Soluna Yoga - Teachers

Teachers

Lisa Alexander is the director and founder of Soluna Yoga Studio. She brings many years of experience as an educator to Soluna. Her passion for teaching and learning has motivated and directed her towards the art of teaching yoga. Lisa holds a Master’s Degree in Education and received a certificate for teaching yoga from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She is a Registered Yoga Alliance teacher and has studied with David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Todd Norian, Seane Corn and Suzie Hurley. She enjoys learning as much as teaching and continues her studies so she can bring as much knowledge about yoga to all her students.

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.

Cathy Prescott RYT, has been a yoga student for more than 25 years, studying with teachers from a variety of traditions in the U.S. and abroad. She is certified at the 500-hour level in Yoga Therapy through Integrative Yoga Therapy. She is the Director of their Yoga Home Study Program and mentors students in the 500-hour teacher training program. Cathy holds additional certifications in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Therapeutic & Remedial Massage, Clinical Aromatherapy, and is a Reiki Master. She is currently studying yoga and meditation at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. For more than three years, Cathy has trained in a variety of nationally recognized programs as well as creating her own specialized classes that she offers to growing families, including: Prenatal Yoga, HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Education, Itsy Bitsy Yoga®, and Mom & Baby Yoga. Coming Soon: The Happiest Baby on the Block™ workshop for expecting and new parents!

Jo Page is a certified Ashtanga instructor who studied primarily with David Swenson, Richard Freeman and Nancy Polachek. She is the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church.

Tina Koehler is a lifelong exercise enthusiast who has been practicing Pilates since 1997 and was recently certified through Power Pilates. She has found Pilates to be a program that complements all of her other exercise endeavors (golf, tennis, running and weight training) by focusing on core development, posture and balance.
Tina has a B.S. and M.S. in Education and is a Certified Personal Trainer. She is currently enrolled in the Exercise Science Certificate program through San Diego State University and is continuing her Pilates training through Power Pilates.

Heather Frenz has been practicing yoga for 6 years and has completed David
Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Workshop. For 10 years she has
integrated her unique expertise as a fight choreographer and instructor
into her work with theatre students and professionals. In addition, she has conducted acting workshops to both children and adults. Heather brings her experience as a teacher and her love of the spiritual practice of yoga to her classes.

Regina Epp offers her heart and gratitude for life's gifts in her teaching. As a Kripalu certified Yoga Teacher and former studio owner, she embraces each student as unique and "perfect just as they are". She brings over 10 years of experience as a yoga teacher and has an extensive background in recreation therapy, fitness and wellness. While continuing her studies through The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, she will be completing her 500 HR YTT in the near future.

Melissa MacKinnon has been practicing yoga for 20 years. She became certified as a Hatha Yoga instructor in 1994 in Tucson, Arizona and is currently a Registered Yoga Alliance teacher. She has additional certifications in teaching prenatal yoga and children's yoga. Melissa is inspired by the yogic traditions of Kriya, Viniyoga, Kripalu, and Iyengar and studies with teachers from those traditions. Her teachings center on yoga as a science of self-awareness whose transformational tools connect us deeply and consciously to our own inner sense of joy and peace.

Angela Anthony had to give up swimming 5 years ago, when her lungs objected to the harsh chemicals in the public pools. In her search for a similar form of full-body exercise, she discovered the method of body conditioning developed by Joe Pilates. After her first session she knew that she had found what she was looking for. She attended Pilates classes five days a week with many different instructors, and is currently apprenticing four days a week with Jeanette Sommer at Albany Pilates Center. She is mat certified by Power Pilates in New York City and attends frequent Continuing Education workshops offered by them. Angela's enthusiasm for the amazing work done by Joe Pilates is contagious. It allows her to combine her love of learning and teaching. Angela is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance. In addition to the National Museum of Dance, she teaches at Albany Pilates Center and the Soluna Yoga Studio in Niskayuna.

Sandra Balint is a certified Chinese Martial Arts instructor at the Capital District Tai Chi and Kung Fu Association (CDTCA). Since 1999 she has been awarded 19 medals in Tai Chi and Kung Fu in three International Championships and one National competition. At the most recent Pan-American Championships in Toronto in July 2006 she was awarded a silver medal in Wu Style Tai Chi. Her studies include training in Open Hand and Weapon disciplines. She is skilled in fan, sword, broadsword, staff, spear, and three-section staff. In addition, she has done extensive work in Qi Gong meditative healing exercises. In 2007 Sandra will be presenting a Qi Gong program at the International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG) at Skidmore College. Currently she teaches Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Chinese Fan at the Pil-Sung Tae Kwon Do Studio (home of CDTCA) in Albany and for various organizations throughout the Capital Region, including: the Museum of Dance/ Dancing through Time program, and Gilda's Club of Latham and Enrichment programs in Saratoga Area schools.

Rebecca Varno began practicing yoga in 1997, first in the Pittsburgh, PA area and then in upstate New York. Drawn to yoga to help relieve a back injury, she found physical relief and discovered a deep sense of peace and acceptance; an experience she would like to guide her students towards as well. Rebecca is inspired by many different styles of yoga, including the flow of Vinyasa, the compassion of Kripalu, and the alignment of Iyengar. She melds these styles to create a class which she tailors to fit the needs and practice level of her students. Rebecca completed her 200 hour certification at Lotus Gardens Yoga, llc. in December of 2006 under the direction of Lara Ward, and has trained with Lisa Alexander of Soluna and many of the teachers at the Albany Kripalu Yoga Center.

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	Lisa Alexander is the director and founder of Soluna Yoga Studio. She brings many years of experience as an educator to Soluna. Her passion for teaching and learning has motivated and directed her towards the art of teaching yoga. Lisa holds a Master’s Degree in Education and received a certificate for teaching yoga from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She is a Registered Yoga Alliance teacher and has studied with David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Todd Norian, Seane Corn and Suzie Hurley. She enjoys learning as much as teaching and continues her studies so she can bring as much knowledge about yoga to all her students.
	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.
	Cathy Prescott RYT, has been a yoga student for more than 25 years, studying with teachers from a variety of traditions in the U.S. and abroad. She is certified at the 500-hour level in Yoga Therapy through Integrative Yoga Therapy. She is the Director of their Yoga Home Study Program and mentors students in the 500-hour teacher training program. Cathy holds additional certifications in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, Therapeutic & Remedial Massage, Clinical Aromatherapy, and is a Reiki Master. She is currently studying yoga and meditation at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA. For more than three years, Cathy has trained in a variety of nationally recognized programs as well as creating her own specialized classes that she offers to growing families, including: Prenatal Yoga, HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Education, Itsy Bitsy Yoga®, and Mom & Baby Yoga. Coming Soon: The Happiest Baby on the Block™ workshop for expecting and new parents!
	Jo Page is a certified Ashtanga instructor who studied primarily with David Swenson, Richard Freeman and Nancy Polachek. She is the Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church.
	Tina Koehler is a lifelong exercise enthusiast who has been practicing Pilates since 1997 and was recently certified through Power Pilates. She has found Pilates to be a program that complements all of her other exercise endeavors (golf, tennis, running and weight training) by focusing on core development, posture and balance. Tina has a B.S. and M.S. in Education and is a Certified Personal Trainer. She is currently enrolled in the Exercise Science Certificate program through San Diego State University and is continuing her Pilates training through Power Pilates.
	Heather Frenz has been practicing yoga for 6 years and has completed David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training Workshop. For 10 years she has integrated her unique expertise as a fight choreographer and instructor into her work with theatre students and professionals. In addition, she has conducted acting workshops to both children and adults. Heather brings her experience as a teacher and her love of the spiritual practice of yoga to her classes.
	Regina Epp offers her heart and gratitude for life's gifts in her teaching. As a Kripalu certified Yoga Teacher and former studio owner, she embraces each student as unique and "perfect just as they are". She brings over 10 years of experience as a yoga teacher and has an extensive background in recreation therapy, fitness and wellness. While continuing her studies through The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, she will be completing her 500 HR YTT in the near future.
	Melissa MacKinnon has been practicing yoga for 20 years. She became certified as a Hatha Yoga instructor in 1994 in Tucson, Arizona and is currently a Registered Yoga Alliance teacher. She has additional certifications in teaching prenatal yoga and children's yoga. Melissa is inspired by the yogic traditions of Kriya, Viniyoga, Kripalu, and Iyengar and studies with teachers from those traditions. Her teachings center on yoga as a science of self-awareness whose transformational tools connect us deeply and consciously to our own inner sense of joy and peace.
	Angela Anthony had to give up swimming 5 years ago, when her lungs objected to the harsh chemicals in the public pools. In her search for a similar form of full-body exercise, she discovered the method of body conditioning developed by Joe Pilates. After her first session she knew that she had found what she was looking for. She attended Pilates classes five days a week with many different instructors, and is currently apprenticing four days a week with Jeanette Sommer at Albany Pilates Center. She is mat certified by Power Pilates in New York City and attends frequent Continuing Education workshops offered by them. Angela's enthusiasm for the amazing work done by Joe Pilates is contagious. It allows her to combine her love of learning and teaching. Angela is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance. In addition to the National Museum of Dance, she teaches at Albany Pilates Center and the Soluna Yoga Studio in Niskayuna.
	Sandra Balint is a certified Chinese Martial Arts instructor at the Capital District Tai Chi and Kung Fu Association (CDTCA). Since 1999 she has been awarded 19 medals in Tai Chi and Kung Fu in three International Championships and one National competition. At the most recent Pan-American Championships in Toronto in July 2006 she was awarded a silver medal in Wu Style Tai Chi. Her studies include training in Open Hand and Weapon disciplines. She is skilled in fan, sword, broadsword, staff, spear, and three-section staff. In addition, she has done extensive work in Qi Gong meditative healing exercises. In 2007 Sandra will be presenting a Qi Gong program at the International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG) at Skidmore College. Currently she teaches Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Chinese Fan at the Pil-Sung Tae Kwon Do Studio (home of CDTCA) in Albany and for various organizations throughout the Capital Region, including: the Museum of Dance/ Dancing through Time program, and Gilda's Club of Latham and Enrichment programs in Saratoga Area schools.
	Rebecca Varno began practicing yoga in 1997, first in the Pittsburgh, PA area and then in upstate New York. Drawn to yoga to help relieve a back injury, she found physical relief and discovered a deep sense of peace and acceptance; an experience she would like to guide her students towards as well. Rebecca is inspired by many different styles of yoga, including the flow of Vinyasa, the compassion of Kripalu, and the alignment of Iyengar. She melds these styles to create a class which she tailors to fit the needs and practice level of her students. Rebecca completed her 200 hour certification at Lotus Gardens Yoga, llc. in December of 2006 under the direction of Lara Ward, and has trained with Lisa Alexander of Soluna and many of the teachers at the Albany Kripalu Yoga Center.