Teachers

Jennifer Bettini-Bergeron – Jennifer's love of yoga blossomed under the tutelage of the world-renowned yoga teacher, Bryan Kest.  Jennifer brings warmth, humor and precision to her teaching.

Leslie DiPaolo

Kathleen Dougherty Kathleen has been practicing Ashtanga yoga since 1999 at Heart Space (Washington Park Yoga), under the tutelage of Leslie Abraham and Nancy Polacek, and she assisted teaching for both. In 2009, she earned her 200-hour yoga teaching certificate at Heart Space from her teachers, Lauren Toolin and John Smrtic. Kathleen also has had the honor of studying with Beryl Bender Birch, Doug and David Swenson, and Judith Lasiter. Kathleen’s other passion is a love of animals, and she is a supporter/volunteer for the Mohawk Hudson River Humane Society and the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, and is the proud owner of three rescued dogs and several rescued cats. A former marathon runner, Kathleen is sensitive to physical limitations and encourages the use of props and modifications in her teaching.

Susan Feathers Susan Feathers has studied yoga and meditation for 25 years. She was initiated by Dhrama Mittra in 1986 and studied with him for six years. She became a Sivananda certified teacher in 1986 and since then has taught yoga at Sivananda retreats and ashrams throughout the United States as well as in Mexico, Costa Rica and Canada. She is an active member of the Ananada Marga mission which integrates social justice and yogic teachings. She is an author of YOGA IN AN ADIRONDACK CHAIR (2000).

Lisa Ginsburg

Meghan Hogan 

Andrew Kasius offers a fun and challenging blend of asana, pranayama and meditation to help strengthen mental focus and awareness, enhance physical and energetic vitality, and foster stillness and peacefulness.   Andrew draws from his experience with diverse teachers and styles of yoga and seeks to offer classes that suit the needs and capabilities of each student.  Andrew completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Empowerment Training™ through Heartspace Holistic and is a Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance. 

Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius RYT completed her yoga teacher training from the Heartspace  Yoga Teacher Empowerment Program, an Albany-based 10-month long certification program that explores a variety of yoga traditions. Her influential teachers include Robert Cuozzi, Laurin Toolin, Cyndi Lee, and Jenny Otto. Elizabeth's yogic focal point is stress relief and well-being, and she loves teaching to beginners. Elizabeth is also a musician and composer, and is a Creative Arts Therapy faculty member at Russell Sage College in Troy.

Mary Beth Kolozsvary is a RYT with Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200-hour OM Yoga Joining Heaven and Earth teacher training, held at Heartspace Yoga, under the direction of Frank Mauro. Her classes are based on the OM Yoga style and philosophy, incorporating the movement of flowing yoga asanas with breath, paying particular attention to alignment, and bringing mindfulness and focus to the practice. She teaches an open level class.

Carol McCord, B.S., R.Y.T is one of a few teachers in the Northeast that have been Certified by John Friend to teach Anusara Yoga. Her love for yoga began ten years ago and since then she has studied with John Friend, Suzie Hurley, Deb Neubauer, and Todd Norian. She has also completed the Kripalu Yoga 500-hour Professional Certification. She brings warmth, playful strength, and joy to her teaching.  Carol is on a sabbatical until January 2009.

Tom McCarroll, MBA, RYT is a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, and Yoga of the Heart (R) Therapist.  Tom is the yoga instructor for the medical staff at St. Peter's Hospital.  He holds the rank of Nidan with the Japan Karate Association, and Shodan with the Moo Yei Do Association.  Tom's classes are a restorative mix of vigorous asana, pranayama, and deep relaxation.   

Sarah Peters is certified with Beth Shaw’s Yogafit™ and has been teaching throughout the Capital Region for 4 years.  Her teaching style ranges from powerful athletic moves to deep stretches.  She is also involved in several sports, including triathlons and rowing, and has incorporated her knowledge of these sports to help athletes improve their performance and recover from injuries.  Sarah originally began yoga as a grad student to help release stress but soon fell so in love with the process and benefits of yoga that she decided to teach in order to pass this joy on to others.  She hopes that through the class poses and teachings, students will find a centeredness that they can carry off the mat and into their lives.  

Nola Royce is a certified Yoga Teacher, registered with the National Yoga Alliance.  She has an extensive background in Iyengar Yoga and studied with Robert Cuozzi and Lauren Toolin, during her teacher training, gaining an appreciation and love of Vinyasa.  Nola is also a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, with a background in education. She brings all these skills and interests to her teaching.  Her classes focus on postural alignment and using the breath to move the body.  With Nola, the beginner series will take you through basic yoga postures, let you experience how using the breath can help you achieve freedom and ease while working your muscles, and discover ways to relax and rejuvenate

Sandy Sheridan has been practicing yoga since 2000 and earned her Anusara-Inspired Certification and Registered Yoga Teacher Certification in 2010.  Her class is a challenging flow of meditative poses rooted in playful individuality and safe alignment.

John Smrtic, J.D., RYT, is the Capital Region’s first 300 hour certified Jivamutki Yoga teacher.  Since 2007, John has spent a rare 500+ hours studying directly with his teachers, Jivamukti founders Sharon Gannon and David Life.   Soaked in this direct transmission, John is passionate to convey their teachings and method as purely as possible.  Using these teachings and traditional yogic scripture as a foundation, John blends wit, humor, music and challenging, intelligently sequenced asana from a vinyasa format to make each class a unique experience.  John was the assistant at the 2007-2008 Yoga Teacher Empowerment Training (YTET) at Heartspace Holistic in Albany, NY, and the Assistant Director of the YTET in 2008-2009 under Senior Para Yoga teacher Lauren Toolin.  He also ran a yoga program for at-risk, homeless youths through Safe House in Schenectady, NY.   John currently practices law part time around the Capital Region, in addition to teaching Jivamukti Yoga.

Clare Stevenson Clare has been teaching Nia for 5 years and is excited to be sharing Nia at Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts. Since discovering Nia 10 years ago, Clare has found this incredible blend of movement forms allows her to experience joy and develop a new relationship with her body, mind and spirit. Clare’s classes are playful, focusing on the sensation of being in YOUR body, moving in a way that feels good to YOUR body, and connecting with your individual spirit for a unique experience every class. Lay down your worries at the door, take a breath and step in to your own Nia experience.

Lauren Strait, RYT, completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Marianne Wells in Costa Rica during the summer of 2010. Her passion for yoga is continuously growing and evolving through the teachings of Radhanath Swami, Sharon Gannon and David Life. Lauren is passionate about conveying to her students what yoga has to offer...limitless and infinite possibilities and a life unbound, as we use our breath, body and mind to reconnect to the inner radiance existing within each one of us. Lauren is committed to her students' growth and her individual growth through her students and her fun-loving, goofy and compassion-filled personality add another element to each class.

Tracy Swanson  RYT, has a dedicated personal practice and has been a student of yoga for nearly 15 years. She completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Empowerment Training through Heartspace and is registered with Yoga Alliance. She is eternally grateful for the guidance, love, and inspiration provided to her by her teacher Lauren Toolin. Tracy is dedicated to helping others realize their potential and the divine spark they possess. Her passions include working with teenagers and children. She enjoys sharing the gift of yoga with at-risk youths. She has a warm and easy-going personality which is reflected in her teaching. Her classes are accessible to practitioners of all levels and modification are always provided.

Heather Tice completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Empowerment Training through Heart Space Holistic and is a Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance. Through her classes she strives to teach others how to balance body, mind, and spirit in their everyday lives. She thanks her teachers Lauren Toolin and John Smrtic for sharing their depth of knowledge and heartless dedication to yoga with her. Currently Heather is studying to be a Natural Health Consultant and hopes that through this and teaching yoga she will be able to help and transform the lives of others.

Keri Walsh has been practicing yoga for over 8 years. Holistic wellness became her passion after an insightful and transformational year long journey at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She is a local resident of Albany, New York, with a Master's Degree in Applied Nutrition and starting the Dietetic Internship in Fall 2010. Keri completed her 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at Frog Lotus in Costa Rica. Yoga is a discipline where one continually works at increasing self control and awareness. Yoga has provided Keri with equanimity between mind & body, enabling her to balance an active, busy lifestyle. She truly believes in the healing and transformative ability yoga provides and is so grateful for the opportunity to share her passion with others. Keri brings joy, fluidity, challenge and compassion to her teaching.

Carrie Will has been practicing yoga on and off the mat for several years. An artist by profession and nature, she finds comfort in expressing her creativity through yoga. Carrie received her 200-hour yoga teacher certification from The Kripalu Center for Yoga and health in Massachusetts. She is a compassionate yoga teacher who believes that the gifts of yoga can be found by anyone who seeks them no matter what age or body type one happens to be in. Through yoga, Carrie has found a deeper sense of compassion, confidence and love and finds it an honor to be able to share that practice with others. www.carriewill.com/yoga