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" Teacher Training provided the support, encouragement and strength I
needed to change what I believed I could not change and to do what I thought
I could not do. I loved every minute of it and will carry it with me forever!"
~ Lori M.
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The
teaching faculty of Yoga Yoga Teacher Training includes over 15 certified
yoga teachers and professionals. Instructors come from a wide range of
yoga teaching backgrounds in Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini
Yoga. The teaching staff also includes professionals in the fields of
anatomy, physiology, physical therapy, ayurveda, kinesiology, psychology,
literature and language, chiropractic, massage therapy, and education.In
addition to our regular teaching staff, nationally recognized yoga teachers
and published authors are invited as guest instructors to teach in their
areas of specialization of yoga asana, pranayama, philosophy, therapy,
and meditation.
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Ravyn
Abboushi
Ravyn’s teaching is greatly influenced and
informed by Gary Kraftsow, Mary Keator and Donna Farhi, as well as by her
own years of experience and practice. She finds great joy and pleasure in
being released from the demands of daily life to interact with the body,
breath and spirit during yoga practice and shares this in her teaching.
Ravyn was introduced to Hatha yoga in 1988 and has been teaching since 2000.
She is currently pursuing her 500 hour certification. She holds a degree
in Relgious Studies with a concentration in Indian Philosophy. |
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Liz
Belile
Liz is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200 hour level and has been practicing
Hatha Yoga and Meditation since 1990, having taught since 1999. She has
been a devoted student of Anusara yoga since 1998 and continues to study
with Anusara founder John Friend, having completed a Therapeutics Training
with him in November 2004, as well as many hours in retreat, workshops,
and special trainings. Liz is a Registered Massage Therapist and a published
author. She was among the first class of MFA students in Writing and Poetics
at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. In her work and in her life,
she continues to bring the fine arts and the healing arts together. |
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Matt
Borer
Matt
Borer has been intensively studying and practicing yoga since 1999. His
main area of teaching and practicing being the system of Ashtanga yoga,
he has also spent many hours learning the benefits of a myriad of styles,
with a firm belief that there is no ONE way. He has twice attended David
Swenson's Primary Series Training, and has also had the pleasure of learning
from Manju Jois, Beryl Bender Birch, Doug Swenson, Sharon Gannon and David
Life, Srivatsa Ramaswami, and many teachers in Washington DC. He also completed
his 200hr certification at Georgetown Yoga in DC. Matt likes to approach
his own teaching with an eye toward Buddhist "mindfulness," becoming
aware, and being present in one's own personal practice both on and off
the mat. He also holds a BFA in Design from the George Washington University,
is a certified Thai Massage practitioner, and has been playing/performing
drums and percussion for over 20 years.
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Ellen
Briggs Stansell, PhD, RYT
Ellen
was awarded a PhD in Philosophy with a concentration in Philosophy of Yoga
by the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. Her dissertation, on the karma
yoga teaching of the Bhagavadgita, includes her own original translations
of several passages of the text. She has eight years of experience teaching
philosophy. Known for her clarity, enthusiasm, and heart, she was awarded
a Distinguished Teacher Award in 2003 by the University of Texas. Before
entering graduate school, Ellen studied Buddhist Philosophy in India and
received teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ellen has practiced
Hatha Yoga since 1999, mindfulness meditation since 1995, and taught Hatha
Yoga from 2004-06. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance
at the 200 hour level. As a Hatha Yoga instructor, Ellen encourages students
to cultivate patience, self-awareness, and self-acceptance, and to enjoy
their practice. |
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Ana
Pilar Cruz
Ana Pilar has been practicing yoga since 1993. She received hr first 200hr
certification from Yoga Yoga and her 500hr Advanced Training from the American
Viniyoga institute under the guidance of Gary Kraftsow. Her practice and
teaching is also influenced by her studies with Donna Farhi, Srivata Ramaswami,
and Dr. Svoboda. She is currently deepening her knowledge of Yoga Therapy
as well as in the healing science of Ayurveda.
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Sadani
Houtz
Sadani is a Certified Viniyoga Therapist/Teacher and Kripalu Yoga Teacher.
She established and managed her own yoga center in Lake Charles, LA. for
eight years. For the year 2006, Sadani lived at Mount Madonna Center, a
California Yoga Ashram, working as a volunteer (karma yoga) yoga of service
for the benefit of others.Sadani,
a teachers’ teacher, links body movement specifically with breath,
sound/chanting, and personal ritual thus guiding the yoga practitioner toward
meditation. She calls attention skillfully to subtle details while providing
appropriate personal adaptations making practicing yoga accessible and safe. |
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Lori
McDougal
Lori completed a three year teacher training program through the American
Viniyoga Institute under the direction of Gary Kraftsow. Lori also is a
graduate of the Mount Madonna residential Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program
where she studied with Baba Hari Das. She is a certified Kundalini yoga
teacher at the 200 hour level. Her practice and teachings emphasize adapting
the tools of yoga to sustain wellness, promote healing and awaken the heart
and mind. |
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Siri
Bahadur Khalsa
Siri Bahadur Khalsa has taught Kundalini yoga since the 1980s when he was
in residence at the Dallas Kundalini Yoga ashram. He is a graduate of the
first Kundalini Yoga Masters Touch teacher training program and has taught
at Yoga Yoga since its inception. He brings music to his classes with his
original guitar compositions and through the sound of the gong. He believes
that yoga allows students to define and redefine themselves as they travel
their life path of realizing and fulfilling their destiny. |
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Mark
Uridel
Mark Uridel began studying yoga over 20 years ago, has a BS in Kinesiology
with High Honors from UT Austin and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy
from Old Dominion. Mark trained in various forms of yoga over the past 18
years including the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions. Mark is a Licensed
Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist with 18 years of experience. He
is a Certified Kinesiology and Pilates Instructor as well as a Registered
Yoga Teacher. Mark’s focus on movement, breath and alignment teaches yoga
as an internal practice and empowers students to listen to their inner guru
and develop their own yoga practice. |
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Prema
Mary Vaughan
Prema is a Yoga Yoga Teacher Training graduate who offers a compassionate
and supportive perspective to YYTT students. Prema guides and mentors teacher
training students based on her many years of personal practice and teaching
yoga and work as a karma yogi (yoga of service) at Kripalu Center for Yoga
and Health. Her experience teaching and advising college students and her
in-depth study and practice of the spiritual aspects of yoga and shamanism
make her an effective and interesting guide for yoga teacher training students.
She assists in curriculum development since she has a passion for writing
and is available to answer your questions about YYTT issues.
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Guru Karam (Laura)
Benton and Mehtab Benton are the Founders of both Yoga Yoga and Yoga
Yoga Teacher Training. They were among the first certified Kundalini
Yoga teachers through the Master’s Touch training course with Yogi Bhajan,
for which Guru Karam also served as a facilitator. Together they are
3–time presenters at the Southwest Yoga Conference and recipients of
the International Kundalini Yoga Teacher’s Association “Building Communities
in Yoga” award in 2000.
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Guru
Karam Benton, Director of Teacher Training
Guru Karam (Laura) has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years.
She is certified with advanced training in Integrative Hatha Yoga Therapy
and completed teacher training in Ashtanga Yoga. She brings a lively sense
of humor to the profoundly transformative practice of Yoga with a focus
on ease and precision in postures and the breath. |
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Mehtab
Benton
Mehtab completed his first yoga teacher training course in 1974 while in
residence at the Hargobind Kundalini Yoga Ashram. During the 1970s, he taught
yoga in the public school system and in drug rehabilitation programs in
California. He studied Kundalini Yoga under Yogi Bhajan and was among the
first students to be certified in Kundalini Yoga through the Master's Touch
training course in New Mexico. He has been a Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainer
since 1997, and has taught Level I and Level II teacher training courses.
In addition, he has certification and advanced training in Integrative Hatha
Yoga Therapy. Mehtab is a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 500-hour Level. |
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Sadani
Houtz, Hatha Level 2 Program Coordinator
Sadani is a Certified Viniyoga Therapist/Teacher and Kripalu Yoga Teacher.
She established and managed her own yoga center in Lake Charles, LA. for
eight years. For the year 2006, Sadani lived at Mount Madonna Center, a
California Yoga Ashram, working as a volunteer (karma yoga) yoga of service
for the benefit of others.Sadani,
a teachers’ teacher, links body movement specifically with breath,
sound/chanting, and personal ritual thus guiding the yoga practitioner toward
meditation. She calls attention skillfully to subtle details while providing
appropriate personal adaptations making practicing yoga accessible and safe. |
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Laura
Cunningham, Director
of Admissions
Laura is available to answer all your questions as you start your inquiry
and registration process with Yoga Yoga Teacher Training. As many enrollment
options are available, Laura will assist you with a finding the schedule
that works for you, planning your program completion timeline, and with
deciding which classes or payment plans best suit your needs. She is an
excellent consultant as you begin the journey of becoming a teacher as she
is herself a graduate of the Yoga Yoga Teacher Training program. Laura currently
teaches Hatha Yoga. |
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Dara
Wolkovich, Admissions Counselor
Dara is available
to answer all questions as you start your inquiry and registration process
with Yoga Yoga Teacher Training. Many enrollment options are available.
Dara can help in finding the schedule that works best for you, planning
the program completion timeline, and assisting in all aspects of enrollment.
Dara has a Bachelors degree in English and music, and she brings a creative
approach to her own practice integrating vocal performance techniques with
pranayama and mantra. She is inspired and offers an approach guiding students
beginning their journey of becoming a teacher as she is herself a graduate
of the Yoga Yoga Teacher Training program.
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Prema
Mary Vaughan, Hatha Level 1 Lead Teacher/Advisor
Prema is a Yoga Yoga Teacher Training graduate who offers a compassionate
and supportive perspective to YYTT students. Prema guides and mentors teacher
training students based on her many years of personal practice and teaching
yoga and work as a karma yogi (yoga of service) at Kripalu Center for Yoga
and Health. Her experience teaching and advising college students and her
in-depth study and practice of the spiritual aspects of yoga and shamanism
make her an effective and interesting guide for yoga teacher training students.
She assists in curriculum development since she has a passion for writing
and is available to answer your questions about YYTT issues.
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Jenny
Orona, Registrar
Jenny will work with you to make sure your schedule meets your needs and
can assist you with payment or registration questions. Jenny is a graduate
of Yoga Yoga Teacher Training and teaches Hatha Yoga. |
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