Orenda Yoga & Healing Arts

Education/Training/Experience: Maria College Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Influencial Teachers: BKS Iyengar, Richard Miller, My kids
Current Studies/Exploration: Yoga Nidra

Education/Training/Experience: Trained and Certified by The Yoga Institute, Houston, Fall 2002; Partner Yoga training, Spring 2005; Co-owner and Co-founder of www.EcologyYoga.com
Influencial Teachers: Lex Gillian, Rodney Yee, Gary Kraftsow
Current Studies/Exploration: James is most interested in making yoga relevant and challenging to people who don't normally think that they can do yoga or meditation, which is why he is an advocate of Viniyoga. This innovative practice modifies the postures so that they are appropriate for people's bodies, given that we all have different anatomies and flexibilities and abilities. His classes are fun and informal, with lots of interaction and play when appropriate, but also focused, quiet and contemplative, when appropriate. James also offers ecology themed yoga retreats to make the connection between the inner balance that we seek in yoga with the outer balance that we seek with nature and the environment. The EcologyYoga.com project allows James to bring his professional training as a professor of conservation biology into his avocation of yoga.

Education/Training/Experience: A practitioner of Om Yoga and Iyengar Yoga, Laurel began studying yoga over 6 years ago. A passionate instructor, she works to bring the healing aspects of yoga to people experiencing restricted movement due to ailments, aging or simple lack of exercise. By focusing on proper alignment and the supportive use of props her students experience the benefits of a pose (asana) without strain.
Current Studies/Exploration: I am an avid knitter, student of Buddhism, a naturalist and Backyard Habitat Specialist. My home in Knox, NY is a Certified Wildlife Habitat, which is visited by over 80 species of birds and is landscaped with dozens of native plant species.

Education/Training/Experience: Christine is a CircusYoga/Level 3 facilitator, a Radiant Child Yoga Program (RCYP)/ Level II teacher, hold a Masters in Science degree in Elementary Education from the College of St. Rose and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Journalism from the SUNY College at New Paltz. She has practiced yoga and dance for more than 20 years.
Influential teachers: Nature, my family, Casey Bernstein, Shakta Kaur Khalsa, Erin Maile and Kevin O’Keefe, each and every child, teen and elementary/middle/high school teacher I meet…and, the countless others who remind me to love, dance, leap and fly.
Current Studies/Explorations: Local/organic/sustainable gardening and agriculture, pre-natal yoga, yoga for children and teens with special needs, hooping, life and love.

Education/Training/Experience: Linda has studied many different styles of yoga and is passionate about its potential for inner balance and bliss. She is a certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga facilitator and loves working with babies, tots, tykes and children of all ages–especially the grown-up kids! Her playful yoga teaching is also informed by Shake Your Soul dance training in Lenox, MA and workshops at Kripalu.  Linda also has a Bachelors in Arts degree in Social Science from SUNY Stony Brook University.
Influencial Teachers: Linda has trained with many inspiring teachers including Helen Garabedian/Itsy Bitsy Yoga and Marsha Wenig/YogaKids.
Studies/Exploration: Currently continuing yoga studies with Rod Stryker.  

Education/Training/Experience: Melinda became a certified yoga instructor (RYT 200) through Lotus Gardens under the guidance of Lara Ward. She began practicing yoga in 1997. Her personal practice and teaching style are a unique blend of the proper alignment of Iyengar, the graceful combination of breath and movement of Vinyasa and the warm compassion of Kripalu. Melinda holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and have been certified in hypnotherapy.
Influencial Teachers: Melinda finds my greatest inspiration from my
yoga students, teachers and my children. I have also been deeply inspired by Andrea Fortuin and James Danoff-Burg and Lara Ward.
Current Studies/Exploration: Melinda continues to explore the world of
yoga to deepen her practice.

Education/Training/Experience: Patricia is certified through Yoga Alliance and is a dedicated student of Anusara yoga. She completed the 200-hour Anusara teacher training program under the guidance of Michael Fukumura in Carlsbad, California while living in San Diego North County. She is continuing her Anusara yoga studies with Carol McCord in the Capital Region. Patricia lives in Guilderland and share her life with her husband, two young children and their family dog.
Influencial Teachers: Michael Fukumura, Debra Hodgen, John Friend, Martin Kirk, Carlos Pomeda and Carol McCord, among others.
Current Studies/Exploration: East Indian philosophy including Tantra tradition and the history of yoga (Georg Feuerstein) along with meditation.

Education/Training/Experience: BFA Moore College of Art;
Heart of Yoga Teacher Training Certificate; Co-founder, Heart of Yoga;
Upledger Institute and Ohashi Institute certificates; National Academy of Design; Awards—Ogden M. Pleissner Fellowship, Nancy O'Malley Fellowship, Ricky Fingerhut Fellowship, Ralph Fabri Fellowship,
Pollock-Krasner Grant; Artist in Residence—Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico.
Influencial Teachers: TKV Deikachar, Pattabhi Jois, UG Krishnamurti (traveled and assisted the last five years of his life).
Current Studies/Exploration: Currently enrolled in Rational Inquiry. Ethos, Origins, Ultima, Jness and Goals Lab