Teachers
ANNA (Amba) WINKLER, E-RYT500, YACEP, Director Shakti Yoga & living arts
Anna has been practicing and teaching yoga since 1989. She was originally certified through the Sivananda Yoga Organization, where she served as a volunteer staff member for over 6 years. Among many other things, she assisted in the Yoga Teacher Training courses and modeled for 2 yoga books during her time there: Yoga, Mind and Body and 101 Essential Tips: Yoga.
Anna has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since 1997 with Eddie Stern and numerous other authorized teachers, including Pattabhi, Saraswati, Manju and Sharath Jois, Nancy Gilgoff, Tim Miller and others, and teaching Ashtanga since 2002. She has been sudying and practicing Iyengar Yoga with Theresa Rowland since 2007, where she received her second 500 hour teaching certificate. Anna teaches an Alignment Based Hatha Yoga class. Her Ashtanga classes are also alignment influenced. Anna has been teaching in the Maplewood area since 2001, and is the founder and director of Shakti Yoga & living arts since June 2005 (formerly the Yoga Room in Millburn from 2001).
Anna's teaching style is both challenging and nurturing. With a dash of humor, a focus on alignmnentand sometimes just going with the flow, her classes will leave you feeling worked, yet tranquil and energized.
Anna is available for Private Yoga Lessons, Ayurveda Lifestyle Consultations, Thai Yoga Bodywork, Thai Abdominal Massage, Integrated Massage, Myofacial Release Massage and Raindrop Techinque sessions.
ALEKSANDRA MUFCESKA, Journalist, Poet, Meditation & Yoga Teacher
Aleksandra began her yoga journey at the age of 13. She started a home practice with Yoga videos and loved it so much it became a daily ritual. In 2013, she completed her 200 hour RYT with Kelly Santucci. Knowing Yoga was a powerful tool for well being, she had to share with the world. Since then, she has taught throughout NJ, Macedonia, Croatia and Cancun.
Each class Aleksandra teaches is from the heart, reflecting and connecting you to your highest self.
Andre took his 200 hour Teacher Training Certification from the Integral Yoga Institute in NYC for beginner, intermediate and extra gentle yoga and has been teaching there since 2000. Some of his wonderful teachers include Kali Morse, Swami Ramananda and Hamsa Spagnola at the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI); and Cheri Clampett and Arturo Perl for therapeutic yoga.
In the last few years Andre has been inspired by the growing therapeutic yoga field and completed specialized certification training in this area, including restorative yoga. He is currently a certified therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Andre loves teaching and taking group classes and being in the energy of the sangha, the community of practitioners. He aslo enjoys nature, hiking and biking and jazz.
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Ari was introduced to yoga in the early 1980’s to better understand breathing and relaxation classes as preparation for the birth of her daughter. Soon after, she located one of the only yoga studios in San Diego (before yoga became as popular as we know it) and became immersed in Asana practice. Despite several relocations, including a few stints living overseas, Ari continued to practice while working in luxury retail management in NYC.
While coaching her husband on some stretches and poses to help with his injuries, he suggested that she teach yoga. Ari recently completed her teacher training at Elements Yoga Studio in Darien, CT, where she studied with Emma Magenta, Bernadette Birney and Martin Kirk.
In addition to yoga, Ari enjoys trail running and practicing flamenco. But what she enjoys most is sharing the joys and benefits of yoga.
Bob has over 40 years of
experience in the martial arts,
25 of which have been dedicated
to the study and practice
of Tai Chi & Qigong.
For over 10 years Bob has devoted his time to a
deeper study of the principals and forms of this Art.
In addition to teaching private and group classes,
he has participated in numerous demonstrations and competitions.
Cynthia has been studying yoga for over 20 years. She is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor and a registered member of Yoga Alliance. Cynthia completed a teacher-training program for children with a concentration in babies through 5th grade, children with disabilities, and managing anxiety in children. She is currently working on her 500 hour certification, as well as Yoga Therapy training.
Cynthia has also obtained certifications in Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Restorative & Yoga Nidra and Reiki 1 & 2. Her overall approach is focused on creating a safe and accessible environment for all and encouraging a deep awareness of the mind/body connection. Cynthia is also involved with Exhale to Inhale, an organization that provides weekly yoga classes to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Cynthia is honored to introduce tools to folks who are completlely new to yoga, that can bring more health, happiness and ease into thier lives.
Ellen is an Intermediate Junior 1 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and has been practicing Iyengar Yoga since 1998. This level of certification demands rigorous study of more advanced asanas and human anatomy, including addressing common physical limitations, pranayama (breath work), and yoga philosophy. Through her extensive one-on-one therapy work Ellen is also certified through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IATY). Ellen's primary teachers are Theresa Rowland and Amy Block-Hamilton of Studio Yoga in Madison. She has also attended countless workshops with many Senior Iyengar Yoga Teachers including Patricia Walden, Kofi Busia, Lois Steinberg, Mira Metha, and Stephanie Quirk.
Ellen is passionate about all aspects of yoga: uniting the body, mind and soul to realize eternal peace. Through her teaching, she hopes to guide others on this yogic path. You can feel secure knowing that Ellen is well qualified to address your specific needs. Her humble and compassionate nature will be sure to warm your heart and soothe your body.
Emily came to her mat ten years ago to add variety to her workout routine and ease the aches and pains caused by a decade of avid running. After leaving her first yoga classes feeling renewed, calm and truly happy, what began as a physical practice soon blossomed into so much more. During her pregnancy (which was an easy, beautiful experience because of Shakti’s prenatal classes), Emily’s commitment to her yoga practice intensified.
Soon after the birth of her daughter in 2010 she decided to take her love of yoga a step further and train to become a yoga teacher. Emily graduated from ShaktiBody’s 200-hour Teacher Training program and is thrilled to share yoga with her community! A former NYC school teacher, Emily loves the art of teaching as much as she loves the practice of yoga.
Emily infuses her classes with energy, enthusiasm and humor. She loves sharing how the practice of yoga is also the practice of being kind, courageous, confident, happy and patient.
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Gena is an educator, dancer, yogini and certified Essential Somatics Clinical Somatic Educator. She has a private practice in Maplewood and NYC where she see clients privately and teaches Somatic Movement, yoga, workshops and classes as well as training and mentoring teachers. She is an adjunct professor at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.
Gena’s career as a modern dancer included performing and teaching internationally as a member of the Trisha Brown Company. She has an MFA in Dance from NYU TISCH School of the Arts.
Gena feels that Hanna Somatics offers real options for finding freedom to move in spite of chronic tightness. She enjoys bringing the tools of Somatics to the practice of yoga. www.emergesomatics.com
IRES WILBANKS, CD (DONA)
Ires teaches Ashtanga, hatha, pre and post natal and yoga for labor and delivery. She received her certifications from New York's Integral Yoga Institute, where she also has taught. Ires has been a devoted student of Yoga since 2001 and started teaching in 2005. Her prenatal yoga classes are guided by her own childbirth experiences—she attributes the practice to helping her achieve a vaginal birth after caesarean, or VBAC. She is also a certified birth doula (DONA International) and received her training with Debra Pascali-Bonaro in NYC. Ires has been attending births since 2011.
Ires practices Ashtanga yoga and studies with Anna Winkler and Eddie Stern. She completed Tim Miller's Primary Series Ashtanga Yoga teacher training. Ires has also studied with David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Kino MacGregor, and members of the Jois family including Sharath and Saraswathi.
Ires is committed to sharing her knowledge of how yoga can help women release fear and have a safe and peaceful childbirth experience. Her classes draw upon her studies at Integral Yoga as well as the meditative intensity of her Ashtanga practice.
Kathleen was Introduced to yoga as a child and rediscovered it 15 years ago after a serious challenge to her health. In 2008 she gave up the legal world to dedicate herself to the study and practice of Kundalini Yoga. She trained and received her certification from Kundalini Yoga East in New York City in 2010. She is also certified in Child Play Yoga and Grounded Kids Yoga.
Kathleen is committed to sharing the gift of yoga with all to maintain physical health and peace of mind.
KATI WALKER, E-RYT, YACEP, CHTP, CSHP
Kati was introduced to Yoga as a teenager and loved the physical aspects of the discipline. As her practice developed she appreciated the subtler qualities including the spiritual aspects and stress management. She completed her 200 hour certification in 2009 and continued her certifications with Yoga for Scoliosis, Principles of Restorative Yoga and Cancer Survivor Teacher Training. Kati expanded into Ayurveda, Healing Touch, Reiki and Sound Healing.
All of these modalities have sustained Kati throughout her life and are incorporated in her gentle yoga classes.
Lori first encountered yoga in a class at the gym in 2001, where she loved it. Yoga gave her a greater sense of flexibility as an athlete, and since that first taste of it, she has taken classes from many teachers in the NY and NJ area. In 2012, Lori became a dedicated practitioner and student of yoga when facing some major life transitions. In September of 2015, Lori received her RYT 200 hour hatha yoga certificate from South Mountain Yoga under the guidance of Emma Magenta. Yoga has been and continues to be a source of solace and refuge for her, and cultivates buoyancy in her breath and body. For over 20 years, Lori has also been a student of Vipassana meditation, having attended meditation retreats at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and group sittings at the NY Insight Meditation Center, The Rubin Museum, The Tibet House and other places. Lori is grateful to all of her teachers, past, present and future, from whom she continues to learn, grow and be inspired by. For her, yoga is a heartfelt endeavor and she is grateful to share it with her students.
Madalina is a Reiki Master and an Integrative Health Counselor who brings gentle care, compassion and deep attention to her work and her clients. Through her personal healing journey, Madalina learned that lasting transformation happens when we bring awareness to all aspects of our being and fully engage our soul energy. In her work, Madalina’s goal is to help people reawaken their own source of creativity, expanded energy and ultimately their well-being. She uses aromatherapy and crystals to enhance the energy flow during sessions, as well as chakra balancing techniques. Madalina is a former Children’s Book Designer, a long-time student of natural health and an advocate of green living.
Milena, a community college teacher of English as a Second Language, became interested in yoga when she took a yoga class in college. Since then, she has had a personal yoga practice. After returning to yoga classes regularly, she decided to get training as a yoga instructor in order to share the benefits of yoga with her college students and fellow workers. She received her 200-hour yoga teacher training in asanas and pranayama from Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. She also has completed a 100-hour certification in gentle and chair yoga from Integral Yoga Institute plus a 15-hour additional chair yoga training from ShaktiBody, a 63-hour training in restorative/ therapeutic yoga taught by Cheri Clampett and Arturo Peal at Integral Yoga Institute, NYC, and a 3-day Essential Somatics Hanna Somatic exercise coach training – Level 1.
Milena believes yoga has made her life fuller, more balanced, and peaceful, and that’s what she would like to share with others who decide to explore the beauty of yoga.
NICOLE SCOTT-HARRIS, MA, RDN, RYT-200
Nicole is also the owner of EcoEmpress Nutrition, Yoga & Wellness, LLC., integrating her passion and professional expertise as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), registered yoga teacher (RYT-200), and environmental advocate. Her professional background includes experience in government, politics, labor, environmental justice, public engagement and public policy. You can learn more about her background and services at: www.ecoempress.co
Nicole is interested in the parallels between nature and human health. She believes that mindfully caring for our bodies and valuing our health is directly linked to caring for our planet and being in harmony with the environment. Follow her at @ecoempress.co
Scott started studying Kundalini yoga in 1999 in NYC with Ravi Singh (a Legacy Teacher who started his path with Yogi Bhajan in 1974). His spiritual name is Arjan Singh, which signifies the soul of a Teacher, and also Warrior and Artist. He is a music producer, engineer, and musician, and he binds his teaching experience with the creative arts to help others access and express their own souls and use the self-healing that comes from within, turning inertia into harmonious forward momentum.
Scott has been teaching informally since 2003, and in 2015 he received his 200 Hour Kundalini teacher certification from Ravi and Ana Brett at Raven's Wing Yoga in Branford, CT.
Combining his work in audio and his yoga practice, Scott loves exploring the healing power of sound, vibration, and resonance on the mind and body, using music and meditation with mantras.
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for a fall retreat at the top
of the Shawangunks, 90 minutes from Maplewood at the beautiful Dharamakaya Center for Wellbeinng .jpg)  NOW more than ever is a great time to
establish a home practice  Schedule a
Private Zoom Session Ayurveda & Yoga with Anna Winkler |
