teacher Training with Carrie Tyler this year. Her desire is to share the “new possibilities” that yoga presents to those who will embrace it. She holds a certificate to teach Prenatal Yoga from Janice Clarfield, and trained with Tara Gruber and Leah Kalish to become a certified Yoga Ed Instructor for the Tools for Teachers program – which brings yoga to children in grades K-8 by training classroom teachers how to use yoga-based tools. Arielle plans to take Baby and Tot Itsy Bitsy Yoga Facilitator Training with Helen Garabedian this spring. Arielle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in rehabilitation from the University of Maine at Farmington. She is a Level 2 PSIA alpine ski instructor and Level I AASI snowboard instructor, and has taught skiing and snowboarding at Sugarloaf USA in Maine and Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. In addition to yoga, she works as a ski and snowboard instructor and supervisor at McIntyre Ski Area, and as an administrator and teacher in after-school programs, vacation programs and summer camps. |
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Barbara Sterling, Studio Owner Barbara started practicing yoga in 2004 as a way of healing from back surgery and overcoming challenges in her day to day encounters. So sure she would love it the moment she stepped on her mat, Barbara bought a 7-week membership to a local studio. Imagine her surprise and disappointment when she left the first class with the opposite reaction! It wasn't the physical aspect as much as the learning to breathe at the beginning and end of class that was more of a challenge. Actually sitting/lying still for more than a second and being in the moment was much more difficult than she could have imagined. However having been raised in a large family who understood "bang for buck" Barbara returned for the remaining 6 classes and never looked back. It was, as it turned out, exactly for her! The physical challenge that yoga offered was what Barbara was looking for to work through the kinks and healing of surgery. But the breathing and being present in each pose and moment went beyond anything she could have imagined and has continued to be her favorite part of the experience. Barbara has continued practicing all forms of yoga including a home practice and meditation. She joined Self Awakening as a student in January of 2009 when she entered the studio to purchase a gift certificate for a friend. The energy, teachers and overall first impression were so positive that she bought herself a monthly unlimited pass and never looked back. In July of 2009 Barbara was laid off from her high-level, high-pressure Human Resources position and purchased the studio in October of 2009. Barbara started teaching in December of 2009 and continues to learn , grow, and genuinely be honored by all that come to the studio. |
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Julia Finnegan, RYT Julia's practice and teaching sprouted in Boston in 2002 and has been teaching yoga since 2005. She obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education, but deviated from this path due injuries she picked up during her years in college playing Rugby. Gym workouts furthered her imbalances to injuries and were far too mundane. She discovered amazing weight management and strengthening through Vinyasa yoga and has furthered her studies since then to discover incredible flow and lightness in life. Since 2002 she has practiced various styles ranging from Restorative yoga toar Ashtanga to Vinyasa to Power, but she has found her passion to be in her eclectic style with the desire to bring the student into his or her own body. When this awareness is activated, many wonderful things can and do happen. She has realized the calm and peace yoga brings after a continued practice and wants to share this magic with as many as she can. Each class is based on the energy of the moment, and Julia enjoys bringing fun and lightness to her challenging class. Sometimes music is included only to enhance a particular class, but always there is emphasis on the breath. Although her class may be challenging, the intention behind them is to encourage the students to honor their body by resting when they need, and adversely pushing when they feel they should. Julia'sYoga education includes training and Study with Taylor and Phillipe Wells, Sara Meeks, Gurmukh, Ana Forrest, David Vendetti and Shiva Rea. She is certified with the Yoga Alliance. Julia has also discovered the joys of energy healing through becoming a Reiki Master and is currently exploring other healing modalities to deepen her work and practice. |
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Lynn Kennedy Lynn's yoga journey began in 2002. Formally trained through Yogafit, Lynn has also completed a Restorative Yoga workshop with Judith Lasater, founder of Yoga Journal and one of the nation's foremost yoga instructors. More recently, Lynn has been a student at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Cambridge, MA since 2006. She has completed both the Baptiste Teacher Training Program Level 1, as well as the Baptiste Assistant Training Program. Lynn is in ongoing training with Baron Baptiste and will attend Baptiste Teacher Training Level 2 in 2010. She also continues to study with Master Baptiste Instructor Claire Este-McDonald, Jane Cargill and Paula Harvey. She wishes to thank all her teachers for their knowledge and inspiration. Yoga is a gift for the body, mind and spirit. May you escape the chaos of your life and may you see, even for 60 minutes, just how incredible you really are. |
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Melissa Savoie, RYT Melissa Savoie began practicing yoga in 2003 and has since received her 200 hr. certification in Iyengar style with Yoga Spirit Studios,in Hamilton, MA with Kim Valeri. She has also completed 16 hrs. Lil’ Dancin’ Yogis, Training workshop by Color Me Yoga, LLC with Marsha Metzger. She continues her studies in Yoga and Philosophy. Melissa has a strong background in dance and Iyengar yoga. She seeks to promote body alignment awareness, with light flow style yoga to help promote strength, flexibility, and mind - body - breath awareness. Melissa is also a Pre-School Teacher at New England Montessori School of North Andover, MA. She is very excited to bring her love of teaching children and Yoga. Her kids yoga program begins in January 2009 here at Self Awakening Yoga Studio. |
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Christina Bias Christina Bias is a certified meditation teacher, hatha yoga instructor and Embodymentâ yoga therapist who has enjoyed being of service in the fitness and wellness industry for 25 years. She currently teaches both hatha yoga and yoga in the Svaroopaâ style. She began her path in Massachusetts in 1984 as an aerobics instructor and weight loss counselor, then moved to Northern California completing a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, becoming a full time, certified personal fitness trainer by profession. After working in the fitness industry and training formally in martial arts & tai chi for many years, it was her passion for the inner arts that led to a deeper exploration of yoga and it’s teachings. Among other styles of training, she has been formally trained in the style of Svaroopaâ yoga and meditation by Swamji Nirmalananda, formally Rama Berch, the founding member of Yoga Alliance. It is now Christina’s passion to share yoga and meditation with others as a pathway to personal transformation. Her sessions integrate foundational yogic principles and emphasize the development of an inspirational, transcendental and organic inner experience. |
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Matthew Morin My passion for Ashtanga grew fast and led me to the 40-hour Ashtanga Teacher Training program of the primary series. I am certified in the 40 Hour Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training of the Primary Series with David Swenson and Robin Anderson. After my completion of the Ashtanga Teacher Training program with Robin, I decided to expand my knowledge of teaching and completed the 200 Hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) at Robin’s. The Program consisted of Hatha Yoga teacher training, which includes Senior, Children’s, Prenatal, Chakra, and Restorative training. In April of 2009 I began teaching Ashtanga and beginner Hatha Yoga classes. Working to expand my knowledge base through my students and other yoga based classes; I hope to inspire others to tap into their own sense of awareness and begin to truly enjoy life through some sort of yoga practice. A good teacher is constantly learning from others and themselves. I look forward to continuously learning from others and aim to give others the same kinds of experiences as I am receiving from Yoga. Bill Peregoy began his
yoga practice in 2000. At the start, he used yoga as a
method of healing many years of old running injuries. After
his first Power Yoga class with Rolf Gates, he was instantly
hooked. Not only did the practice build strength and
flexibility- it also gave him a sense of peace and calm that
he'd never experienced before. It didn't take long for yoga
to become a huge part of Bill's life and he was soon
practicing on a daily basis and attending an endless string
of workshops and trainings with teachers from all over the
world. In 2001, Bill took his first workshop
with Ana Forrest and was hooked. In a single weekend a
long-term disc injury in his lower back was healed. The
combination of breath, focus and core work totally captured
Bill's attention and he quickly decided to pursue a teaching
certification with Ana Forrest. Bill strongly believes in yoga as a
healing practice- both in a physical and emotional sense. He
strives to bring yoga to all types of students regardless of
experience or body type. No student is too inexperienced,
inflexible, weak or overweight to experience the benefits of
this practice. His biggest goal with his teaching is to
transmit some of his love of this practice to students of
all types.
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352 South Broadway, Rt. 28 Salem, New Hampshire 03079
Tel: 603-548-0105
