|
|
|
|
|
|
 Valerie Schneiderman (Director)
Valerie is daily humbled and grateful for the bounty of gifts that yoga has bestowed upon her. She has studied Ashtanga Yoga for over thirteen years and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500) with the national Yoga Alliance. She completed Ashtanga Teacher Training with senior instructor Tim Miller. Valerie credits Tim with having introduced her to this trans-formational practice and his example continues to guide her teaching style. She has had the honor of studying with Sri K Pattabhi Jois during his many visits to the United States. During the summer of 2005, Valerie travelled to Mysore to study directly with guruji and his family. Prior to her introduction to yoga, Valerie was a member of the 1984 US Olympic Team in rhythmic gymnastics and studied modern dance in graduate school at UCLA. Valerie brings an enthusiastic, kind and encouraging attitude to her classes. Valerie teaches all of the shala's Mysore sessions, the Friday and Sunday morning Primary Series classes, Monday morning's mixed level class and she rotates in to teach the Saturday morning Vinyasa class. During the school year she also teaches the Wednesday and Friday afternoon youth yoga classes.
|
|
|
|
Sharon Bloom
 Sharon has been teaching yoga for seven years, but has been a practitioner for almost 30 years. She is a Kripalu-certified instructor and has completed teacher training in Ashtanga and Prenatal yoga. Sharon brings the same energy, commitment and enthusiasm to her teaching that she brought to her varied and diverse career background. Prior to teaching yoga, Sharon was a successful marketing executive in brand management for major food and beverage companies. According to Sharon, “It was time to shift gears and give back in a personal way. I wanted to inspire others to be the best they could be in their chosen path. Yoga has provided such a profound way to do that. My personal mission is to heal, to inspire, to transform myself and others through the practice of yoga. I believe to be a good teacher, one must also be a dedicated student.” In addition to teaching at The Yoga Shala and other studios in Fairfield County, Sharon has worked with psychiatric patients at Four Winds Hospital, the elderly at Glen Crest and Founder’s Hall, cross-trained the Joel Barlow ski team, and taught children’s yoga. Sharon rotates in to teach Saturday morning Vinyasa classes.
|
|
|
|
Mary Gerdes
 Mary has a deep respect for all yoga disciplines while focusing her practice and teaching on Ashtanga and Anusara. Her ongoing studies in Ashtanga yoga have included teacher trainings with David Swenson and Valerie Schneiderman, and practice and workshops with a variety of excellent teachers including Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois. Her studies in Anusara yoga include teacher trainings with Anusara founder John Friend, senior teachers Lois Nesbitt and Jamie Allison, and Rajanaka Tantra scholar Douglas Brooks. These, combined with over 14 years experience as a teacher and trainer in traditional fitness, give Mary the knowledge and tools to offer students from all backgrounds the opportunity to discover and revel in their own magical journey into yoga practice. She offers heartfelt gratitude to each and every beautiful student who comes to the mat, for they are the most inspiring teachers of all. Mary currently teaches the Wednesday morning mixed level class and rotates in to teach the Saturday morning vinyasa class. She teaches private sessions and workshops at the shala, as well. |
|
|
|
Perry Githens
 Perry began his yoga journey while he was a bulked up, 195 lb jock, so if he has gotten this far so can you. He started practicing while attending the University of Connecticut. While at Uconn he was discouraged by his inflexibility and inability to do the postures to any proficiency. In 2000 something happened to encourage his practice, he attended a Bikram yoga class. The heat helped him to open and become more flexible. In 2004 he attended Bikram’s teacher training in LA and has taught Bikram since then. In 2005 Perry began practicing Ashtanga as his only practice. He enjoys the rigor and athleticism of the practice while at the same time benefits greatly from the meditative aspects of the personal mysore-style practice. Perry currently teaches both the Monday and Tuesday mixed level evening classes at 7:00pm.
|
|
|
|
|
Lorin “Oni” Ingber
 Oni began practicing Ashtanga in 1997. She is thankful for all of her teachers, grateful beyond words for the practice itself and happy to be able to share what she knows with the growing group of dedicated Ashtangis at The Yoga Shala. Oni currently assists Val in the Mysore practice room each morning, Monday - Thursday. In addition, she teaches the mixed level classes on Thursday evenings at 7:00pm, Friday at 11:00am, and, on Sunday mornings at 10:00am. To contact Oni about practice questions or to schedule a private session email her directly at lorin@snet.net
|
|
|
|
|
Debbie Kadagian
 What to say about Ashtanga yoga? Just practice, practice, practice and truly…all is coming. Debbie’s journey with ashtanga yoga began with Val (a wonderful teacher), and it has been a joyful and mind-opening journey. Sharing her practice with the students at the Yoga Shala is a blessing. She has been teaching at the Shala since Val opened the doors in 2003. Deb happily assists and subs in for classes on the shala schedule, as needed. She teaches workshops on Ayurveda and now offers private consultation in the shala front room. You can usually find her office door open Tuesday-Thursday after she finishes morning practice. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Deb, or have questions about Ayurvedic Nutritional Counseling please check out www.lifebalancect.com
|
|
|
|
Colleen Sullivan
 A Colleen Sullivan is grateful for all the teachers in her life, particularly Valerie Schneiderman, who introduced her to Ashtanga Yoga. Colleen began her working life performing in the chorus, and small roles, on Broadway, National Tours, and various summer stock companies. She also produced musical reviews for corporate events. After the birth of her third child, she transitioned to the Fitness Industry, managing fitness classes for various health clubs, and organizing teacher training events. In 1997 her family moved to Ridgefield. Colleen continued teaching Fitness classes, while exploring various Yoga traditions. Attracted to the meditation like quality of the Ashtanga practice; Colleen experienced a powerful connection to the Yoga experience. “Ashtanaga Yoga has enriched my life in multiple ways, and I am grateful for the Yoga Shala community”. Colleen continues to live in Ridgefield with her husband, and 3 teenage children. She currently teaches the Tuesday and Thursday lunch hour practices from 12noon to 1:00pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
