OM Ananda Yoga: Fort Collins, CO

TEACHERS

Sarada Erickson MS ERYT-500 CMT founder Om Ananda Yoga
Sarada began practicing yoga in 1997 and was certified for yoga instruction through the Shambhava School of Yoga in March 2001. Her yoga training took place in an ashram where chanting, meditation, and yogic philosophy are intertwined with daily life. Sarada has assisted many yoga teacher trainings in the Shambhava School and began leading trainings in Ft. Collins in Spring 2007. She leads 200 hour trainings, upper level, prenatal yoga and meditation. Sarada is an Acharya in the Shambhava School of yoga. This recognition is given to a householder who has dedicated themselves to the spiritual path and helping others along the way. She graduated from CSU with a MS in nutrition in the Summer of 09'.

Jason Shivaji Erickson MS CYT CMT founder Om Ananda Yoga
Shivaji has been practicing meditation under the guidance of his teacher since Fall 2000. His yogic foundation was built while living at Shoshoni Yoga Retreat and Eldorado Ashram for two years. He is an Acharya in the Shambhava School of Yoga. This recognition is given to a householder who has dedicated themselves to the spiritual path and helping others. He completed a Bachelors of Biological Science degree at CSU and then completed a Master's of Science degree at University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis on Neurobiology, Anatomy, and Physiology. He is an Adjunct Professor at Front Range Comunity College, teaching anatomy and physiology.

Lila Love CYT-500 CMT
Lila completed her Bachelors Degree in Exercise and Sports Science in December 2000. As she was raising her children, she began to practice yoga at home. Naturally, she began to teach friends and children. This lead to her to pursue her certification through the Shambhava School of Yoga. She studied completed her 200 hr certification at Shoshoni Yoga Retreat in January 2006. She graduated from several upper level trainings and completed her 500 hr certification in Nov. 2011. Lila works in the Thompson School District, teaches meditation and yoga, and assists teacher trainings at Om Ananda.

Ena Burrud, E-RYT 500, Certified Yoga Therapist
Practicing yoga since 97', Ena has taught over 10,000 hrs and is owner of Treetop Yoga Therapy. She earned her first certification one-on-one in 2000. Other certifications include Erich Schiffmann, Yoga Studies at UCI & LMU in LA, Yoga Therapy from the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda (RMIYA) and Yoga Nidra from Ed and Deb Shapiro. She taught 5 yrs with Yoga Works in S.CA and is faculty at RMIYA. Asana influences include Erich Schiffmann, Angela Farmer, Rod Stryker, and Amy Weintraub. Her primary teachers include Douglas Brooks, Ph.D, Sarasvati Buhrman, Ph.D. and Ed and Deb Shapiro. Her style reflects her years as a professional actress, artist and consummate, giggly optimist. Ena lives in Fort Collins with her two children and two dogs.

Gwyn Tash EYT CMT
Gwyn completed the 200 hour yoga teacher certification with the Shambhava School of Yoga in Spring 2007. She began teaching in the community at several locations. She has taken Level 2 and Level 3 certifications in addition to the Level 1 Meditation Instructor certification with the Shambhava School of yoga. She is Reiki II certified and a counselor/psychotherapist at her own business Om Counseling and Yoga. Her office space is located within Om Ananda Yoga. She specializes in Vinyasa Yoga (Fluid Flow) and loves to create intricate and expressive sequences that are physically challenging while embodying a spiritual and healing element that nurtures personal growth and overall well being.

Kate Stephens RYT
Kate was drawn to yoga shortly after the tragic events on 9/11/2001. She was experiencing tremendous anxiety and was reaching for a natural “cure.” Her kind husband introduced her to some basic meditation techniques and she found the practices to be extremely beneficial. In 03', she started a 2 yr course in Kriology through the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. She followed the course with a Hatha Yoga Teacher Training program through the Kriya Temple and has been teaching in Ft Collins ever since. Kate and her husband Gary started a local yoga publication called The Yoga Connection Magazine as another avenue to support the local yoga scene. Her heart-centered teaching guides students to a more peaceful state of self-awareness.

Aramati Casper RYT CMT
Aramati took her first yoga class in 2001 while at Hampshire College. From this point yoga and meditation wove in and out of her life, until she committed herself to a regular practice when she moved to Fort Collins in 2008. She became a certified yoga teacher in the Shambhava School of Yoga in 2009. Since then she has completed intermediate, prenatal, and meditation teacher trainings. She loves the way yoga and meditation continually teach her about herself and the world around her, and is ever grateful for her practice.

Adrienne Fasano-Hemphill CYT
Adrienne's yoga journey began 8 years ago out of necessity due to a back injury, and she immediately fell in love with the way her body and mind began to balance itself and bring awareness into her life. Through the years she has had the pleasure of practicing and learning with a wide variety of teachers, mentors, friends and now students. She was certified to teach Power yoga and Pilates in 2007 due to her love of yoga and desire to share the joy with others. Her teaching style is poses linked with breath in a Power Flow class. You will recieve individual attention and will be challenged based on your level of skill. All are welcome to join her for a challenging and fulfilling class.

Alissa Page RYT CMT
Alissa is a yoga instructor with a special interest in teaching for each of life’s phases “infants to elders”. She can remember herself “doing yoga” as far back as her memory goes. She completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification at Breathe Yoga in March 2008. Over the next few years she obtained additional certifications from the Shambhava School of Yoga in Kid’s Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, level 2 and 3 certifications, and Level 1 Meditation. Alissa earned a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in Theatrical Design and Technical Production. She is a proud wife and mother of 2 wonderful teen-aged children. She loves music, dancing, singing, animals, nature, hiking, camping, gardening, batiking, printing, and on and on!

Bess Leader CYT CMT
Bess is a passionate student and teacher of yoga who has been teaching yoga and meditation in Fort Collins since 2008. She started practicing yoga while pursuing her BS in Food Science and Human Nutrition at Colorado State University. While Bess had always loved being active and dancing, she was looking for a more internal and personal practice. She has completed Meditation Instructor training along with Levels 2 and 3 through Shambhava School of Yoga. Bess brings a calming energy to her teaching that invites self-exploration. She feels very blessed to share yoga with others!

Daniel Younglove CYT
Daniel started yoga in 2008 at the age of 16 for the benefits of a more healthy mind, expanded creativity, and deepening awareness inside and out. He committed to a daily practice and saw dramatic transitions happen. Yoga is an art of true expression, self growth, and connection which can begin to relate yoga to life experiences, only to cultivate more beauty in life itself. After making this realization he knew he wanted to teach yoga and to spread such a wonderful practice. While teaching he trys to provide the best experience possible with understandable cues that help align the body and center the mind to relax, align, energize, and flow.

Diana Ballinger CYT
Diana began practicing yoga in the winter of 2008. Through the guidance of her incredible teachers in Naples, Florida she quickly discovered that she wanted to become a yoga instructor. After relocating to Fort Collins, Colorado in August of 2010 Diana began training with the Shambhava School of Yoga and became a Yoga Alliance registered instructor. She began teaching yoga in the communtity upon graduation. As an experienced elementary school educator, Diana has a passion for teaching. She is honored to integrate her enthusiasm for teaching and love of yoga to serve students of all ages.

Emily Wilson CYT
Emily is trained and specializes in vinyasa yoga. She enjoys the balance between both a yin calm practice and a yang more active practice. In college Emily discovered a new way to challenge her mind and body through yoga. Upon realizing how well her body could feel she was hooked. She believes strongly in the benefits that yoga brings through connecting with one's body each day. She also believes yoga can cure restlessness, laziness, depression, anxiety and bring a more lighthearted stress free life. Emily’s educational background is in environmental sustainability. Emily receives immense joy in seeing her students soak up the abundant benefits yoga has to offer!

Jasmine Zugarramurdi CYT
Jasmine began practicing yoga to help deal with the everyday stresses of life and found so much more. She believes that yoga, like life, is a journey and an opportunity for personal growth. She strives to inspire her students to take what they learn on their mat into their lives. Jasmine enjoys teaching classes that provide students with variety, challenge and relaxation through pranayama, asanas and mediation. Her teaching philosophy is that each one of us is our own teacher. She encourages her students to dive into themselves and let their breath guide them through their practice. She is a graduate from the Shambhava School of Yoga and has a BS in Psychology.

Jodie Bell ERYT-200
Jodie holds a BS in Wildlife Ecology and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. She has worked as a conservation biologist most of her career and has a strong connection with nature. About 8 years ago she discovered yoga fit well with her love of the natural world and reduced stress in her life. In 2007 she attended Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja, Mexico and completed her 200 hour certification in Hatha Yoga with Iyengar precision and alignment. She also became a certified instructor with Yoga-Ed™ (K-8th grades). She has continued with the Shambhava School of Yoga completing Level II, Level III, Yoga for Healing, and Prenatal Yoga Training. Jodie currently devotes all of her time to teaching adult and kids’ yoga classes in Ft. Collins.

Kevin LaFleur CYT
Kevin first heard about Kundalini Yoga in 2007 through a "random" internet search and only decided to attend a class because there happened to be a class down the street from where he lived at the time. Little did he know the impact it would have - and continues to have - on him. He walked out of that first class feeling expanded, uplifted, changed even, and wanting to know exactly WHAT had happened! His curiosity led him to study with Master Teachers Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Gurushbad Singh Khalsa, Tej Kaur Khalsa, and Sat Siri of Golden Bridge Los Angeles, where he also received his KRI Kundalini Yoga Teacher Certification . He feels blessed and honored to be given the opportunity to share these sacred teachings.

Kristen Lassiter RYT
Kristen primarily teaches Vinyasa yoga. Her strengths as an instructor include being able to teach a variety of asanas with in one class, offering different layers for different levels of practice and never making yoga appear intimidating. Kristen places emphasis on making yoga ones own and encourages students to take their practice to a level in which they feel comfortable and safe, yet challenged.

Nicole Randone RYT, CMT
Nicole began practicing yoga in Omaha, NE in 1996. Always a big fan of happiness, balance, and peace Nicole has experienced and studied many different spiritual paths. She was encouraged by a wonderful teacher to look into yoga teacher training. She received her 200 hr yoga certification through Shambhava School of Yoga in 2009, and she continues to receive training in meditation and yoga as often as possible. She has a BA in Liberal Arts and in Communication Arts. She lives in Ft. Collins with her dogs, cats and a boy. She loves mountains, hiking, the arts, backpacking, animals, volunteering, dancing, fun, and love. Her teaching style has been described as authentic, encouraging, and calming.

Nina Kunze CYT
Nina began her yogic path with regular practice in 2006 and graduated in Dec. 2009 from the 200 hour teacher training through the Shambhava School of Yoga. She teaches at various locations in Ft. Collins and offers private instruction in her home. She finds many rewards in teaching, especially when she is able to assist her students into better health and well being through yoga. She has continued her yoga studies through many workshops and the Level 3 training through the Shambava School. Nina is also mother of Corinne, step-mother of Matt and Mark, and wife of Scott. She completed her BA in Communication with Regis in 2001 and works as a writer, realtor, and property manager.

Paul Gerberding CYT
Paul became a believer in Yoga many years ago while traveling in India, and in 2007 became a certified instructor through the Shambhava School of Yoga. He has taking several intermediate level yoga trainings and recently returned from a year in India teaching art and exploring the country. His teaching style integrates aspects of breath-initiated movement, proper physical alignment in the asanas, and a quiet mind during practice. He is honored to help students navigate the timeless art of Union and Peace.

Rachael White CYT
Rachael started calling Fort Collins home after moving here from Iowa in 2004. After completing her undergraduate degree in psychology and music from Wartburg College, Rachael started searching for a healthy spiritual practice and stumbled across yoga . With a background in dance, yoga seemed the perfect fit. Since then she has worked to entwine all aspects of the practice into her daily life. Rachael completed her training here in Fort Collins through the Shambhava School of Yoga in the Spring 2007, and is loving every moment teaching in the community.

Rebecca Rambo CYT
Rebecca is a certified yoga Hatha teacher with an additional certification in prenatal yoga. She hopes to work with children, families and those inexperienced with the path of yoga by extending her heart to the community to help people find their own divine path through pranayama (breath), asana (postures) and meditation. She began practicing yoga 8 years ago as a way to overcome personal anxieties. This developed into a path which connects her mind, body and heart. Rebecca is also pursuing a degree in Human Development and has found yoga helps children regulate their bodies, emotions and build confidence to successfully navigate through their own life. Her classes have been described as open, inviting and peaceful.

Samantha Lieurance CYT
Sam is a devoted student and teacher of yoga. She shares her passion for life and dedication to health through her practice. Sam began studying yoga in Kansas City, MO while finishing her bachelor's in Fine Art and Graphic Design. She moved to Fort Collins in 2006 and became a certified yoga teacher in December of 2007 through the Shambhava School of Yoga. Her outgoing personality and seemingly endless supply of energy are an inspiration to her students.

Teressa Brown CYT
Teressa has completed her 200-hour certification for Hot Yoga in 2006, another 200-hour Vinyasa Power Yoga certification in 2007, and an Anusara Immersion in 2011. She has taken many workshops and trainings over the years. Her favorites include Kundalini yoga, partner yoga, anusara yoga, meditation, and nutrition. She has helped lead several teacher trainings and yogi trainings at CorePower Yoga. She teaches challenging, creative, and inspiring classes that are also safe and intelligent to the body. She loves to connect with her students, and help them find their full potential in poses through hands-on assistance, and the occasional aromatherapy.