As a wilderness guide, somatic coach, and movement teacher, I have learned that our bodies do not lie. Every thought and belief that runs through our minds also affects our bodies, so we can heal the mind from the body up. I use authentic movement and somatic meditation to help us tap into that bodily wisdom. My classes are experiential, community-based, and full of free movement and exploration. As we learn to allow and trust own truth, in mind, body, and heart, we find inner clarity. And as we bring our truth to others who see us as we are, that is where powerful transformation happens. I have my 200-hour yoga teacher training certification with Erica Kaufman at Lila Yoga, and have studied somatic dance with Melissa Michaels and SomaSource for 4 years. Nature Rhythms is a beautiful combination of the tools I’ve learned from all my teachers.
Jen grew up in State College, studied journalism and German at Boston University, and worked in the music business for several years in the United States and Germany. Her daily yoga practice started in 2013 after she faced a series of back-to-back life challenges that propelled her to go deep into healing. Jen provides a committed, loving approach to long-term change, using Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, Insight (Mindfulness) Meditation, Mantra Healing, Reiki, Intuitive Channeling, and Coaching while working with others. She’s a believer in having to open to one’s difficulties with awareness and kindness in order to get to the other side and experience wholehearted living. Jen currently lives in the river town of Hudson, New York and primarily teaches in NY and Pennsylvania. Her main teachers are Arya Ma, Tara Brach, and Gurmukh. Learn more at heartgrounding.com.
I received my massage certification in 2012 at the renowned Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in Massachusetts, one of the oldest massage institutions in the country. I apply the knowledge learned there to tailor my massages to each client’s specific needs. I combine deep tissue, swedish, reiki, sports massage, lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, cupping, and PNF techniques to best help my clients maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have implemented these techniques in various settings including spas, gyms, wellness centers, and sporting events. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, gardening, skiing, and playing ultimate frisbee.
Meghan Kazanski is a trainer and graduate student in Biomechanics. With experience in martial arts, dance, acrobatics and AcroYoga, Meghan helps individuals establish fundamental movement capacities as part of a conscious, joyful, pain-free lifestyle. Meghan highly regards group and partnership-based practices as fulfilling a critical social component of movement. For this reason, Meghan uses partnership practices to develop elements of trust, enriching connection and non-verbal communication as part of a holistic regard for individual growth.
Meghan will be assisted by Azad Chahal. Azad is a graduate student in Bioengineering. To him, AcroYoga provides balance and conditioning complementary to his academic life. Community and connection continue to motivate Azad to share his love for this practice with others. Meghan and Azad have enjoyed teaching regular AcroYoga classes at Lila Yoga, and support a community of AcroYoga practitioners with scheduled and spontaneous ‘jams’ on Old Main and all around town!
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Old bio:
Meghan Kazanski is an instructor, trainer, and student. She relocated to State College from Austin, TX to continue pursuing her Ph.D. in Biomechanics at PSU. With experience in martial arts, dance, acrobatics, AcroYoga, and general strength and mobility principles, Meghan is most interested in helping individuals establish fundamental movement capacities as part of a conscious, joyful, pain-free. While in Austin, Meghan started a group called ‘Austin Movement Meet-up.’ This group consists of health and wellness professionals, as well as those looking to develop an individual practice,meeting weekly to share approaches to integrating elements of play, creativity and movement diversity to improve patient, client, and personal outcomes. Meghan highly regards group and partnership-based movement practices as fulfilling a critical social component of movement. For this reason, Meghan has intensively studied many dance styles, as well as partnered acrobatics and AcroYoga to render elements of trust, connection and non-verbal communication to her students and clients. Currently, Meghan co-teaches AcroYoga at Lila Yoga with Azad Chahal. Her unique approach to her instruction of AcroYoga draws upon these concepts from many practices to facilitate enriching connections and a holistic regard for individual growth.
Soña is a Conscious Entrepreneur, Yoga Instructor, Certified Holistic Practitioner, Reiki Master, music and dance enthusiast, and Artist. Her love for yoga comes from her own deep personal transformation. She now devotes her life to sharing the wisdom of self-healing with others, believing fully that we all have the deep rooted capacity to take charge of our destiny, heal ourselves and invoke lasting personal transformation in our lives. Sona’s holistic lifestyle including business, energy medicine, yoga, design, music and love of the outdoors are all expressions of this devotion. She approaches life with compassion for all, creatively sharing the living wisdom of yoga to inspire and awaken students to the transformative power of self inquiry, humor, and metta.
Lynne was a professional pianist, accompanist, and teacher for 30 years, primarily in the Washington, D.C. metro area. She maintained a private studio, taught in after school programs and at George Mason University. She earned a second master’s degree in humane education in 2011 and has spent her encore career educating and facilitating workshops and groups about the interconnectedness of animal/planetary/human rights issues and how media and culture spin issues that often result in us living in ways that are in conflict with our deepest values and ethics. Lynne now spends her semi-retirement facilitating workshops and groups on meditation and mindful communication, delivering sermons and leading forums in Unitarian Universalists churches, and facilitating groups on adult spiritual lifetime learning.
Jen Treece is certified in Buti Yoga, Hot Buti, and has obtained her 200-hour RYT certification through Buti Yoga & Yoga Alliance. Jen started doing yoga in 2013 as a result of her struggles with anxiety. She found yoga to be a healthy outlet for her, and her love for the practice grew. Prior to finding yoga, working out was something she did not enjoy. Yoga was where Jen found a safe space-physically and mentally. Yoga increased her physical strength and allowed her to appreciate her body to the fullest. Yoga allows you to “begin wherever you are, and continue honoring your body at your own pace”. She started teaching in 2015, and has been certified in various practices since then. Her favorite thing about teaching is that she has the privilege of helping others find strength in their practice and in their personal accomplishments.
Kate Levenberg is a second year medical student, as well as a visual artist. She has been practicing yoga for nearly 8 years, and has been teaching yoga for the past two years. She obtained her 200-hour registered yoga alliance teaching certification from Zenitry studio in North Carolina, and plans to continue her training this year with the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
We are uber excited to have Kerri Zelman, a TriYoga® Instructor, as one of the AMAZING yoga teachers leading our HUGE Community Yoga Class at Yoga Fest State College 2017!
Kerri’s journey on the path of yoga began in 2005. She is a certified TriYoga® instructor and has been teaching with TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania since 2011. The TriYoga® method of practice focuses on slow movement sequences and traditional asana practice integrated with breath awareness, mudra and meditation. Kerri is also an experienced massage therapist in practice for over 10 years. During that time working with hundreds of clients and students she has witnessed many of the challenges life presents to our bodies and minds, as well as the joy and wisdom that is to be discovered as these challenges are reframed and overcome. Kerri’s knowledge and skills in the world of therapeutic bodywork are based mainly in her studies of myofascial bodywork and Thai massage, which complement her interest in helping others deepen and expand into the healing potential of conscious movement and breath through yoga. She also specializes in prenatal massage and bodywork for women’s health. You can find her at the TriYoga Boalsburg studio where she has her massage practice and teaches workshops and weekly classes in an environment of relaxation, focus and fun!
Kerri is a massage therapist and TriYoga® teacher practicing out of Roaring Run Studio, her home studio in Shingletown. You can also find her teaching weekly yoga classes at TriYoga Boalsburg. Kerri is also a practitioner of Traditional Thai Massage and is continually deepening her study of Traditional Thai Medicine, including bodywork, medicinal herbs and Thai Spirit Medicine. As a woman and mother, Kerri has always had a special interest in women’s wisdom traditions and specializes in applying her skills to yoga & bodywork for women’s health including pre- and post-natal massage & yoga and working towards certification as a Pelvic Floor Yoga® specialist.
We are uber excited to have Erica Kaufman, E-RYT-500, as one of the AMAZING yoga teachers leading our HUGE Community Yoga Class at Yoga Fest State College 2017!
“Influenced by Krishnamacharya’s teachings and Krishna Murti’s philosophies, I was brought into this beautiful lineage of yoga. When I think of yoga, I think of life. Through my life with yoga, I began to refine my awareness, my choices. I experienced moments of yoga–true integration beyond the limited body/mind. These moments were so potent that I felt compelled to practice more–to learn more. By age 14, I was practicing 3-5 times a week with my meditation teacher Dr Clayton McCracken.”
Bio:
Yogacharya Erica Kaufman is the founder of Lila Yoga® and the owner ofLila Yoga Studios. She began daily devoted yoga practices at age 9. Influenced by Jiddu Krishnamurti’s philosophy and Krishnamacharya’s teachings, she spends three months a year in India.
Since 1984, Erica has taught ancient wisdom as a daily practice and holds the highest level of Registry with Yoga Alliance. Her teaching expertise and sophisticated gutsy openness awarded her Yoga Journal’s Karma Credit and features in publications such as The Times of India. As a mentor to yoga teachers, aspirants, and community members alike, Erica tours the USA, Europe, Israel, and India teaching seminars on Lila Yoga® and Contact Improvisation.
