Mary Ellen Ricks, RYT®, CMT, Owner and Director

Private and Group Yoga Instruction, Therapeutic Massage, Pranic Healing.

Mary became a student of yoga in 1993 and after experiencing the profound effects of her practice, decided to become an instructor. She earned her 200 Hour Certification with Raji Thron of Yoga Synthesis in 2000. Mary is a Registered Yoga Alliance instructor and has continued her education with workshops by Yoganand, Doug Keller, and Max Strom. She was trained to teach Restorative Yoga by Sudha Lundeen 2005 and completed a Trance Dance training with Shiva Rea last year. She believes her role as an instructor is to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which students can learn the principles and practice of yoga and in turn discover their own true nature; creating balance of body, mind and spirit. She encourages students to be playful and compassionate in their practice.

Mary became a Certified Swedish Massage Therapist in 1996. Since then she has continued her education with workshops in Reiki I and II, Kinesiology, Shiatsu, Deep Tissue, Polarity, and Ayurvedic treatments such as Shirodhara and Dosha Balancing massage.

She also received training in Basic and Advanced Pranic Healing as well as Pranic Psychotherapy with Cynthia deLeon. She believes that Pranic Healing is a powerful healing tool that has transformed her life and is very excited to provide this service to the community.

Mary lives locally and enjoys cooking (and eating!), reading, drumming, being outdoors and traveling.

Mary is available for private yoga sessions, therapeutic massage and Pranic Healing sessions by appointment. Please call (973)670-7421 to schedule.

Sunshine

Sunshine has over 17 years experience with psychic work ranging from clairvoyance, mediumship, tea leaf, crystal ball and Tarot readings, animal communication, finding lost objects and people, healings, house cleansings and more.

When she was 13 a natural healing gift came to her in church, which was just the beginning of what was to come in the future. She is a Pranic Healing Practitioner and a certified Reiki Level II healer. She also offers Psychic Development Classes and is available for lectures.

Cases Sunshine has personally worked on and had wonderful results with are as follows:
Psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, drug and alcolhol addiction, depression and anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia and grief.
Lyme Disease, MS, Fibromyalgia, Degenerative Diseases that are linked to nerves and/or tendons and ligaments, Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Diabetes
Kidney Stones and Kidney Function
Cancerous and Non Cancerous tumors
Migrain Headaches
Seizures
Chronic Pain and Chronic Fatigue
Swollen Prostate Glands
Fertility Issues (both men and women)
Pancreas and Liver Diseases
Digestive Issues

Sunshine is available for readings and Pranic Healing Sessions by appointment. Please call (908)752-5768 (cell) or (908)852-9642 mailbox 3 (office).

Chuck Wood, Percussionist

GENRE- WORLD MUSIC

Born in Morristown, NJ, Chuck Wood has been playing and studying hand percussion for more than 25 years.

He has studied various percussion with Baba Olatunji, M’Bemba Bangoura, Mohammed Camara, Yayo Nelson, Ladji Camara, Mar Gueye, Glen Weber and Kevin Jones.

He has appeared live and/or recorded w/ Michael Franti of Spearhead, Neal Casal, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Shannon McNally, David Darling, Tribe after Tribe, Three Fish, Roamin’ Gabriels, and The John Ginty Band.

Chuck also records and tours with his world percussion band, Ghandharva, which features Arjun Alan Bruggeman of Krishna Das. He is currently working with guitarist Colin Allured in a project called DAMARU.

For more detailed information please visit: www.myspace.com/damaruduo or www.ghandharva.com

dian fitzpatrick, RYT®

dian has been practicing Hatha yoga for 8 years and has been teaching for almost 2 years. Her certification through Yoga Synthesis with Raji Thron opened up new asana opportunities for her practice and for her students. dian specializes in chronic conditions, age related challenges, and round bodies. She designs workshops and private work to offer yoga to people who believe they cannot do yoga due to some challenge. Her style of yoga, Honor Your Body Yoga, has helped many enjoy the benefits of yoga. During the winter months she loves to teach Yoga for Golf so that she and others are ready for the links come spring! And she owes all of her yoga progress and certification to her mentor Mary Ellen Ricks. Namaste

Aylin Collier, RYT®

Aylin is a certified Yoga teacher and a dedicated practitioner of Yoga. She is a graduate of Raji Thron’s Yoga Synthesis Teacher Training Program.

Aylin started studying Yoga in 1988 and has explored a variety of styles with different teachers. She has attended numerous classes and workshops with many gifted Yoga teachers including Ana Forrest and John Friend.

Aylin is very grateful to continue her Yogic studies with Kirin Mishra. Kirin is a very unique and knowledgeable Yoga teacher who was born into a lineage of Yogis from India.

Ayin has a daily Yoga practice that includes asana, pranayama, mantra and meditation. For Aylin, Yoga is a way of life as well as a lifelong commitment.

Her teaching style is a synthesis of various traditions in line with her training. She integrates elements from major Hatha yoga styles such as Iyengar, Ashtanga, Anusara, Kundalini and Viniyoga into her classes.

The classes emphasize combining the breath with movement while cultivating mindfulness. You will leave the classes feeling energized as well as deeply relaxed. Aylin believes that the focus and the present moment awareness we cultivate in our asana practice open the door to our emotional and spiritual growth.

In addition to group classes, Aylin has worked privately with individuals with special health needs. She welcomes anyone who would like to experience the gift of Yoga.

Aylin may be reached at aylin@oakhome.us or Califon Yoga Studio

Robin Florentine

Robin Florentine holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance and a Masters of Arts in Education – Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis on the importance of dance in public education. A former dancer/ fitness instructor, she has been involved in the dance/fitness industry for over 30 years. Over the years she has taught ballet and modern dance at North Jersey School of Dance Arts and Dance Appreciation at Centenary College. She has also taught Creative Movement in public schools where her focus was to bring awareness to the body/brain connection – helping children in discovering the body as another avenue to learning. Students learned the elements of dance and how they are all common concepts that underlie many other subjects.

Robin is a certified Elementary Education Teacher/ Vocational Arts & Dance Teacher. She is also a certified Yoga Ed. Instructor and a certified Pilates instructor and has been teaching Yoga / Pilates for over 10 years.

Currently a full-time teacher at Mansfield Elementary School, Robin also teachers Pilates/Pilates Mix classes at Riverside Health and Fitness. She is available for private/semi-private and group instruction. Anyone want to throw a Yoga/Pilates Party?

Her contact information is (908) 403-0622 or robinflo3@gmail.com

Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones

Jo Ann Staugaard-Jones is a Professor of Kinesiology and Dance at the County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ, where she has been teaching for over 30 years. Her background in movement sciences has led to a deep interest in the ability of the body to heal itself, specifically through knowledge of muscles and what they can do.

A certified Pilates and Yoga Instructor with a Masters in Dance and Education as well as a performer, choreographer, and teacher, Jo Ann hopes to give other people knowledge about their own bodies in a format they can understand and a style that makes them smile.

A published author, Jo Ann’s book “MnMs”, A Muscle and Movement Handbook, is available at the studio.

Amanda Loguidice, CYT

Amanda has been a yoga practitioner since 1997 and received her teacher certification in 2004 from Raji Thron’s Yoga Synthesis method of training. Since then she has been teaching privately and has recently joined the Awakening Point team of instructors. Amanda passionately pursues her interest in fitness of mind and body as a whole through reading every book about same she can get her hands on and taking workshops from renowned instructors in this field. This enhances her own teaching methods. Originally from South Orange, NJ, she has been living in Warren County since her marriage in 1998. She and her husband welcomed their first child, Carol in 2002. Amanda is currently working on a book about HELLP Syndrome, a rare disease in pregnancy.

You may contact Amanda at (908)310-5876 for information about her classes.

Sue Mortimer, RYT®

Sue is a registered Yoga Alliance teacher. She received her yoga teacher training from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and continues her education through workshops and continued education at Kripalu. Some of her areas of additional education are: Yoga for Special Needs, Yoga and Osteoporosis, The Healing Art of Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Yoga for Pregnancy and Advanced Kripalu Yoga Postures.

Sue was introduced to yoga in 1998 when her boss suggested taking a yoga class. At the end of the eight week beginner’s session she was hooked. She found that yoga complimented her other athletic interests, bringing balance to her body. Sue has worked with athletes and clients with special needs. She has also worked with clients who have had knee or hip replacements and back surgeries as well as clients with chronic illness such as cancer, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety.

In sue’s class you will learn to be fully present in the moment so that you can connect to your body, mind and spirit in a compassionate and non-judgmental way. Her goal as a Kripalu instructor is to develop a healthy and strong body, an open and caring heart, and a peaceful and clear mind.

Sue is also available for private yoga sessions. You may contact her to schedule an appointment and for class information at (973)927-3995.

Alan Reynolds, CYT

Al started doing yoga in 2004 when his wife wanted to take yoga classes at the karate dojo their children were attending. Sue Mortimer was the teacher that introduced him to the benefits of moving and breathing with intelligence and compassion. After nearly two years of taking three classes a week and practicing at home Al realized that his consistent practice had lead to a transformation that left him at peace with himself and his life. It was at that time that he decided to become a yoga teacher so that he might help others experience the same transformation.

Al received his 200 hour certification at Yoga Synthesis under Raji Thron. As a Yoga Synthesis teacher Al enjoys bringing different styles together to make each class a unique experience. Al believes that anyone can experience the positive transformation that results from a
consistent yoga practice and seeks to give each student the ability to extend and deepen their practice to that end.

Al lives in Long Valley with his wife Gail, two teenage sons Billy and Jake, two dogs Poopie and Baby, and one cat #9. In his other life Al does digital electronic and software engineering consulting for a semiconductor company.

For information on yoga classes with Al call (908)229-4745