Our Teachers
The Yoga Alliance registers
teachers based on their hours of
education and experience.
RYT 200, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, E-RYT 500
www.yogaalliance.org
Ruth Fisk, CIYT, E-RYT 500
Ruth Fisk, certified Iyengar teacher of 27 years, is spirited and passionate in her delivery of this ancient art and science. Ruth has studied long term with some of the most well know Iyengar teachers of the times, has studied in Pune, India with the Iyengars, founded the Center for Yoga 12 years ago and has been instrumental in growing the yoga community in this town. Ruth is dedicated to the teaching of yoga in a traditional and kind way, with abundant humor and self-reflection.
(517) 333-9883 ext. 2. or center4yoga@hotmail.com or www.ruthfiskyoga.com
See
article about Ruth Beyond the Mat
Beth Snow
Bethany is an Occupational Therapist and a certified Anat Baniel Method SM (ABM) Practitioner. Her passion is to help others achieve their fullest potential. Our most powerful potential lies within the brain. This modality is used in two ways – in a private lesson through Functional Synthesis (FS) and in a group setting through Transformational Movement Lessons (TML). During a private lesson, Bethany uses gentle touch with movement to help create new pathways in the brain. During a TML, she will verbally guide the class through a series of small movements that apply to everyday functional actions. This approach is based on the teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais and the belief that old painful habits can be bypassed when new patterns in the brain are created. This work is beneficial but not limited to: - Reducing back, neck, shoulder & joint pain - Increasing strength, flexibility & energy - Relieving repetitive stress injuries - Enhancing mental concentration & creativity - Increasing your athletic, musical or other performance skills For an appointment, please contact Bethany Snow @ (517) 980-0823 or bethanysnow@msn.com. For more information about this method, go to anatbanielmethod.com.
Candace Merkel, RYT 200
Candace Merkel is a 2008 graduate of the Khagaya School of Yoga with Ruth Fisk. She is certified to teach Beginning Hatha Yoga with Iyengar emphasis and is nationally registered with Yoga Alliance(RYT200). Yoga has been a big part of her adult life for more than ten years and she enjoys sharing her enthusiasm for yoga and helping individuals discover the benefits that yoga can offer them.
Contact Candace at (517)337-1807 or email cprettymerk@gmail.com
Clare Collins, E-RYT 500
Clare Collins, RN, Ph.D., Yoga teacher and Yoga Therapist, has been practicing yoga since 1991 and teaching at the Center for Yoga since 2000. She completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program at the American Viniyoga Institute in 2003 and was certified as a Yoga Therapist through AVI in 2005. Clare is registered through the Yoga Alliance at the Experienced Yoga Teacher (ERYT-500) level. She is a consultant to the American Viniyoga Institute and an educator of Yoga teachers and Yoga Therapists at national training programs. She is a registered nurse with a specialization in mental health issues, Professor Emeritus of Nursing at Michigan State University, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
517-655-1601 ext 2 or info@yogaclarity.net
Gabriele Kende, RYT 500
Gabriele (Gaby) Kende, MS, RD, is a certified Viniyoga teacher and yoga therapist. She completed the Advanced Yoga Teacher Training at the American Viniyoga Institute and has also a teaching certification from the Esther Myers' Studio in Toronto. In addition, Gaby graduated in 2009 form the Yoga Therapist training with Gary Kraftsow at the American Viniyoga Institute. Gaby has been teaching yoga since 1998 and has retired from teaching nutrition at the MSU College of Nursing. She enjoys teaching group classes as well as helping students in private yoga therapy sessions to come up with a yoga practice that will help them deal with various challenges. For more information and registration call (517) 351-6640 or gkende@msu.edu
Jane Gamble
Jane Gamble is the former Artistic Director of Happendance Professional Modern Dance Company. She served at this director position from 1994-2003. She has been a professional dancer since the mid 1970’s starting in Cleveland, Ohio and continuing in Michigan. She became certified in GYROKINESIS® 2005, GYROTONIC® in 2006 and the LADDER® (now know as the ARCHWAY®) in 2007. She continually studies these techniques with various master trainers to gain a deeper understanding of the work. “I have witnessed so many people that cannot go from sitting on the floor to standing up without difficulty, and often they are much younger than I am.” Jane wants to convey to everyone the importance of continuing to be able to move with ease and grace no matter what age. She believes that GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® will help everyone reach this potential. Jane is also active in teaching children’s creative movement classes in the area, (known as ‘Mary Jane’ to her students). “The children are so full of life and energy and are constantly moving. I love to be able to move with them and soak up their positive energy. I do believe that GYROKINESIS® and GYROTONIC® keeps me in a place where I’ll be moving with them into my 70’s and hopefully beyond.” With over 35 years experience, Jane’s approach to teaching is to make the students, both children and adults feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. This allows the students to move without tension or fear. She always has a positive attitude and makes learning easy and fun.
(517) 282-3303 or email mjane4@me.com For more information on GYROKINESIS® go to GYROTONIC.COM
Jane Nelson, RYT 200
Jane Nelson is a recent graduate of the Khagaya School of Yoga Teacher Training at the Center for Yoga under the direction of Ruth Fisk. Jane has an extensive background in movement studies, with 17 years of training and teaching in martial arts (karate and aikido), 20 years teaching self-defense and personal safety skills, and a master’s degree in physical education and exercise physiology.
Contact Jane at userjmn@gmail.com
Kathy Stover, RYT 500
Kathy Stover, RYT 500, teaches in the Iyengar tradition since 1999. With 20 years of personal practice, two Teacher Trainings with Aadil Palkhivala and eight years assisting Ruth Fisk, Kathy brings her knowledge of yoga from her heart to yours. Private instruction is also available.
(517) 645-2237 or KAS_55@msn.com
Kathy (K.O.) Ornish, E-RYT 500
Kathy (K.O.) Ornish is dedicated to teaching the breadth of the yoga tradition to inspire inner transformation. She teaches the Mind and Body Yoga classes, meditation, and offers private therapeutic instruction as well. She is a certified Viniyoga Teacher and Yoga Therapist and on the staff of the Himalayan Institute. She completed the 500 hour Advanced Yoga Teacher training and 500 hour Yoga Therapy training through Gary Kraftsow's American Viniyoga Institute where she is also on staff. She is also a certified Para Yoga Instructor with Rod Stryker and has also completed the beginning Iyengar teacher training with Aadil Palkhivala. K.O. has practiced Yoga since 1995 and was a Professor of Art from 1990 - 2000.
(517) 485-5659, ko@goodspaceyoga.com or www.goodspaceyoga.com
Kurt Scholler
Kurt teaches meditation in a non-denominational way to both beginners and advanced practitioners. He uses everyday language to help people understand meditation and how they can develop or deepen their practice--either for simple stress reduction or an awakening experience. Kurt started meditating in 1996 and has meditated with experienced yogis and well-known teachers in various traditions and teaches individuals and groups.
734-973-2040. www.kurtscholler.com
Linda Reiff
Linda Reiff, is a Qualified Teacher and Program Facilitator in the Fletcher Pilates™ Method, as well as certified by the Pilates Method Alliance, the licensing organization for the Pilates community. Ron Fletcher is a Master Teacher of the Pilates Method, having worked with Joseph and Clara Pilates in the 1930’s and has since developed his own method of Pilates, entitled Fletcher Pilates™. The training program is one of the most rigorous and well known programs in the world, and offers 1000 hours of training. Linda's background as a dancer and choreographer for 25 years in New York City and Cincinnati enable her to merge her knowledge of dance with the beneficial aspects of the Pilates work for her students. (517)290-9113 or pilateszone@comcast.net or www.pilateszoneinc.com
Marie Volovsek
Marie Volovsek, MS is a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher and student. Marie began her yoga journey as a student in 1998 and continues today by studying with advanced level Iyengar certified teachers. Marie began teaching yoga in 2004 and has been fortunate to be a part of the Center for Yoga since 2008. Marie has been teaching a diverse range of movement based activities since 1988. Her MS degree in Physical Education and Dance, the thorough certification process for IYNAUS, as well as her years of teaching movement bring a teaching style grounded in clarity which guides the student to a sense of stability and ease.
(517) 332-3282 or mtvolov@hotmail.com
Wendy Kopitsch, RYT 500
Wendy Kopitsch has practiced yoga for over twelve years and has been teaching privately, and in group settings for 8+ years. In the last two years, she has been teaching groups yoga in the workplace, in the Greater Lansing Area, as well. She has YogaFit teacher certification and has also completed the 500-hour, Advanced Teacher Training with the American Viniyoga Institute with Gary and Mirka Kraftsow teaching in the Krishnamacharya tradition of teaching to the individual...even in a group setting. Wendy is available for group and private instruction.517-749-9811 or wendy@wendyoga.com