Mandy Ziegelmann, CYT, Studio Owner

I fell in love with Yoga in my late 20’s when I took a class at the local YMCA. I was immediately inspired, not just by the physical practice, but the mental and spiritual practice as well. It was comforting to know that I was in an environment that was safe, without judgment or competition. Yoga has taught me how to let go and to feel comfortable in my own skin. My hope is to try to bring that same experience to my students by helping them to understand that yoga is a personal journey. When we practice yoga it does not just end when we step off our mats, we can take our yoga and apply it into our everyday lives. My promise to my students is to continue my education through asana practice, philosophy, history, and workshops. I started my certification through YogaFit and completed levels 1-3. I plan on continuing to obtain my RYT through YogaFit. In the meantime, this year I had the wonderful experience to study with Micheline Berry and Shiva Rea at Kripalu and recently I attended a workshop with Sean Corne. I am forever a student of this ancient practice called Yoga.
Namaste’
Mandy

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Laurie Marquardt, RN, MSEd, RYT 200+hr POWER YOGA & Certified in Therapeutic Yoga

Laurie has been a fitness instructor in the Rochester area for the past 18 years. In 2002 she brought YogaFit to Midtown Athletic Club where she started teaching and practicing yoga. The same year she received her MSEd in Health Life Sciences from Brockport State University. Laurie has been inspired by local Anusara yoga teachers and in Jan. 2009 traveled every other week to West Hartford, CT to train with Barbara Ruzansky who developed her own style of POWER yoga. This past summer of 09 Laurie also completed training in Yoga Therapeutics.

"Being present and actively listening to someone without reacting and without judgment is truly a gift of love." -Laurie

Amy Warcup, MA, RYT, LMT

I attended my first yoga class over 20 years ago, and remember how relaxed I felt afterwards. It wasn’t until I attended my first Vinyasa flow yoga class in 2000, however, that I fell in love with yoga. The linking of the breath with the yoga postures brought to me a feeling of joy, exhilaration, and tranquility that I had never felt before with any other form of movement or exercise. It reached something much deeper. Finding yoga in my life felt like “coming home” to me; creating a feeling of unity in my body and my mind. My love of yoga inspired me to want to share it with others. In July 2009 I completed a 230-hour Yoga-Alliance approved Yoga Teacher Training program at the Asheville Yoga Center with Stephanie Keach and several other teachers at the studio. I have also had the pleasure of attending workshops with Seane Corn, Rodney Yee, and Colleen Saidman Yee, and aspire to remain a student of yoga throughout my life. Although my teaching style is predominantly Vinyasa based, I also enjoy blending in aspects of pranayama (breathing exercises), Kundalini yoga, meditation, and yoga philosophy. I truly believe that yoga can make one become more open, radiantly healthy, and centered, and feel honored to share such a beautiful, ancient practice with others.

Amy holds a Masters of Arts degree in the history of Chinese Medicine from SUNY Empire State College. She is also a NYS licensed massage therapist specializing in Thai massage, Shiatsu, and Qigong.

Debbie Smith, CYT

As a yoga enthusiast, I have enjoyed having the opportunity to teach yoga and practice yoga. I believe that yoga is an amazing modality that offers a multitude of health and wellness benefits, positively impacting your life in every way.

My experience teaching yoga started five years ago with a chair yoga program that I developed and traveled with to teach in senior living facilities and nursing homes. Supporting my mission that yoga is and should be available and accessible to everyone, I visited preschools, public schools, fitness facilities, recreational facilities, hospitals, chiropractic offices, and businesses sharing the wonderful health and wellness benefits of yoga.

Through my certification with the YogaFit program, I have been able to learn about providing a safe and effective class. My training is an ongoing process so that I may offer the most beneficial and therapeutic instruction.

My yoga style encompasses the art of balancing Vinyasa Flow and Iyengar. As a dancer, I appreciate the meditative essence of fluid and breath-coordinated movement. Mixed with the methodology and precision of alignment-focused posture, my classes offer and express the duality of flow and form.

Debbie's blog: www.RetreatandRestore.com

Katrina Butkas, B.S., M.S., RYT

I grew up in the Finger Lakes region in a house full of yoga—my parents are both lifelong practitioners! I have been an athlete and artist my entire life and, in 2008, I fell completely in love with the yoga practice as a non-competitive, creative way to nurture my body; calm my mind; and bring greater compassion and wisdom to my everyday life. I also enjoy working with people and have done a lot of teaching, especially in the sciences. Thus, sharing yoga with others feels like a natural combination of my artistic, athletic, and teaching interests.

In December of 2009, I received my 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga teaching certification from Laughing Lotus in Manhattan, NY (a Yoga Alliance certified school). My classes emphasize safe, creative, and fun sequencing. For each session, I develop a new inspirational theme (nourishing food for thought) and weave it through the asana. My themes are drawn from nature, daily life, and my ongoing study of yoga. Most importantly, I seek to provide a welcoming and caring environment in which anyone who is interested can find their own personal practice and meaning.

I am ever grateful to my family and friends for supporting my yoga practice and my teaching. I also give thanks to all of the wonderful teachers and students at Laughing Lotus. Namaste!

Katrina's website: http://www.katrinabutkas.com/
Katrina's Blog: http://katrinabutkas.blogspot.com/

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