| Abby Burns |
Jeanelle Boyer, PhD |
| Betsy Rippentrop, PhD |
Joseph Mizelle, LMT, CYT, RM |
| Dana Robinson |
Kathy Moon, MA, RYT |
| Elizabeth Penziner, MA, MPH, RYT |
Rachel Klapper |
| Janelle Railey, MA, LMHC, RYT |
|
Abby Burns
Abby developed body awareness very early in life thanks to her mother who was a ballet dancer and her own extensive ballet training that started at 3 years old. Her focus has now shifted to yoga, which she has been studying intently for the past 6 years. Styles she has been attracted to include Bikram and vinyasa yoga, but she found her real home at the Blue Mounds Dharma Center in Madison, WI where she completed teacher training under the tutelage of Scott Anderson. Her training focused on the subtleties of anatomy and physiology, proper alignment of the physical body, and breath work as as the foundation on which all of our physical and spiritual understanding is based. Abby feels strongly that it is not enough to only participate in asana (the physical practice), but that sharing knowledge and compassion within the yoga community is essential. She believes that by committing to take care of our divine selves, as well as maintaining a set of ethical standards that we carry out into the greater consciousness, we can truly heal our spirits and those of the people we encounter.
Betsy Rippentrop, PhD
Betsy began an intensive study of the mind and body nearly 15 years ago when she embarked upon a regular meditation practice and the study of psychology. This path led her to pursue her doctorate in psychology where she focused on the mind-body connection, and the relationship of spirituality to health and wellness. When she discovered yoga 10 years ago, she was amazed at how the ancient wisdom of yoga mirrored her western psychology training. She views the study and practice of yoga to be the “ideal treatment” for anyone seeking to heal the mind and the body. Her yoga training is in the Anusara style, which she was attracted to due to the life affirming philosophy it promotes. Her teaching style combines her background in psychology and spiritual study with the ancient tenets of yoga. She is the owner of Heartland Yoga, creating the healing space with the intention to serve the community by providing a spiritual space in which to learn, grow, stretch, and connect.
Dana Robinson
Dana Robinson is passionate about working with children. This stems from her experience teaching young children, degrees in music and dance, and most importantly her role as a mother to two young daughters. As a preschool teacher (Treebrook Preschool), a children´s music/movement teacher and a certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor, Dana helps children to be comfortable in their bodies, discover their talents, and lead a healthy lifestyle. Dana is committed to enhancing her understanding of young children, and she regularly attends classes, workshops and seminars in child development, early childhood education, yoga and sensory integration. Two years ago, Dana established her business, Sweet Feet Yoga, a culmination of her knowledge of yoga, developmental movement, music, and early childhood education. She integrates components of Itsy Bitsy Yoga, in which she is certified, with her unique style to provide a creative, interactive, and fun class for children that builds their confidence and self-esteem.
Elizabeth Penziner, MA, MPH, RYT
Elizabeth completed her training at the Anusara Teacher program at Yoga Montclair in New Jersey. She is a nationally certified Hatha yoga instructor with graduate degrees in health promotion and public health. Throughout a decade of professional experience in health education and fitness, Elizabeth is committed to helping build and empower each student's self-esteem, while inspiring joyful creativity within the yoga practice.
Janelle Railey, MA, LMHC, RYT
Janelle Railey began practicing yoga in 1991. She has studied with many different teachers and lineages over the years and has witnessed issues of mind, body and spirit resolved through the eight limbed practice of yoga. She completed an Ashtanga yoga teacher training with Richard Freeman in 2005 and is a certified teacher through Kripalu Yoga Center as well. Her classes are inspired by her devoted contemplation of what it means to genuinely experience life through the body. They are dynamic, vinyasa style classes designed to awaken curiosity and assist all levels of practitioner in deepening a connection to their bodies and minds. Janelle is also a certified mental health counselor, doula, and movement therapist at Eastwind Healing Center.
Jeanelle Boyer, PhD
Jeanelle began practicing yoga in 1998 at a Kripalu Yoga studio in upstate New York, and since that time, her yoga practice has truly changed her life. It is Jeanelle’s hope, that by teaching, she can share the gift of yoga with many. In 2007, Jeanelle completed the 200 hr yoga teacher training certification during a month long intensive at the Kripalu center in Lenox, MA. In her classes, Jeanelle combines the compassion and alignment principles of Kripalu yoga with the movement and breath awareness of vinyasa, to draw attention to and explore one’s own body, mind and spirit. Jeanelle creates a joyful, comfortable environment where students are encouraged to explore their own true self through yoga practice. Jeanelle has a PhD in a nutrition-related field, and teaches classes in the biological sciences and health sciences at Kirkwood Community College. She loves horseback riding, triathlons, adventure racing and doing just about anything outdoors.
Joseph Mizelle, LMT, CYT, RM
Joseph began practicing Yoga in High School, after being exposed to Yogic teachings and philosophy throughout his childhood. Yoga has provided a firm foundation for
Joseph's subsequent learnings in Herbalism, Massage and Bodywork
Therapy, Sound Healing, Qigong, TaiJiQuan, and Energy Healing. The year 2008 brought Joseph to the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in the Catskill mountains of New York where he has completed a 200 hour Yoga teacher training course. Joseph's focus is on classical Hatha Yoga - holding asanas as "steady poses" to develop core strength, balance, and flexibility - with the ultimate aim of transcending identification with the body altogether. Pranayama, inversions, deep relaxation, and rejuvenation of the body and mind are the means towards this goal. Joseph sees teaching Yoga as a way of sharing the many gifts of Yoga practice with our community. Joseph is also a practicing therapist at the Eastwind Healing Center in downtown Iowa City.
Kathy Moon, MA, RYT
Kathy delights in inspiring others to grow personally and spiritually through the practices of yoga, dance, and music. Formerly a musician, she experienced a profound life change 20 years ago when she was introduced to folk dance and discovered the joy of movement. This deep connection with self and Spirit led her to Yoga and Kripalu YogaDance (then called DansKinetics). Kathy received her DansKinetics/YogaDance training and certification from Kripalu Center in 2004. She returned to Kripalu in 2007 for Yoga teacher certification. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. Since 2005, she has taught regularly at Arts a la Carte in Iowa City, and has been a visiting teacher at University of Iowa Dance Forum and the Yoga Barn of Kansas City, among other venues. With joy and compassion, Kathy encourages each student to discover the body's inner wisdom through the play of stillness and motion, inward sensing and outward expression. For more information visit Kathy’s web page, www.dancingwisdom.com.
Rachel Klapper
Rachel first stepped onto a yoga mat in 1997. Looking for a physical fitness program that reduced stress, she quickly found that yoga is so much more. She has studied with many gifted teachers of different styles over the years. She completed her certification to teach yoga in December 2007 through the Denver Institute of Yoga with 380 hours of study. Rachel continues to further her yoga education to better serve her students. She is pursuing an in-depth certification in Anusara yoga, a heart-centered, uniquely integrated approach which, to her, includes all the things that make yoga a truly life-enhancing practice. Rachel’s teaching method is influenced by her current studies. Her joy and mission is to humbly share the gift of yoga with her students.