Instructor Bios – Soulspace Yoga Southington CT

Esterina is an enthusiastic yogi eager to share the many benefits of yoga with her students at any level they are ready to receive the practice. She is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran with an MBA, and has worked since 2002 in healthcare administration. Esterina has had a life-long interest in health & wellness. She began practicing yoga regularly in 2013 and soon discovered several additional mental and physical benefits; including the mind-body-spirit connection.

Desiring to help others in a more connected way, Esterina made a conscious decision to simply her life and participate in more activities that nurture the soul and human interaction. She completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Soul Space in 2016 and has a Level 1 Yin Yoga certification. She loves spending time with her family, friends and pets. She also enjoys hiking, baking, gardening, traveling and journaling. She feels that yoga only supplements and enhances her life, and would like to share the mutual benefits that practicing and learning from one another brings.

As a counseling and developmental psychologist and college professor, Susan has taught about typical and atypical development, intergenerational addiction and psychopathology, and the impact of early experience on later development, particularly developmental trauma. For two decades she has mentored and counseled teens and young adults and provided consultation and training to parents, teachers and athletic coaches on the pivotal role they play in children’s development. Her own yoga practice began 12 years ago, but not until recently did she begin to incorporate the benefits of yoga into her courses, her counseling, and her own life. Suffering since childhood with chronic pain, she became convinced of the benefits a regular yoga practice could provide for both mental and physical health. In 2014, she completed a 200hr yoga teacher training at SoulSpace under the direction of Crystal Sullivan, Shelley Nyren and Cheryl Moran as a means to deepen her practice and to share her practice with others. She is passionate about the role yoga and mindfulness play in self-regulation and mental and physical health.
Susan is grateful to share yoga’s message of self-compassion and self–acceptance with yogis of all ages, but especially with teens and tweens. When not doing yoga, she can be found dancing and choreographing dance, reading, and spending time with her family. She lives with her husband, her children, and cat, Bug, who does a mean down dog.

Lisa began practicing yoga in 2009 thinking it would be good to stretch and “keep in shape.”  She quickly came to realize it was the body-mind -spirit connection that kept her coming back to her mat.  Peace, surrender, self-acceptance…  Lisa believes we all come into the world with our unique gifts and challenges.  As we move through life, we are asked to look inward to become the truest and purest “us” we can be.

The more we grow to know ourselves the more we are able to see how interconnected we all are to each other.  We are asked, she believes, to live our lives as examples, teach what we know, serve each other and the universe and always be open to learning more.

Lisa graduated from Cross Roads 200 YTT program and is extremely grateful to have Soul Space and its wonderful community as a part of her journey.

 

Amy teaches 6th grade at the local middle school her son attends. In addition to wanting to spend time with her daughter, Cheyenne, Amy was drawn to CrossRoads to learn alignment and become more confident in her practice. She graduated in 2014 and is enrolled in the 500 hour program. Amy has been teaching various fitness classes since 1998. She is certified as a Mad Dogg Spinning Instructor, AFAA group fitness instructor, RYT200 and is certified in CPR, AED and basic first aid. Amy has learned that yoga goes beyond the physical postures. With the open hearts of her teachers, Crystal Sullivan and Shelley Nyren, she was able to make the mind, body, spirit connection to her yoga practice, a gift she is honored to share with others. Amy is glad to see how the importance of wellness is permeating the schools.

Cheyenne Capobianco is a student at Sacred Heart University majoring in Exercise Science and Nutrition. Her passion for yoga blossomed while volunteering at a local recreation programing teaching yoga at age 13. By 15 she was certified in Children’s yoga and teaching her own classes. In 2014, she graduated from CrossRoads 200 HR YTT and is now enrolled in the 500 hour program. She also hopes to share her journey with others on how yoga has helped her along the way and deliver all the positive impacts the practice holds.

 

Karen started practicing yoga in 2005 as a way to balance her workouts.She immediately fell in love with the physical practice; however what she wasn’t expecting was the mind, body, and spiritual connection she discovered.
As a registered dental hygienist, Karen had always been interested in the human body and physical health; yoga simply added to this interest. Karen believes yoga is the path to optimum physical and spiritual well-being, and views yoga as a gift to mankind. She sees yoga as a gift she has given herself, and now she is striving to help share that gift with others.
Karen received her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from CrossRoads located at Soul Space Yoga and Wellness, studying under Crystal Sullivan, Shelley Nyren and Cheryl Moran. She is registered with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200.
Karen also enjoys being in nature, walking, bike-riding, gardening, reading, making jewelry and most of all spending time with her husband, daughter and son.

My name is Jessica and I am a 25 year old yoga instructor and nature lover who is obsessed with hiking and camping. Yoga is the practice I love because I see how quickly and powerfully it gets straight to the heart of what so many of us are seeking. We all want to feel less stress, to feel more present and to have more confidence as we move through this world. My hope is that my work helps people to feel their purpose, find depth in their joy and reflect the light of who they are back out into the world. Learning to use the power of my own breath to clear, heal and empower every aspect of my life is why I am called to share these accessible and life changing practices with as many people as possible. I am devoted to raising the vibration of our world one relationship at a time because at the end of the day, all we have is each other.

 

Lisa began practicing yoga in 2003 and fell instantly in love with the mind-body connection. She began leading and sharing yoga classes in her living room with friends and family and eventually began sharing her love for yoga by leading donation-based classes at Peace Cafe at the First Congregational Church in Southington, CT. Lisa also teaches at the Southington YMCA as well as various yoga studios in CT. Lisa completed her 200 hour certification through Sacred Rivers under the direction of Paula Scopino. She recently completed her 300 hour training at SoulSpace and certified as an ERYT200, RYT500, YACEP. She has also studied the Art of Teaching Vinyasa with Shiva Rea and Kundalini Yoga with Snatam Kaur.

Lisa has been honored to be part of the yoga staff at SoulSpace since 2011. Lisa is also involved with CrossRoads Teacher Training at SoulSpace leading an in-depth chakra workshop. She has recently begun leading Kirtan at SoulSpace since 2016, combining her musical gifts and love of chanting mantra. 

Kathy was drawn to yoga after her 3 children were grown and with an empty nest, she had more time on her hands. Her interest in yoga started as means to improve her health, flexibility and balance as she struggled with the “aches and pains” that come with middle age but it quickly became apparent to her that yoga was so much more. With yoga’s emphasis on the union of body, mind and spirit, the combination of asana, conscious breathing and mediation helped her to feel better physically but also fostered more mindfulness, acceptance and spirituality in her daily life – benefits that she had never expected! As one of her teachers told her early on in her studies… “Yoga calls us to be a better person.” To Kathy that is the essence of yoga and the motivation for why she practices and teaches yoga. Because of the noncompetitive nature of yoga and the philosophy to honor your body, Kathy believes that yoga is accessible to all ages, shapes and sizes. Kathy aspires to be a gentle, warm, supportive guide sharing her love of yoga with new and experienced students. She is very grateful to have found SoulSpace studio where she completed her 200 hour certification under the direction of Crystal Sullivan and Shelley Nyren.
Kathy has worked at IBM as a technical support specialist in software sales organization for over 25 years. She lives in Southington with her husband of 33 years, Peter and her two cats. She has raised three grown daughters and hopes to have lots of grandchildren some day. In addition to yoga, Kathy likes to read, hike, cook for her family, and attend UConn sport events. Go Huskies!!

 

Lisa began taking yoga classes 7 years ago when she started to feel run down by years of high-impact exercise, especially long-distance running. She soon grew to love how she felt after a balanced practice; calmer, more hopeful and physically relaxed. Over the years, yoga became a constructive way for her to cope with stretches of high anxiety and depression and to make peace with herself and her past. In 2016, Lisa decided to pursue a 200-hour certification at SoulSpace, and has recently graduated from CrossRoads Teacher Training program under the direction of Crystal Sullivan, Shelley Nyren and Cheryl Moran.

She hope to share the tools of yoga with anyone who is on the path toward recovery-from physical pain, from ongoing stress, and from self-destructive patterns of thinking and behaving. She enjoys teaching a variety of styles of yoga, from vinyasa flow to restorative and yin classes. In all of her classes, she is mindful of creating an environment with empowers everyone, regardless of experience level, to listen to their own needs and move in a way that is safe. She also tries to bring a sense of silliness and playfulness into her teaching, so that her fellow yogis can leave the studio a little lighter than when they entered it.

 

Michelle is a 25 year old who works full time in the Public Health Field. Michelle has been practicing yoga for years and has recently gotten the passion to teach. This year she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at SoulSpace. At the beginning of her training, Michelle was not sure if she wanted to teach but was just hoping to deepen her practice. She now is taking opportunities to teach at Soul Space and is loving it. She hopes to continue to attend trainings, continue to learn, and continue to grow as a person, on and off the mat. Michelle works on incorporating yoga into her daily life and hopes to use yoga to help others as it has helped her.

 

 Jennifer’s yoga journey began when she was seeking a remedy for severe weakness caused by an out-of-control autoimmune disease. Yoga helped to heal her physical weaknesses, taught her how to nurture herself, manage anxiety, conquer fears, and gave her opportunities to travel, to cultivate community, and spread love. She was drawn toward teaching to help others find freedom and full body health. She completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training at Soul Space Yoga & Wellness. Jennifer values faith, authenticity, freedom, and community. She wants everyone to feel free to move their bodies in ways that are beneficial for them. She believes that a yoga practice should be a space where one can be empowered to be authentic and to allow true healing: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Jennifer encourages her students to find freedom of movement and to follow their own inner teacher by intensifying up or modifying down according to their body’s needs. Jennifer is a devoted follower of Jesus and the core of her being is rooted in her faith. She loves her family, friends, and new faces! In addition to teaching and practicing yoga, she is also a music composer, trained flutist, and medical therapist at a chiropractic office.

 

Kim fell in love with yoga while living in Massachusetts and pregnant with her first child. She was looking to keep active while pregnant, and appreciated how yoga had made her feel physically, and emotionally. The prenatal yoga class had proven to help her feel more energetic, sleep better, and enjoy the positive connection between baby and mom. After eight wonderful years of living in the Boston area, Kim and her family have since moved back to Connecticut to spend more time with their expanded families. As she continued with her practice, Kim decided she wanted a deeper understanding of the history of yoga, as well as the link it can facilitate between the physical, mental, and spiritual bond. Therefore, last October she began her 200 hour teacher training at Soul Space. This journey is one that she will be forever grateful for. Her goal is to bring yoga and its message to the next generation as a means for them to find a healthy connection between the mind, body, and soul. She truly believes all beings can benefit from a little yoga every day, and would love to help make that possible for people in this crazy, busy world. You can usually find Kim enjoying her free time with her wonderful, supportive husband and their two incredible kids. They love hiking, camping, nature, art, and believe a good laugh can cure just about anything.

Lucia Infante has enjoyed teaching Italian to high school students for the past 16 years. She strives to create a compassionate environment where each student can experience a sense of belonging and self-discovery. She brings the same compassion into her yoga classes. Learn to practice yoga in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Lucia completed Bhogah Yoga’s 200 Hour Yoga Alliance registered teacher training in Vinyasa under the direction of Brianne Davidson in May 2013. She has completed an 85 hour prenatal training program.
She started practicing yoga in 2006, but her practice was put on the back burner a few years later to complete her Master’s degree in education coupled with raising her family. It wasn’t until 2012 when her doctor prescribed yoga for her health, which began her path to deepen her yoga practice.
She practiced yoga for the physical benefits. However, once she learned to truly be on her mat, she was able to make a body, mind, and spirit connection that transcended off her mat. This self-discovery sparked an excitement and craving to learn more. The benefits of regular practice during her training has improved her life in ways she didn’t believe possible, which cultivated a desire to share this passion with others.
Whether you have been practicing for some time or new to yoga, join Lucia for Vinyasa yoga or if you are pregnant, deepen your experience and enjoyment of pregnancy with prenatal yoga. Her goal is to help her students find and maintain a peaceful mind and body. Students of all levels enjoy her friendly and warm teaching style.

 

Amy has a background in Behavioral Science and Occupational Therapy, obtaining Associate’s degrees in both areas prior to completing Yoga Teacher Training in August of 2014. Amy studied yoga in the Crossroads Yoga Teacher Training program at SoulSpace Yoga and Wellness in Plantsville, CT. Amy is professionally trained in alignment and proper body mechanics and is eager to share her past knowledge and experiences with the yoga students in her classes. Yoga holds a special place in her heart, as it has helped her fight anxiety, build her self-confidence and MOST IMPORTANTLY find self-love.

Amy’s inner light truly shines, and it is seen immediately through her warm personality. From the basics to vinyasa, yin to restorative, adults to teens and children, Amy’s graceful instruction will guide each student every step of the way. All fears and intimidation can fall away, as you prepare to find yourself, and watch the love and your practice grow.

 

Sara began her yoga journey several years ago while searching for ways to overcome her feelings of emotional sensitivity and disconnect from her physical body. Little did she know her yoga practice would provide her with so much growth. Sara’s study of self realization, yoga and the arts has provided a way for her to heal herself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Sara graduated from the Soulspace 200 hour certification program under the direction of Crystal Sullivan, Shelley Nyren and Cheryl Moran. Sara has always had a passion for teaching and learning. She has spent over 10 years working with preschool age children and has a Bachelors Degree in Science for Elementary Education and Special Education. Sara believes that knowledge of breath, movement and mindfulness are priceless and that the more tools we can add to each person’s toolbox the better.

Sara has a love for nature, music, dance, hula hooping, art and vegetarian and vegan cooking. It is Sara’s mission to share her experience and knowledge as a way to gently guide adults and children to awareness and understanding of their own unique creativity, expression, and ability to care and love for the self and others. Sara is extremely grateful to be apart of the SoulSpace community.

Alicia began her yoga journey by visiting different yoga studios while in college. She quickly noticed that yoga gave her the physical alleviation her body was craving but also taught her more about who she is as an individual, strengthening her inner Self. Alicia believes her youth aids in her ability to connect with people of her generation through teaching yoga, and wishes to reach out to all individuals who are struggling on their own life journey in hopes that they too can find their inner strength. Soul space has become Alicia’s sanctuary and also her classroom as a student in the teacher training program. Alicia’s classes hold the opportunity to express creativity, freedom, and spiritual growth for all yogi’s.

 

As a devoted runner for over 25 years, avid skier and general fitness enthusiast, Dawn is by no means a stranger to injury. In fact, it was an injury that ultimately led her to the mat. A torn ACL brought her running career and love for all things cardio to a temporary screeching halt. As an alternative exercise, she turned to yoga. It didn’t take her long to connect to the oneness and union of yoga as well as its therapeutic healing qualities. The more she practiced, the more she immersed herself deeper into this beautiful and ancient tradition. She liked what was happening. Yoga revealed to Dawn the beauty and strength inherent in her own being. It uncovered the person that existed before the stresses of a corporate career.
Dawn is also a certified fitness instructor through Aerobics Fitness Association of America [AFAA] and Body Training Systems [BTS] who has been teaching since 2007. In June 2012 she completed the class room requirements for her yoga certification in WHY Power through West Hartford Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training. This beautiful process was organically nurtured by many wonderful teachers such as Ellen Head, Jill Miller, Judith Orloth, Nikki Poole, Jude Russell, Barbara Ruzansky, and Crystal Sullivan. When not on her mat, Dawn can be found with her other beautiful inspirations, Paul, Brandon and Devin either running, skiing or just tossing the baseball in the back yard. Just as the word yoga itself means to yoke or join, yoga has helped me cultivate a connection between all aspects of my being. How can I not share this joy?

Cheryl began exploring the path of yoga almost 20yrs ago in New York City while attending law school. As her interest gravitated from the physical to the spiritual aspects of practice, various asana and meditation teachers have been helping to gently guide her on her journey including Rolf Gates, Seane Corn, Kevin Griffin, Nikki Meyers, Brian Kest, Tommy Rosen & Sharon Salzberg. In 2012, Cheryl became certified as an RYT at the 200hr level in Nosara, Costa Rica and is currently enrolled as a 500hr RYT student at Kripalu.
Believing passionately in the power of gratitude in our lives and the limitless benefits of living in the present moment (one breath at a time), Cheryl tries to walk her own spiritual path with grace, humility and an open heart. She strives for balance, flexibility, strength & serenity both on and off of the mat and, desiring always to remain a student, is constantly learning from all of the various teachers that surround her each and every day.
In 2011, Cheryl seized the opportunity to create a doorway where everyone was welcome to enter & explore their own unfolding journey…and find that delicate balance of intention & surrender. Cheryl feels enormously privileged & grateful to be able to offer SoulSpace, CrossRoads & Yocovery, along with their guides and healing energies to the community. When not in court, or overseeing her restaurant, Cheryl can be found enjoying her life with her numerous rescue horses, dogs & cats. 🙂

 Shelley strongly believes in the body-mind-spirit connection of yoga, the power of breath and the practice of living in the present moment. Yoga, pranayama, mantra and meditation are essential tools to help her find freedom, one day at a time, from her lifelong struggle with food and weight and to cultivate serenity in her mind and body. Shelley believes that yoga is for every-body: all ages, fitness levels and body types. She has a warm, casual, open and enthusiastic style. Shelley is an E-YRT 500 & is the assistant director & a lead teacher in the 200 & 300 CrossRoads yoga teacher training program. She is an Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of experience. She loves her husband Steve, the spiritual journey, animals, knitting, nature, day trips and of course, yoga 🙂

 

Yannah Preta was drawn to yoga as a means of coping with the terminal illness and eventual death of her mother several years ago. She believes that yoga is a powerful tool for facilitating emotional healing, and that finding the connection between the mind and the body – through breath and movement – is the the first step towards alleviating suffering. She has used yoga, breath work and meditation to manage depression and anxiety, and is excited to incorporate what she has learned into her classes. She was trained at Soul Space.

Jessica has a dedicated career working as a leader in the mental health field, currently employed by Yale University’s School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. She has served as a Clinical Director in various capacities over the past ten years with areas of specialty practice surrounding forensic psychology, addiction recovery, trauma, evidence based treatment, and holistic treatment modalities. Jessica is an advocate for yoga and meditation in developing increased visibility as effective practices in the realms of psychiatry, health, and human services. She continues to witness the profound impact these modalities have had with alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction when combined with traditional “talk therapy”.

Jessica has been teaching yoga since 2011, receiving her certification from Samadhi Yoga. She approaches her students from a place of love and acceptance and is passionate about cultivating a studio atmosphere of non-judgment and to support healing and optimal functioning of the whole self. She frequently utilizes medicinal aromatherapy, Ayurveda, and detoxing flow to enhance her classes. Jessica has been inspired through cultural immersion and travels to Asia, Australia, and Central America, which have served as a catalyst to enhance her spiritual connection to nature and the “yoga of life”. She will also graduate in the summer of 2016 with her AYS certification from the Himalayan Institute and is the founding director of Prima Wellness, LLC.

Jessica lives in Litchfield County with her yogi husband and enjoys travel & exploring new places, good food, and spending time with loved ones including her canine trio Frankie, Bella, and Chloe.

Jimmy has been an AFAA fitness instructor and health coach for almost ten years with a sincere passion for helping others bring their physical and mental energies into balance. He credits his mother in helping him to cultivate his spirituality and intuitive healing capabilities and was initiated into the studies of Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki and Quantum Touch, where he later received certifications as a practitioner.  Teaching seven classes a week and various workshops in addition, brings him great joy and satisfaction!

Deeply transformed by travels to both Central and South America and diffusion into the yogic lifestyle, he went on to receive his (200HR RYT) Yoga Teacher Training certification through The Om Center. This expanded his knowledge base of the philosophical, anatomical, and physiological elements of yoga and allowed him to adapt his lifestyle in new more meaningful ways. Jimmy’s yoga classes are often accompanied by sacred mantra or creative poetry aimed to tap into the inner wisdom of his students.  Jimmy is known for his down to earth, relatable teaching style. He has led various workshops and specializes in serving as a mentor teacher for male yogis, helping to foster spiritual evolution and intuitive alignment of men on their path to wellness. Jimmy is also a student of Ayurveda and will achieve certification from the Himalayan Institute in the summer of 2016.

In addition to running a full time business, Jimmy enjoys time at home with his family, hiking, sunset excursions on his boat, and supporting various charitable organizations.

 

Sy is a proud graduate of Spelman College and owner/operator of Thurston Whitaker, which she founded in 2003. Thurston Whitaker provides etiquette & character education curricula, programming and online resources for youth organizations. She recently graduated from Crossroads 200 YTT in December 2016 and is a 200 RYT with Yoga Alliance.

She began yoga in 2003 after not getting into medical school and wanted to prevent herself from becoming depressed. She joined a gym with the sole purpose of doing yoga because she had heard that yoga could improve one’s mood. The Saturday yoga class from 10-11:15am quickly became her anchor and something she looked forward to through the week. Her yoga class went from a workout to something that made her feel good at a different level, more intangible level.

In July 2005, she took her first Bikram class, which offered a deeper challenge physically, mentally and spiritually. The breath, moving meditation and savasana of yoga was her bedrock and crucial to acceptance of death and healing after losing three family years in four years. She became a yoga teacher to guide others on their journey throughout life through yoga and to be a part of a lineage originated in the practice of stilling the mind with the intentions of peace and kindness for all. To be a teacher and forever a student of yoga is truly a gift and an honor.

 

Donna is a 2016 graduate of CrossRoads. Her yoga began in 2009, where she took $5 classes in a factory/ martial arts studio, led by new grad and old friend, Crystal Sullivan. As a runner and all around athlete, she found a good balance with yoga. When not teaching yoga, Donna works as a physical therapist and mothers her three future yogis, ages 13-20. Having earned both her masters and doctorate degrees in orthopedic physical therapy, she finds yoga enhances her profession, and her profession enhances her yoga. She hates photos of herself, but likes who she sees in the mirror. She believes in happiness usually, selflessness mostly, integrity first, and kindness always. She finds her beliefs and virtues align well with yoga, and is forever grateful.

 

Crystal has had a life-long fascination with the body-mind-spirit connection. She has completed a 200 hr yoga teacher training at Sacred Rivers, a 200 hour Vinyasa teacher training with Rolf Gates and a 300 hour teacher training with emphasis on Yoga Therapy at Sacred Rivers. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Additionally, she has studied The Art of Teaching Yin Yoga with Paul & Suzee Grilley and Paulie Zink. Crystal believes that yoga is a way of life that invites wellness, serenity, and deeper communion with the Divine. Her students are encouraged to lead their best possible life. Also a Physical Therapist, she directs CrossRoads 200 & 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training and offers Yoga Life Consults at SoulSpace for those who seek to take their practice and understanding of yoga to the next level. She loves spending quality time with her family, friends and yoga community. She also loves creating music and art and cherishes all forms of learning. Crystal is grateful for the opportunity to serve at SoulSpace.