Ellen Kaplow, E-RYT is Satsang Yoga’s creative director and YogaManJari Teacher Training. Ellen has been a well sought after ACE certified fitness instructor, teacher trainer and group fitness director for 25 years. She discovered yoga (or yoga found her) over 15 years ago and the rest as they say… is history. In the words of Rodney Yee, “We come to yoga either from inspiration or out of desperation and for Ellen it was both.” After meeting her dear friend and mentor, Pam Flynn of Shakti Yoga, Ellen knew that this was a path she was meant to follow. Ellen completed an anusara style teacher training with Molly Fox and Amy Ippoliti and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. She has studied extensively with Baron Baptiste, Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga, Maty Ezratry and Chuck Miller, Nancy Gilgoff, Lino Miele, Ana Forrest, Beryl Bender Birch, John Friend, Kofi Buscia and many wonderful teachers along the way.
She continues to study with and be inspired by her primary teacher Rodney Yee, (completing advanced teacher trainings with Rodney first in 2003 and each year since). In September 2011, Ellen was invited to join and had the privilege of being part of a small retreat open only to Rod’s senior students (and not those who are AARP members). Yes it has been an amazing journey!
Ellen‘s classes are a perfect blend of alignment, vinyasa and fun. Each experience is meant to allow the individual to discover his/her greatest potential. Ellen is grateful every day for the inspiration of her students and fellow instructors, the gift of practice, her devoted staff and the love of her family (her three fabulous children, husband Rick and her puppies Maggie and Molly). Ellen would also like to give a special shout out to Sally Narkis for urging her to step into the world of Teacher Training and to Connie Schaffer for opening this amazing studio with her almost ten years ago! Namaste!
Connie Schaffer came to the practice of yoga through the inspiration of her friend and Satsang partner, Ellen Kaplow. As she developed a steady practice, she became aware of the subtle positive changes yoga was bringing to her life. Teaching had always brought great joy to her and so the decision to become a yoga instructor seemed like the next logical step. In 2002, she completed a Yoga Alliance certified Teacher Training Program with Raji Thron. She continues to practice intensively with Ellen, and has broadened her knowledge of the various yoga styles through her participation in numerous workshops. Connie has studied with Dharma Mittra, Mati Ezraty, Chuck Miller, Nancy Gilgoff, John Friend, Sharon Gannon and David Life and most recently, David Swenson. In 2003, Connie studied with Janice Clairfield and received her Pre-natal Certification. Connie’s classes are a well-sequenced blend of vinyasa flow yoga, precise alignment and breathwork spiced with her own quirky sense of humor. She tries to bring the spirit of Satsang into every class she teaches.
Julia Ruth Dillon walked through the doors of Satsang in spring 2007, not knowing she would one day be a teacher there. Born and raised in Westfield, Julia has always loved to move: she was a competitive gymnast as a youngster, then a musical theater performer, and finally a modern dancer. After college, Julia moved to San Francisco where she danced, performed and taught modern and jazz dance for 17 years. Upon returning to Westfield, she was encouraged to take a class at Satsang by a California friend who told her how "totally awesome" the studio was. He was right. Julia completed her RYT 200-hour certification through Yoga Manjari in 2011. She likes to say that she came for the asana (the physical practice) and stayed for the yoga (the whole shebang – spiritual, mental and physical). For her, the yoga practice is as much about unlearning as it is about learning, and she believes that in yoga, as in life, it’s best to have a sense of humor. Julia gives big ups to Ellen Kaplow, Trisha Wheeler, Sally Narkis and the rest of the Satsang crew for their inspiration, love and support – and for helping her to learn to sit still, which is a miracle unto itself.
Jane DoCampo has practiced yoga for 12 years and previously danced professionally and taught fitness in New York City (NYC). She holds teaching certifications from both Raji Thron of Yoga Synthesis and Cyndi Lee of OM Yoga Center in NYC and additionally is a certified prenatal teacher.
Happy to be at Satsang, Jane teaches a playful, flowing class focusing on correct alignment and breath awareness. Sharing insights from her personal practice and the wisdom of many wonderful teachers, she hopes her classes will calm, build health and deepen her students’ practice.
Denise Friedson, RYT, was guided to the path of yoga as a means to decompress from the Wall Street hustle. Since that “ah” moment in her first class, she was captivated. Having spent many years as a dancer with an interest in the powerful relationship between the mind and body, finding yoga was an incredible discovery. Denise has continued on this journey of self-realization and received her yoga teaching certification through the Bright Spirit Teacher’s Training program. She is also certified as a pre-natal instructor from Yoga Works in New York and a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Denise encourages her students to connect with their inner voice and develop a practice that reflects their own true nature. She is honored to be sharing this journey with her students.
Martha Hernandez discovered yoga in 2001 while working in New York City and a coworker wanted to give it a try. Seems as though yoga was just what was needed. She was hooked! Martha has studied in various studios in New York, New Jersey, California and Arizona. Each class Martha teaches offers a sensibly sequenced, alignment- based, challenging, physical practice that offers light-heartedness and humor and a little “something something”. She creates a fun, safe and supportive environment to challenge her students to reach their full potential. She offers numerous modifications to adjust to the needs of the students during the class. Martha is grateful for every day that she gets to come to the mat and is allowed to participate in the journey of her students. Martha is also grateful for the love, support and grounding of her family, her boyfriend and her motley crew of animals. Martha is also a Reiki Master, and a 500 hour yoga instructor registered with the Yoga Alliance—having completed the 200 hour program in February 2010 and the 500 hour program in February 2011.
Most recently, Martha has completed the Thai Yoga Massage Training and the Women Cancer Survivors Teacher Training at Om Yoga so that she may continue to teach and give to a wider audience in more diverse offerings.
Melissa Kaban has over 20 years of dance, choreography, and performance experience at countless studios, schools and community theaters in the area, Melissa stepped onto her yoga mat about eight years ago to breathe new movement into her body and has never looked back. Melissa is blessed to have found a home at Satsang and recently graduated from the YogaManjari 200 hour teacher training. By day, Melissa is a masters level dance/movement therapist working with children and adolescents with various behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders in psychiatric settings, bringing dance, movement and yoga into the therapeutic milieu. You will also find her choreographing at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights and dancing/choreographing on various community theater stages in the area. She strongly believes in weaving the philosophies of the ancient yoga traditions into daily life to better your mind, body, behavior and connection with others and is committed in the healing power of movement, music, and a healthy lifestyle. It is with much love and respect that she humbly thanks the entire ‘posse’ at Satsang, especially Ellen, Sally, and Connie along with her other beloved teachers and ‘yoga buddies’ for their devotion, direction and inspiration.
Andrea Magda found that self discovery can be serendipitous. An avid runner, she initially found yoga to be a complement to her exercise regimen and as a way to increase her overall fitness. But she discovered the more she practiced yoga the more it subtly changed her life. Because of that change, Andrea completed her 200 hour teacher training certification through Yoga Manjari, spring 2011 and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. She believes her journey, teaching and sharing yoga has really only just begun. She encourages novices as well as daily practitioners to strive for their best and continuously seeks to spread a positive yogic experience without taking it all so seriously. In her own practice Andrea struggles to be fearless and to embody “bodhichitta”—making a warm connection with all human beings. Like all warriors, she creates tapas for herself, her practice and others. She believes in getting the most out the spiritual quenching. She is passionate about conditioning the inner athlete—linking body, mind and spirit to breath. She currently lives in Westfield, NJ with her husband and two sons; and is grateful to them and all her teachers especially Ellen Kaplow for her inspiration, guidance and friendship.
Amanda Marchica began taking yoga classes nine years ago with very little expectation of its affect on the course of her life. But very shortly after she began “doing yoga” she found that coming to practice each week was the roadside assistance she needed to get through life’s challenges. Her yoga practice improved her life and state of wellbeing in so many ways, and therein began her desire to share this passion. So in 2011, Amanda completed her 200-hour teacher training certification through Yoga Manjari and is registered with Yoga Alliance. By day, Amanda is a tenured third grade teacher in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District and has ten years of elementary teaching experience, as well as a master’s degree as a reading specialist. She whole-heartedly believes that teaching is her life’s calling and there is no other profession that she could see herself doing. And so, it is her mission to bring together her passion for yoga with her love and talent for working with children. Using a multi-sensory approach that includes stories, music, interactive games, and art, Amanda’s goal is for children to learn yoga postures, breathing techniques, and ways to develop and improve concentration. Ultimately, she wants children to build confidence, self-esteem, a sense of wellbeing, and respect for oneself and others so that when they are on their road of life, like her, they will be able to withstand the bumps. Amanda lives in Fanwood, New Jersey with her husband and is tremendously grateful for his love and support. She is both humbled and honored to be a part of the Satsang family and is truly thankful for her teachers for their never-ending wisdom, guidance, and inspiration.
Karen Marmorato discovered yoga and veganism about five years ago when she decided to take a journey to help her unhealthy body and mind. She first completed Baron Baptiste Level One teacher training in 2007, then discovered the jivamukti school and method. Karen completed jivamukti 300 hour teacher training in 2008 and the 500 hour certification in 2009, becoming an 800 hour certified jivamukti teacher.
Karen has the honor of teaching at Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City, as well as select studios in New Jersey. Karen is grateful for her teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life, her mentor Natalie Ullmann, friends Linda and Paul Saccone (Linda who has helped Karen with her yoga journey, Paul who has helped Karen with her vegan journey), her Jivamukti family, husband Chris and son CJ.
Karen has the deepest gratitude for everyone’s love, support and encouragement. She still finds it an honor to be a Jivamukti Teacher and to be able to share her knowledge.
Sally Narkis is Co-director of YogaManjari RYT Teacher Training. Over the course of Sally's nine year teaching journey, her style has taken a few evolutionary twists and turns, but her basic philosophy remains steadfast: Keep it fresh and fun without losing sight of the transformational potential of the practice. She is known for both her playfully embodied vinyasa classes and relaxing Restorative workshops. Her training is in flow but Sally definitely believes in soaking up the Rasa of as many yoga masters as she can. She has been studying for the past eight years with Shiva Rea and is on track for her 500 hour prana flow certification. She also trains with John Friend, Erich Schiffman, Scott Blossom, Jillian Pransky and studies extensively with tantric scholar Christopher Tompkins. On the bhakti front, she is absolutely, utterly and completely passionate about kirtan. Hari Bol! All in all, Sally believes we need to learn a lesson from the air we breathe; lighten up and go with the flow. "It's pretty simple really. Keep out of the head, move into the heart. The head will trip you up and tell you some pretty sordid stories about who you are in the world. Listen to the subtleties of the heart. It won't steer you wrong or get itself caught up in the drama of you. It just beats with what is so that you can lead the life you were meant to live. How cool is that?”
Stacy "Anuttara" Newfeld, E-RYT, a spirited modern dancer began and continues her life journey a student of siddha yoga and gurumayi chidvilasananda. In 1991 she completed hatha yoga training in the Iyengar tradition and led classes in both South Fallsburg and Manhattan Ashrams. In 2005 she studied asana and pranayama and completed certification with Integral Yoga Institute, Next Generation Yoga in New York and began her exploration in prana flow with river guides, Shiva Rea and Twee Merrigan with whom she still trains. She is also certified in reiki, massage and ayurveda, most recently in India with Dr. David Frawley and Yogini Shambhavi. Her classes flow with breath, heart inspired intention and conscious movement. Yoga is for everyone regardless of age or physicality, its divine teachings are a gift to be shared among us all. With great respect and love I thank the entire Satsang Kula, Jai Ma!
Micki Weissbard is a certified yoga instructor having completed the Yoga Synthesis Teacher Training program with Raji Thron in Dec. 2002. In May 2004 she received her prenatal certification as well. She has completed advanced teacher trainings with Rodney Yee during the years of 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011... and continues to study with him. She has also studied with such inspiring teachers as John Friend, Doug Keller, Kofi Buscia, Mukunda Stiles, Paul Grilley and Aadil Palkhivala. Micki holds a BS In physical therapy and is a registered member of Yoga Alliance. Her classes incorporate a creative synthesis of different yoga styles emphasizing breath and movement integration, proper alignment, meditation and relaxation. Micki extends a heartfelt thank you to her friend and first yoga teacher Ellen Kaplow for bringing the gift of practice into her life. She is also deeply grateful to her students for allowing her the opportunity to share her love of yoga.
Tracy Wendroff-Rawnicki, ERYT500, is a compassionate, fun, inspiring teacher who believes that the happiness we seek already lives within us and that yoga is the doorway into that inherent bliss. Her classes emphasize breath, safety, alignment, playfulness, exploration without judgement and relaxation so that the benefits of yoga reveal themselves. Tracy encourages her students to move mindfully through their practice and through each step of their journey in life. She draws on her life’s experience with yoga, healthy lifestyle, conscious communication, authentic relationship and her own being human, to guide you to a place of greater joy and self-awareness, both on and off the mat.
Tracy has been teaching for 12 years. Her multi-disciplinary approach comes from her training in the ISHTA lineage with Alan Finger and senior ISHTA teachers Lisa and Charles Matkin, Carrie Parker and Jillian Pransky. She is also influenced by her studies with renowned teachers Seane Corn, Cyndi Lee and Erich Schiffmann. Tracy feels honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to study with and be inspired by these teachers as well as Donna Farhi, Judith Lasater, David Life, Shiva Rae and Rodney Yee.
Trish Wheeler has been teaching yoga since 2005 when she completed her 200-hour teacher training at Laughing Lotus in New York. A glutton for bliss, she recently finished the 300-hour Laughing Lotus advanced teacher training. Her classes celebrate the transformative power of music, movement, poetry and song on each of us. For Trish, the ritualized space we share in class (lokah samaste) functions as a lab where we can experience being happy, divine beings (sukino bhavantu) and then transfer that experience into in any situation in the “real” world. She is trained in the art of vinyasa or flow and her classes use the breath rhythms to move in and out of the asanas. Her daily yoga practice, dog walks and meditations guide her. She continues to be inspired by her teachers—both at the Lotus and at Satsang—by her students at The Pingry School where she teaches and by her children, Michael and Sophie. She lives in Kearny, NJ, comes from a modern dance background (MFA in Dance—The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) studies Cuban dance, and would like to say she gardens, but puttering is more honest. Lokah samaste sukino bhavantu.