Leslie Carleton has been practicing yoga since 1988, and teaching since 1994. She completed teacher training in both the Iyengar and Ashtanga-Vinyasa traditions, primarily in Chicago and California, where she lived before moving to the Upper Valley in 2002. Her classes, though they generally focus around flowing vinyasa sequences, reflect both of these traditions--Woven along the thread of vinyasa, but with a deep attention to alignment, and healing to body, mind and spirit. She has trained with Tim Miller, David Swenson, Manuso Manos, David Williams, Shiva Rea, Gabriel Halpern, Beryl Bender Birch, Roger Cole, Ana Forrest, and many other inspiring yogis, but her most important teachers are her students at Upper Valley Yoga. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Sharon Gouveia Comeau has been practicing yoga since 1999. She practiced primarily Bikram yoga until moving to the upper valley in 2003, when she discovered Upper Valley Yoga and the joy of the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition. She has taken workshops in Ashtanga yoga with David Swenson and Beryl Bender Birch, and just completed a 200 hour hatha yoga teacher training with Deb Neubauer, a certified Anusara yoga teacher. Sharon is known for her clear teaching style, welcoming presence, and sense of fun and exploration she brings to the practice.
Michele George, M. Ed. and certified Anusara-Inspired™ yoga teacher, has been teaching hatha yoga since 1998. In 2000, she met John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga, and since then, her extensive training includes nearly 1000 hours of instruction in this tradition, primarily with John Friend and Senior Anusara teacher, Deb Neubauer. Presently working toward her Anusara Yoga certification, Michele continues to enhance her yoga studies with frequent Anusara workshops and trainings. Michele weaves into each class her knowledge of yoga philosophy and a creative, challenging posture flow that will open, inspire, and uplift every level of your being!
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Stacey Glazer has been practicing yoga since 1988; in NYC, Boulder,CO, Arizona and here in the Upper Valley. During her seven years in Boulder, she studied at Richard Freeman's studio, the Yoga Workshop. Over the years she has practiced many different forms of yoga, but her passion continues to lie with the Ashtanga-Vinyasa lineage, and her teacher training has been primarily with Beryl Bender Birch. Stacey has taught Children's Yoga in after-school programs and at camp. In addition to being a regular instructor at Upper Valley Yoga, she is also attends classes regularly.
Justine Fahey has been practicing yoga since 1998, first in Cambridge, MA at Baron Baptiste's studio and then in the Upper Valley since 2000. Mainly focusing on Astanga and vinyasa practices, she believes yoga is the perfect combination of physical and emotional release. Justine lives in the Upper Valley with her husband, two kids, two dogs and a cat.
Erin Cochrane began practicing yoga in 1996, and has been teaching since 2002,when she completed David Swenson's Ashtanga primary series teacher training. She has studied with a number of the early Ashtanga teachers, including David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff and Richard Freeman, and incorporates this style into her vinyasa classes. She credits local teachers Stephen Leslie and Chris Buhner with igniting her love of yoga as well as instilling the importance of a daily practice. In spring 2009, Erin completed Sarah Power's Insight (yin) Yoga and Meditation teacher training, and has added this highly complementary style of yoga to her personal as well as teaching practices. Yoga has become a platform for broader study into the Eastern contemplative traditions, and Erin regularly attends workshops on these subjects. Erin's day job is with her MBA alma mater, the Tuck School.
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Geraldine moved to the Upper Valley area in 2007 and quickly realized her passion for community, health & wellness, positive youth development and love of Vermont while working for a local community coalition. Geraldine is now the assistant director of a non-profit community arts and music center where she has been working with infants to children in early elementary grades for the last three years. After researching the benefits of children's yoga and realizing the need within the community, Geraldine obtained her certification as a children's yoga instructor and founded "Yogi In Training" in 2009. You can read more at her website, yogiintraining.com.
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Bri embarked on her yoga journey in college, when her friend (now husband) Geoff brought her to a class at the university gym. As an avid athlete, she grew to love its therapeutic benefits. Her practice has since blossomed, and Bri has developed a deep appreciation for the healing effects of yoga and meditation on the mind, body, and heart. Bri has a Masters Degree in Education and taught high school math for three years in New York City before moving to the Upper Valley. She earned her certification to teach yoga through Lotus Gardens Yoga in Sherman, CT in 2009 and completed the Anusara Immersion I in Darien, CT. She weaves energetic flow with deep relaxation in her classes, focusing on correct alignment and body and breath awareness.
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Heidi Peterson began practicing yoga in the Upper Valley while in grad school, and continued her practice in Boston, New York and San Francisco over the next 8 years. She has completed teacher trainings with Baron Baptiste and Erich Schiffman, and participates regularly in yoga retreats hosted by Kula Yoga's Schuyler Grant. She has also successfully completed Baron Baptiste's six month intensive assistant training, focused on healthy alignment and injury-free yoga practice. Her classes are vigorous and follow a flowing, Ashtanga-based tradition. As an avid runner, former marathoner and Division 1 college soccer player, Heidi is a strong believer in the benefits and balance that yoga can bring to athletes. She also truly values the community that exists around yoga, and is honored to be a part of the Upper Valley Yoga community.