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Kevan Gale – Director of Stil Studio / Lululemon Ambassador
I always liked going the distance. I swam, I cycled. I would go for miles. I loved the feeling of pushing my body and challenging my mind. Then I took my first PranaVayu class. And just like that, I found the same connection without having to go anywhere. And the more yoga I did, the deeper the connection became. Now this path has led me here. I’ve morphed out of my corporate suit in search of an even deeper connection. I am here to give back to you what I have learned. Special thanks to my wife Stacy and my three children, Samantha, Natalie, and Lucian for their patience, support and encouragement. I couldn't do it without you! Peace |
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Betty Riaz - Creative Director
Creating Stil Studio is a dream. This dream coincides with my path of understanding my purpose. Giving back, loving life, practicing yoga and sharing with others all that life has to offer. Yoga wakes you up into the meaning of life. Try it. I am... |
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Allison Newman – Instructor
I ran and ran and ran and didn't know what I was running from. My body ached and the running didn't allow my body to flow. I asked myself where I could find a connection between my mind and body? Yoga made sense to my body. The flow. The movement. More importantly, The Breath. My two children have shared my love for yoga by allowing me to teach them. Many thanks to them and all who have influenced my practice. |
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Emily Leahy – Instructor
The pressure of teenage years really took a toll on me, but I found relief through yoga during my freshman year of college. I have now been practicing all different styles of yoga for over five years, such as: Vinyasa, Forrest, Hatha, Anusara, Ashtanga, Restoritive and Bikram. I have practiced with Ana Forrest in 2009 and this past summer completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training in Vinyasa and Hatha yoga at Frog Lotus Studio. I lived in the Berkshires for 7 weeks not just "doing yoga," but living like an actual yogi. To me yoga is now far more than just the physical practice. I am passionate about teaching and I strive to create a playful environment free of any judgment and fear. Whether you are experienced or new to yoga I invite you to come to class with an open mind. |
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Katy O'Brien – Instructor
I first started practicing yoga 6 years ago and fell in love. |
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Jess Meyer – Instructor
Jess Meyer has been practicing yoga for ten years. After sustaining severe spinal injuries in 2007, she has happily rediscovered her backbends. She enjoys an upbeat vinyasa flow balanced with restorative stretching sequences. Jess is passionate about the limitless physical, mental, and spiritual healing qualities of yoga. She holds a 200 hour RYT certification with David Vendetti’s Body Awakening Teacher Training program. |
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Julie Starr-Wood; Nutritionist, M.S. Nutrition
My love affair with food started as a very young child. I would look forward to waking up in the morning just so I could run into the kitchen and eat breakfast. When I think of different places I have travelled and people I have come in contact with, I think of restaurants, kitchens, and recipes. My road to becoming a nutritionist has been winding- making stops in herbal medicine, farming, and midwifery. I have worked with many different practitioners from both traditional and nontraditional medical backgrounds. Their influence has helped me develop a holistic approach to nutrition that incorporates an individual’s physical, psychological, and emotional well being. I try to help each client develop a positive relationship with food and become more mindful of the food that they choose to eat and how it affects their body and their mind. By creating customized nutrition plans for each client, I try to help people overcome any food or nutritional struggles, including weight challenges, disordered eating, and food allergies. Through one-on-one counseling I hope to bring my clients confidence, empowerment, and the joy of feeling good. |
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Lauren Koenig-Plonskier – Instructor
Lauren Koenig-Plonskier believes in a simple philosophy: Practice your yoga. So often, we do not take the time to replenish our minds and bodies, letting the stresses of life weigh us down. This was certainly true for Lauren and she found both her mind and body were overworked, overstressed and in need of a change. Then she stepped onto her mat and discovered the power of her breath. Now she finds herself continually awed by the ability of her yoga, her practice, to guide her towards peace. Lauren has studied many different styles of yoga including Vinyasa, Anusara, Iyengar and PranaVayu, all from which she pools in the expression of her own style: a Vinyasa flow that allows students to get in touch with the rhythm of their breath and their movements. She always leaves time for more luscious openings and a sacred, peaceful final rest. Lauren is also a Reiki practitioner, which she feels further puts her in touch with the untouchable yet profoundly affective. Lauren challenges her students to find their own breath, tap into the strength they already possess, and to take both to the next level. She believes that the journey of a yoga practice may include anything from a good sweat to a good cry, and that the more we practice our yoga, the more we discover what we need. Off the mat, Lauren is a pianist and a composer. She loves the outdoors, and can easily be convinced that a road trip is needed |
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Patrick Donaher - Instructor
I began practicing yoga in 1996, to help improve his performance as a saxophonist. Since then I have fallen in love with the practice, studying with many wonderful teachers in Boston and beyond, and recently completing my 500 hour Body Awakening teacher training with David Vendetti. My classes combine a focus on alignment and safety with a spirit of play and experimentation. |
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Renu Shukla - Instructor
As a child growing up in India, I was introduced to yoga since childhood. In the later years, it became a practice that I cherish and hold close to my heart. The practice of yoga empowers yet humbles me while inter-weaving many different roles and aspects of my life as a mother, a student and a teacher. |
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Sheryl Light - Instructor
With deep gratitude, I respectfully acknowledge my amazing teachers and mentors from all over the world. I like to think of my own yoga practice as an eclectic journey which leads my teaching to a more intuitive place that honors the individual form. I extend an open invitation to all to join me in discovering the spirited and transformational pathwithin; being present for each moment no matter what arises, honoring the individual body and its very own unique needs. My exploration into yoga began shortly after the birth of my twins as I looked for a form of movement and meditation to fit into the busy life of a mom to 3 wonderful boys and working artist. |
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Vyda Bielkus, RYT - Instructor
When I hit my mat at the end of my first class, I was home. I landed. From that day on I have had a daily practice of yoga and meditation. It is the ultimate self-care routine. As a yoga teacher, I enjoy helping students explore new aspects of their bodies, minds, spirits and hearts. For over 10 years, I have studied yoga and co-created and developed businesses in the health and wellness realm. I am Yoga Alliance certified teacher (500 hour). In addition to teaching yoga, I am a founder of B1 Community offering yoga, B1 Health Coaching, Executive Consulting and Wellness Retreats. Breathe, be, move, and lead from the heart…the rest will follow. Power Flow POP – The classroom becomes the ultimate playground. A dynamic, energizing series of poses practiced in a flowing sequence in a heated room with the added dimension of fun pop, rock, and hip-hop music. The class is both athletic and uplifting, creating a deep sense of release. You build on your strengths and honor your limitations. It will lift your spirit, sculpt your body and clear your mind. Modifications are taught making the class approachable for all. |