Yoga Teacher Biographies
Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
CSYT, RYT 500, E-RYT 500
The originator and heart of Svaroopa® Yoga, Swami Nirmalananda (formerly Rama Berch) teaches yoga according to the ancient tradition – as a direct path to svaroopa, the bliss of your own being.
Her unique approach to working with the body emerged from a “cosmic download,” an initiation which awakened MahaKundalini, moving her body into spontaneous yoga poses, and revealed to her the workings of the spine as a conduit of consciousness. This inner awakening continues to unfold, enlivening her understanding of both the body and of ancient texts and teachings.
She communicates with great insight and compassion, weaving ancient wisdom with a concrete understanding of modern life.
Swami Nirmalananda is the founder of Master Yoga Foundation and served as the founding President of Yoga Alliance. She travels extensively to teach internationally, passing on the extraordinary gifts she has received and guiding others to discover their own inner vastness.
For more information about Swami Nirmalananda click here
Vidyadevi (Bombay) Stillman
CSYT, RYT 500, E-RYT 500
Vidyadevi has studied and practiced Svaroopa® yoga since 1992. Her experience as a research scientist enlivens her understanding and teaching of the science of yoga. Her credentials include certification as a Senior Teacher, Svaroopa® Yoga Therapist and Meditation Teacher. Vidyadevi has been training teachers in beginning through advanced levels of Svaroopa® yoga for more than 14 years. Her frequent travels to India and personal yoga retreats deepen her understanding of this ancient science.
Karobi Sachs
CSYT, RYT 500, E-RYT 500
Karobi began exploring yoga in the late 1970’s. She became a Svaroopa® yoga teacher in 2000, joined the teacher training team in 2002 and left her nursing job to devote herself full time to Master Yoga in 2004. Karobi brings a compassionate and accepting presence to the classroom. She enjoys demonstrating how Svaroopa® yoga benefits and supports people from a vast range of ages, abilities and body types.
Kris Montigny
CSYT, RYT 500
Kris studied yoga on and off for 20 years before discovering Svaroopa® yoga. Coming from a background in dance, acrobatics and gymnastics, she found great release and relief with the practice. Now she shares the gifts of Svaroopa® yoga in her weekly classes and private Yoga Therapy sessions in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and as a Teacher Trainer and DTS Mentor with Master Yoga.
Polly DiBella
CSYT, E-RYT 500
In 1977, Polly was touched by yoga's ability to soothe and revitalize. She has taught yoga since 1985, and was certified as a Svaroopa® yoga teacher in 2000. She continues her studies in Svaroopa® Yoga Therapy and serves as Teacher Trainer in Foundations courses. She credits her students for providing a constant source of learning, inspiration and community.
Melissa Fountain
CSYT, RYT 500
Lissa has been teaching and living Svaroopa® yoga in the metro Boston area since 1997. Having been a dancer, she understands the time and devotion it takes to stabilize deceptive flexibility and open the tailbone. She brings this compassion and inspiration to everyone she works with. She also supports other teachers in their professional and personal growth, serving as a Senior Teacher since 2004. Lissa is hearing completion of her Advanced Teacher Training, and has expanded her course offerings to include Beginning Meditation, Bliss Yoga and Svaroopa® Flow classes. Her daily yoga is an enlivened mix of family life, teaching classes, Yoga Therapy sessions and a deep commitment to her own practice.
Adeline Alex
CSYT, RYT 500
Addie lives in Holliston MA, where she teaches in her own studio, Light of the Heart Yoga. She has been teaching Svaroopa® yoga for nine years. She has completed many levels of Advanced Certifications in our ATT program, including: Deeper Yoga (Level 1), Pregnancy Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Your Back, Living Yoga - Business Certification, Beginner Bliss, Advanced Bliss and Bliss Yoga Weekend Workshops. In addition to being an Embodyment® Yoga Therapist, she leads yoga philosophy discussion groups and has served many teachers-in-training as a DTS Mentor. Addie brings the depth of her meditation practice with her into everything she does, which empowers her teaching as it does her life.
Janet Murray
CSYT
First 'hooked' on Svaroopa® yoga after Rama's first Australian Foundations course in 2001, Janet began making lots of trips to the USA for teacher training. She currently offers regular classes, half-day workshops, meditation courses and Embodyment® sessions in Manly QLD. Janet is also a DTS Mentor for teachers-intraining in Australia and has hosted a number of Master Yoga programs, serving as a Teaching Assistant as well. She so loved assisting in the trainings that it felt like a very natural progression to become a Teacher Trainer. Janet is dedicated to the growth of Svaroopa® yoga, and as well as the support and encouragement of students and teachers 'Down Under'.
Kaya Mindlin
CSYT, RYT-500
At 19, Kaya began exploring ancient Indian teachings and started Svaroopa® Yoga Teacher Training in 2001. Her yoga classes and workshops, yoga therapy and vichara clientele extend throughout the Bay Area of Oakland, California. Kaya offers Deeper Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Gentle Yoga and Yoga Therapy. She loves sharing tools that ignite and support yogic living, including Ayurvedic Counseling, Vedic Hand Analysis and Vedic Design. Kaya serves Master Yoga as a Foundations teacher and staff writer.
Tish Roy
CSYT, RYT-500
Tish began her journey with a weekly Svaroopa® yoga class that blossomed into a deep love for the teachings. In 2000, she opened a yoga studio near her home on her property in Woodstock Valley, CT. She offers Yoga Therapy, vichara, yoga philosophy discussion groups and yoga classes. Tish serves as Board Chair for Master Yoga and recently became a Foundations Teacher Trainer. Her 20 years of professional counseling enhances her capacity to engage others in opening, learning and communication.
Leslie Johnson
CSYT, RYT-500
Leslie’s first introduction to
Svaroopa® yoga was in a class with Swamiji in Minneapolis, MN. She continued to practice
Svaroopa® yoga from that point on, experiencing not only new found comfort in her body, but an expanded awareness beyond the limitations of body and mind. Leslie began teaching
Svaroopa® yoga in 2002 and has been teaching full time since 2006. In addition to her classes she offers
Embodyment® and
Vichara sessions, hosts many Master Yoga programs and serves the community as a Leading Teacher and Foundations Teacher.
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