Cynthia Juhre is a certified Kripalu, Partner, Prenatal Yoga Instructor. She has been practicing yoga for the past 15 yrs and teaching for the past 10. She believes that Yoga allowed her to receive two graceful, natural homebirth experiences .She loves sharing her wisdom and amazement of the body,mind and spirit. She feels Yoga is an awesome gift to offer oneself. As Registered Nurse,Reiki Master, Massage Therapist, Mother, and Music Together Teacher she offers many pathways for health and happiness . She views her new postition as Owner/Director of Buffalo Yoga as a Guardianship and is very grateful for the opportunity to serve her community within this role.

Anne Allen received her primary hatha yoga training in the Universal Principles of Alignment™ as expressed through John Friend’s Anusara Yoga™. With over 18 years of practice, training, and study, her classes rock! The cultivation of strong boundaries and directed flow of energy have lead her to the place of wild feminine freedom: the seam where convention merges with creative expression and reality meets possibility, where the "posture" meets the dynamic expression of lifeforce. It is at that place of convergence, the "sweet spot" in the middle, where we most easily tap into the truth of our own nature. Annie will lead you there again and again, blazing a trail to your deepest freedom, expansion, and joy.

Megan Callahan loves to work with people to help them become more connected to and aware of their bodies' innate wisdom and potential. She found her way to yoga 14 years ago to help with a physical condition, and continues to be amazed and humbled by what is discovered on the mat. She has been teaching for over five years and has studied several forms of yoga: Vinyasa, Iyengar, Kripalu and Integral, as well as Pilates, the Andrei Droznin method, and the Michael Chekhov Technique. She is also a Reiki Master-Teacher, musician and energy worker. Her Vinyasa classes are a lovely way to explore building strength and confidence, opening bodies and hearts with compassion and gratitude, working at letting go of goals and expectations, and discovering peace. Lastly, Megan combines her philosophy of Reiki into the classes, working with compassion and love as the universal life force is strengthened and balanced.

Jacqueline Carrubba fell in love with the idea of yoga even before she began practicing. Her interests in indigenous cultures, belief systems, and natural healing drew her to study and eventually embody her own yoga practice. Jacky began her yogic journey in 2003 when she enrolled for a course during her first semester in college. She kept up her practice while earning her Bachelors in Anthropology, concentrating on Archaeology with a minor in Native American studies. Shortly after graduating, Jacky took the next step and completed a 200 hour Yoga certified training program at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Her teaching style focuses on the needs of the individual student while emphasizing proper breathing and safe alignment. Students are able to work in a way that suits their own body and personality. Jacky's approach is to help you develop the three aspects of self: physical, mental, and spiritual. Drawing from the Kripalu tradition, she makes sure that each student is compassionate with her/his self.

Jacky's humor and passion for yoga create the perfect atmosphere for beginners and seasoned students alike. Remembering that Yoga makes us all better human beings first and foremost, Jacky encourages students to take their practice off the mat and into real life in any way big or small.

Elizabeth Coffey has been practicing various styles of yoga over the past 10 years, but it was four years ago that she found her practice within Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. She has attended various workshops with both authorized and certified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teachers, and has spent much of her personal time traveling to work with these teachers one on one. Elizabeth has been teaching yoga for 3 years, working with kids, teenagers, and adults as well has with local professional athletes. While she loves creating and developing led classes, her true passion is leading Mysore classes, because it enables her to see the progress her students make through discovering their own practice. Although her practice is Ashtanga, she took some time in June 2009 to receive her 200 Hour RYT certification at Kripalu Yoga Center, and has studied with various Vinyasa and Anusara Yoga teachers over the past 10 years.

Aphinya Deley has been a serious student of the Anusara style of yoga for 8 years, certified with 200 hours in Anusara teacher training in 2005. When you first experience Aphinya's class, you might notice her comfort level and relaxed style as she easily grooves around the room. But don’t let Aphinya's casual demeanor fool you. She has a very strong practice and is dedicated to advancing her practice by that which she knows best – the universal principles of alignment.

The universal principles of alignment help you realize that practicing yoga shouldn’t hurt; it strengthens you, improving any pre-conditions you may have and enhances your unique beautiful self. Once Aphinya guides you into the optimal alignment physically, she takes you on a journey of finding the true essence that lies within your heart, allowing you to infuse your own unique energy into your poses and take your practice to a whole different level. You feel empowered; you feel better about yourself (mind, body and spirit.)

Lizzi Dee Heifferon, who has been a yoga instructor for nearly 5 years, teaches hatha yoga that tempers an attention to detail, derived from her Iyengar style based teacher training, with a love of movement, found in a lifelong pursuit of dance and a 10-year practice of Power and Vinyasa styles of yoga. Lizzie’s classes target mind-body connection and increased precision in body alignment, using modifications and props, to make yoga asana (poses) accessible and beneficial for every body.

Lizzi began her study of yoga in the Los Angeles area but trained to teach at Lighten Up Yoga in Asheville, NC while attending college at Clemson University. While earning her BFA in Visual Arts, she enjoyed the opportunity to develop various classes and workshops for the Clemson University Department of Campus Recreation, Clemson Tiger Football, and The Cliffs golf communities.

Since arriving in New York, Lizzi has been taking classes and workshops at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, volunteering for Omega, and teaching at Finest Fitness in Patchogue, Stony Brook University, Satya Yoga and Pilates Studio in Mount Sinai, and Essence of Yoga in Holbrook. She is also currently pursuing her MFA in Studio Art at Stony Brook University. Lizzi’s eco-conscious sculptures, installations, and movement-based performances draw on the awareness of interconnectedness that yoga has given her.

John Lord has been practicing Yoga for seven years. He is a 200 hour Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor and a Licensed Physical Therapist with 20+ yrs experience. He is married to Elie, and they both attend classes at Buffalo Yoga on a regular basis. They also enjoy Tai Chi, hiking, camping,the outdoors and spending time with their two children. John's classes are fun, gentle, restorative and usually have a Tai Chi influence. He is challenged and intrigued with "Pranayama" the Breathwork of Yoga, and loves to encourage his students to explore their individual abilities. He is looking forward to offering a Men's only class Fall 2009.

Morgen Love - Throughout Morgen's life, the path of Yoga is one that has unfolded organically - each door opening unexpectedly and offering up a new permutation of this sacred practice. An inquisitive seeker since childhood, she felt at a young age the intrinsic vibration within, but could not fully understand its meaning or potential. Yoga has helped her to tap into this vital energy and begin to understand its ability to heal and transform, to create balance, and to cultivate trust.

In 2007, Morgen completed the 200-hour Prana Vinyasa Flow teacher training with Shiva Rea at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in Venice Beach, California. Having returned to Buffalo after nearly a decade in NYC, her studies have included years of devoted practice with many inspiring teachers at studios in the NYC area, including Dharma Yoga Center and Laughing Lotus, as well as Vinyasa workshops with Shiva Rea, Twee Merrigan, and Simon Park, Acro Yoga with San Francisco yogis Jenny Sauer-Klein and Jason Nemer, and various Yin Yoga workshops across the Tri-State area.

Morgen's vinyasa flow classes create a space in which students can explore the balance between grace and body awareness, alignment, and flow. Serving as a guide along this path, she offers a safe environment for beginning students to develop and grow, and for experienced practitioners to experiment and play. Through creative sequencing and inspired music, she invites students to tap in to their feeling, fluid bodies, to enter the flow, embrace dynamic movement as meditation, and love in every moment!

Turiya Mistretta has been actively involved in the healing & movement arts for 15 years. Her holistic studies of nutrition & movement began at the Centre for Well-Being & Creativity in Switzerland, while her studies of a variety of yoga styles & meditation developed in Colorado with classes at Naropa University & with Richard Freeman, and in New Mexico with Tias Little. Especially inspired by Thich Nhat Han's mindfulness mediation & teachings, she has immersed herself in study & practice at both Maple Forest Monastery & Green Mountain Dharma Centre in Vermont, & Blue Cliff Monastery in NYC. Turiya received certification for Dao In Lung Shen Yoga in 2005 & for Chi Kung in 2006 with Sifu Chik Mason of Spirit Wind Internal Arts. She has also performed with Spirit Wind. Deeply influenced by the Eastern techniques for achieving wellness, Turiya has been teaching Dao In ever since throughout WNY & at numerous seminars & retreats throughout the U.S. In 2007, Turiya completed another in-depth yoga teacher training & certification in Iyengar influenced yoga at the Open Sky Centre in Rochester, NY. Registered with the International Yoga Alliance, Turiya is continually expanding her expertise through ongoing study & practice, as well as through her public classes & private consultations. As a certified Herbalist (with the Rocky Mountain Centre for Botanical Studies), co-founder of Friends of the Ancient Forest, & the Living Now Festival of Healing & Transformation (2003-2005), Turiya combines her love of yoga, nature, & environmental activism. Working as both a climate action presenter & teacher with Earth Spirit Educational Services, she also leads herb walks & designs& teaches yoga & ecology programs for elementary students. In addition to hosting speakers & workshops on living foods & yoga, she also gives presentations at local colleges& other events on nutrition & eco-living. Throughout, Turiya has been working as a distributor for high quality supplements & foods, & is in the process of forming her own company. She is passionate about living simply & vibrantly.inspiring, assisting, & educating others to achieve optimal well-being in every area of their lives!

Patrick Moltane (RYT 500) is a graduate of the Red Lotus Yoga School Teacher Training Program 200 level under the direction of Brian Granader and the 500 level Yoga Teacher Training at Ananada Seva Mission, where he specialized in Yoga Therapy. As certified and insured Yoga Therapist, Patrick is researching and writing on Managing Back Pain through Yogic Practice as well as working with private clients to create individualized Yoga programs. An actor, yogi, educator, and husband, Patrick and his beautiful, talented wife, Morgan, recently moved to Buffalo and are inspired by both the Artistic and Yoga communities here in town. They are working to start their own business, Celtic Roots Yoga- the Yoga that meets you where you are. Teaching credits include: Buffalo State, HIVE Lifespan Center, Global Concepts Charter School, Wayne State University’s Mort Harris Fitness Center and the Wellness Warrior program, Lifetime Fitness, Dance on the Move, the Continuing Education Program of The Chippewa Valley School District, as well as private and corporate clients.

Nicole Petroff's journey into the practice of yoga began in 1996. After her first class, she realized that yoga had a calming effect, and she felt better physically and mentally. Subsequently, yoga became a huge factor in the healing of a diagnosed disease.

With deteriorating health due to a career as an environmental scientist/geologist on several hazardous materials clean-up sites, and the constant reminder of how she felt when practicing yoga, she decided to take steps to heal herself. To this point, the allopathic route of western medicine held no real answers but invasive surgery and harmful treatments.

After researching different options, she chose to deepen her yoga practice, eat more healthily and consciously, and think differently. To her surprise, healing occurred more rapidly. Her yoga quickly became a spiritual practice as she began to study all aspects of this art as well as delving into the metaphysical sciences, energy healing, and yoga teacher training programs.

Her mission now is to provide others with opportunities for real healing that go beyond the limitations of western medicine by incorporating aspects of yoga, metaphysical practices, and wellness education.

Nicole teaches many different types of classes from Beginners Yoga to Gentle/Restorative to Combined Traditions to Yoga Nidra to a Journey into the Chakras. In these classes, you get to explore how different aspects of yoga can assist in self exploration, self-healing, and relaxation...bringing the many qualities and benefits of yoga to your everyday life.

She enrolled at yoga teacher training programs at the Sivananda Vedanta Center at Yogi Hari's Ashram and at the Kripalu Center in Restorative Yoga. Nicole is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, a Holistic Wellness and Reiki Practitioner, a Relaxation Therapist, Workshop Facilitator, and Founder of the Yoga Association of WNY. Nicole also studied Chakra Yoga with Anodea Judith.

Check out Nicole's website and blogs at www.theyogapathtransforms.com

Joy Sutera - Swami Kripalu taught that the highest form of spiritual practice is self-observation with compassion. Joy is grateful and excited to bring this message to the yoga mat for everyone.

At the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA, she trained under the guidance of Megha-Nancy Buttenheim and Devarshi-Steven Hartman for her 200 hour yoga teacher certification.

Joy attended SUNY Geneseo for her undergraduate studies in biology and Spanish. In Geneseo, she practiced Anusara yoga and was a coordinator for the Raja Yoga club on campus. She also taught Hatha yoga at the wellness center for SUNY Geneseo students. She has attended Anusara Yoga workshops led by John Friend, Desire Rumbaugh, and Jim Bernaert. After college graduation, she studied medical science at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in a yearlong program.

Connie Zingg has a passion for practicing and sharing the art of yoga. The motto she cherishes and displays is "Living and Teaching from the Heart" She has practiced yoga,meditation and healing since 1999 and completed a 200hr teacher training with Mitchel Bleier and Aimee Brooks in Rochester and an 18hr Therapeutics training with Naime Jezzeny and Sianna Sherman in New Hope PA. She is a Reiki Master and Certified Classical Feng Shui Practitioner and enjoys bringing this wisdom into her yoga teaching.