Director, Karina Ayn Mirsky, MA, E-RYT 500
Devidas, Karina Ayn Mirsky is the Director of Sangha Yoga and has been teaching yoga in Kalamazoo since 1998. She is a certified teacher of Rod Stryker's Para Yoga® and trains students and teachers in the Para Yoga system nationwide. Karina is also a student of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait and is an initiate of the tantric lineage of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. She serves on the teaching faculty of the Himalayan Institute, and at Antioch University McGregor.
Karina specializes in the custom needs of individuals. Her therapeutic approach addresses the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of students lives. For more on Karina, private sessions, or to view her national teaching schedule click here.
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Kara Aubin, RYT 200
Kara Aubin has been discovering yoga since 1998, and teaching since 2002. She brings 15 years of movement experience as a modern dancer to her mat along with study through Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Para Yoga. Kara completed the Para Yoga Foundations Teacher Training with Karina Ayn in 2004 and completed her 200 hour RYT training in 2009. Kara find both peace and joy in the yogic overlap of movement (action), and a one pointed mind (intention). Kara specializes in working with beginning yoga students and athletes. In a nurturing and vibrant manner she helps people discover what they CAN DO in yoga pracitce. Kara's classes provide a safe, structured format, with attention to clear verbal and visual instruction. She offers both group classes and private sessions at Sangha Yoga. |
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Alycia Lee, Kundalini Yoga Certified Teacher, RYT E-200
Alycia has been a student of yoga and meditation since 2000; she began studying with Karina Ayn 2001. Alycia had the honor of training with Kundalini Yoga Master, Yogi Bhajan, before he left his body, obtaining her 200 hour R.Y.T. certification as a Level 1 Instructor through the International Kundalini Yoga Teacher's Association in 2003. She completed the Para Yoga Foundations Teacher Training in 2004 and the Sangha Yoga Teacher Training Program in 2009. Alycia has been a dedicated teacher at Sangha Yoga since it's conception in 2003. She has a passion for helping students discover their fullest potential as well as a desire to keep yoga practice lighthearted and accessible to everyone. As a new mother herself, Alycia finds joy and inspiration in teaching prenatal yoga at Sangha.
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Jerry Givens, RYT 200
Jerry Givens graduated from Western Michigan University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Art in Organizational Communication. His journey in yoga began in January 2006 and has since been studying under the tutelage of Devidas, Karina Ayn Mirsky. It wasn't long before Jerry started assisting his teacher by demonstrating asanas in two to three classes a week. He is now teaching regular "College Night" yoga classes, as well as substituting for other teachers at Sangha. Jerry completed the 200 Hour RYT Program at Sangha Yoga in 2009. Jerry's constant endeavor is to find peace in all aspects of life, while helping others to do the same. |
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Kirsten Kloster, RYT 200
Kirsten began studying yoga with Karina Ayn in 2003. She began teaching in 2005. Kirsten completed the Pure Yoga Foundations Teacher Training in 2004, her 200 hour RYT training at Sangha Yoga in 2009. Kirsten is currently pursuing a MA in Occupational Therapy at WMU. She delights in seeing students gain awareness of the body-mind connection. Her classes have a therapeutic focus, and she has experience working with all body types and fitness levels. A true "Sanghini," Kirsten is a dedicated community advocate. She is a PeaceJam® Mentor and yoga workshop facilitator. She is also the Director of the Sangha Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship Program. Contact Kirsten. |
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Mark Duval, CMT, E RYT 500
Mark Duval has studied, practiced, and taught yoga in Kalamazoo since 1989. His background includes studies in Iyengar Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Viniyoga, Meditation techniques, and various other health practices. As a massage therapist, Mark has a acute understanding of human anatomy and physiology. His massage training as well as his comprehensive knowedge of yoga makes him a master of yoga posture alignment and safety. Mark has a gentle nature and brings humor to his teaching. He is also talented local musician. |
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Kristin Fiore, RYT 200
Kristin completed her 200 hour teacher certification at 7 Centers Yoga Arts in Sedona, AZ. She began studying yoga at Sangha in 2007 and is currently serving as the front desk studio manager. Kristin's teaching is influenced by teachers including Devidas Karina Ayn Mirsky, Melissa Spamer, Kirsten Lyon, and Sraddhasagar (Ruth Hartung). Her interest and training also include studies in Ayurveda. Kristin teaches a blend of hatha and vinyasa flow yoga that is accessible to beginners and also challenging for more advanced practitioners. She is a mother of three and feels that the study of yoga is a foundational training for the body, mind and spirit that helps bring balance and joy into our busy lives at any age. Kristin continues to find peace, truth, and connection through yoga, both as a teacher and a student, and she is passionate about sharing that experience and helping others. |
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Lillie Wolff, RYT 200
Lillie has been studying yoga since 2003 and teaching since 2006. She earned her degree in Human Development and Social Relations from Kalamazoo College in 2004. In 2005 Lillie completed a 200-hour level Tantric Hatha Yoga teacher training at Union/Yoga In Lake Leelanau, MI. In 2009 she traveled to Mysore, India and spent two months practicing daily at the Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute and two months studying with international teacher, Noah McKenna. Lillie has also attended workshops with Libby Robold, Matthew Darling, Barbara Kaplan-Herring, and Sandra Anderson, and is currently studying with Karina Ayn Mirsky. Lillie draws from all of the methods that she has explored making her classes deep, therapeutic, integrative, and intuitive. Lillie is registered with the Yoga Alliance and is a member of the Michigan Yoga Association and the International Association of Yoga Therapists. |
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Ann M. Beattie, RYT 200
Ann discovered yoga at the age of 12 while watching Lilias Folan on television. When Ann moved to Texas in her 20’s, she found her spiritual teacher in Gurubachan Singh Khalsa, with whom she studied Kundalini Yoga for 10 years and taught under his guidance for several years. Upon moving to Kalamazoo in 2000, she studied with Yoga Fit and began teaching hatha yoga at various gyms and fitness centers. Ann completed her 200 hour RYT training with Karina Ayn Mirsky at Sangha Yoga in 2009 which imbued Ann with new dedication and enthusiasm for her practice and for sharing her knowledge with her students. She continues to study with Karina Ayn and has participated in workshops by Chandra Easton and Gary Kraftsow. Ann believes that with yoga, there is the potential to experience your true self, and she feels honored to be able to help guide her students as they deepen their own self knowledge. |
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Chelsie Downs, Sivananda Yoga Certified Teacher, RYT 200
Chelsie has been practicing yoga since 2001. In 2004, she received her yoga certification from the Sivananda Ashram of Paradise Island, Bahamas. At the same time she was pursuing her parallel passion in nutritional health at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City, completing her Holistic Health Counseling certification later that year. As a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Chelsie supports the philosophy that yoga and nutrition are two essential components for healthy living, and integrates these concepts into each of her lessons. Since the birth of her son, Chelsie is especially fond of working with children, whom she teaches the fundamentals of health, hope, humor, harmony and happiness at an early age. She is dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals of all ages, with the goal of seeing that the future of our children, our country, and our world is a happy and healthy one. |
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Affiliate Teachers |
Joette Sawall, MA
Joette is an internationally knownMiddle Eastern dance instructor and classically trained dancer. She combines her extensive dance background and aerobics training into a Belly Dance routine for all ages, body types, and fitness levels. Her dancing style is graceful, passionate, and mesmerizing not to mention her easy approach teaching style make her one of the most sought after teachers in the mid west. She will combine easy-to-follow Belly Dance moves into a customized workout that targets different muscle groups to match your schedule and fitness goal. All these moves interweave Bellydance basics, plus it's lot's of fun! Don't miss this easy to follow, low-impact, stimulating, and complete workout while learning to dance at the same time! Learn more at www.wmschoolofmed.com. |
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Bernard (Bernie) Rosen, PhD., E-RYT-500
Bernard Rosen has been practicing yoga since 1997 and teaching since 2000. He is a wellness educator and consultant, and certified yoga teacher in the ParaYoga tradition. Bernie received his PhD in Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health, MBA from Northwestern University and BS from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to founding Rosen Wellness, he was a marketing and strategic planning executive for over 20 years. Bernie's transition from corporate marketing to yoga & wellness resulted from his desire to share the knowledge and benefits he experienced from his personal lifestyle changes. Bernie lives in Wisconsin. When in Kalamazoo he assists Karina with the Sangha Yoga Teacher Training Program, offers nutrition and yoga workshops and private consultations at Sangha Yoga.
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Melissa Spamer, E-RYT 500, LMT
Melissa completed her first certification to teach yoga in 1997 in the Sivananda tradition, and has been consistently teaching since that time. In 2005, she completed her 500 hour teaching certification with the International Yoga College, specializing in Yoga and Conflict Transformation. Melissa teaches energetically expressive vinyasa flow classes that are grounded in the subtle awareness of our body-mind patterns. Her approach to yoga is very organic and weaves together a rich tapestry of inspired teachings from such celebrated teachers as Angela Farmer, Victor Van Kooten, Rama Jyoti Vernon, Shiva Rea, Kali Ray and the students of Desikachar at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. Melissa has founded The World Yoga Fund to help increase the level of diversity within the global yoga community. She is also the Founder and Director of Lotus in the Flame, School of Yoga and Healing Arts. www.lotusintheflame.com |
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