yoga in Ithaca, NY

Ahimsa Instructors

Ahimsa studio hosts a number of excellent yoga instructors, each offering a different types of yoga and different teaching styles. We encourage you to try different classes and teachers to find the classes that are best for you. Check out the bios below to learn more about our instructors.

Carol (aka Hawk)

This is where we say all sorts of wonderful things about Hawk. Oh she is a big-shot yoga instructor alright, teaching up at Cornell and all....and she has her own studio so she must be really good, right? Plus she uses her studio to host dance church and laughs all crazy during laughter yoga so she knows how to have fun...Om shanti 

Sara Brown

Sara draws on teachings from both Iyengar and Vinyasa Yoga styles and aims to create a supportive environment for students to learn about Yoga and themselves.  Sara teaches with compassion, humor and love; holding out to all students the capacity each has to practice yoga and to live life consciously and with ease.

 

Molly Kornblum

Molly is a native Ithacan who's thrilled to be back home after ten years spent between New York City, Paris and Northern California.  She was trained in the Vinyasa style by Dana Flynn and Jasmine Tarkeshi at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center in New York City.  She's excited to share her passion for yoga with her hometown.  Thank you to Hawk for the opportunity to join the Ahimsa family.

Jai Hari

Jai Hari has been teaching Kundalini Yoga in the Ithaca area for 12 years.
She has taught children, teens, adults and seniors in a variety of settings ranging from classes to retreats to private work as well.
Her teaching style is one that encourages each individual to push beyond their own "self-imposed" limitations while still being tuned into real limitations at the same time.  Using her class as a catalyst for individual inspiration and insight, Jai Hari helps her students tune into their own intention and realize their fullest potential.  It is one of her greatest joys to support students personal and spiritual growth through Kundalini Yoga. 
Jai Hari is a certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor through IKYTA (International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association) and has completed training with CTI (Coaches Training Institute).  She has also studied Ten Body Yoga and Numerology extensively over the past 12 years.  With these ancient sciences, she brings a unique perspective to her teaching.
To pre-register call 607 760 5386

 

Rachel Bush

Rachel Bush came to yoga at the age of 19, already with sports injuries and very limited flexibility. Without her knowing it, she also came with a deep yearning to reconnect with her heart's voice. A strange thing began to occur after a few months of practicing: she not only felt better physically, but began a journey towards her deepest desires, which continues today. Since those early practices, she has become a dedicated student and teacher of Anusara Yoga. She has also studied at the Finger Lakes School of Massage and has a massage practice at Rasa Spa. Included in her study of yoga is also the study of Ayurveda, which she weaves into her life and teaching with enthusiasm. She is honored to be a teacher of this ancient tradition and to bring the practice into our time and culture.

Lennessa

Lennessa has been a student and teacher of the practice and philosophy of yoga for many years. She became interested in yoga as a result of her meditation practice. Her experiences on the mat influenced her descision to become a Certified Yoga Instructor. Lennessa completed a 200 hour Ashtanga-Vinyasa yoga training program and a 16 hour Sanskrit course under the direction of Indu-Bala Bhardwaj, a 35 hour certification training with Doug Swenson, and has studied extensively with Larry Schultz, director of the It's Yoga Ashtanga system. Recently she traveled to NYC to study Yogic Arts, a yoga/martial arts blend with Duncan Wong.

Lennessa presents a dynamic blend of these teachings, deeply rooted in the traditional strength and grace which is the heart of Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga. She is also as passionate about pregnancyand natural birth as she is about yoga and has led classes in Prenatal Yoga, Baby and Me Yoga, and is a trained and experienced Birth Doula, through the Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Eduators. Lennessa is certified thrugh the National Yoga Alliance, and has co-created a yoga Teacher Training Program, which is also Registered through Yoga Alliance at the 200 hour level. She has learned that every teacher has something valuable to offer, has wishes to share her passion for yoga by encouraging others to love their true selves by "living yoga".

Carol
Dominique Fry

Dominique Fry has been a student of yoga for 20 years. She draws her experience form different schools of yoga such as Sivananda, Ashtanga, Jivamukti and more recently Iyengar. She feels that the Iyengar method has most positively enlivened and inspired her practice to a different level. Even though she still draws some inspiration from her Ashtanga and vinyasa background, as a teacher she strives to motivate her students to learn to be in asana fully, with complete involvement and awareness… Her class’s emphasis will concentrate greatly on alignment and the use of props to allow for a safe and steady growth of her students’ progress into the endless refinement of their yoga practice. Dominique feels that the practice of Yoga gives her a sense of well being that can not be explained… physical but also mental, a peace of mind like no other… She remains forever grateful to all the teachers that have inspired her on her journey into the Yogic path. Dominique has been a resident here in Ithaca for over 6 years where she holds a private massage therapy practice. www.dominiquefry.com

Tammy

Tammy has been practicing asana for almost a decade and teaching since 2001. She has received multiple certifications through Yoga Fit Levels 1 thru 3, My Yoga Spirit 200 Hour Hatha Yoga RYT certification program, and counts herself lucky to have participated in the 2007 Yoga Alliance registered month long intensive Jivamukti Yoga certification program where she spent 350 glorious hours with her loving gurus Sharon Gannon, David Life and Manorama. Tammy has also had the privilege to study with other esteemed teachers such as Yogeswari Eichenberger, Dharma Mittra, and Doug Swenson. She looks forward to every opportunity of spreading the teachings of Jivamukti Yoga, an enlightenment system that draws deeply from past wisdom; is planted firmly in the needs of today's yogis and yoginis, and predicts a bright future eventually unfolding for all beings everywhere. She believes deeply that there is no faster way to personal transformation than by service and kindness to others, and that the more you practice patience and compassion, the more capacity you will have for both. Tammy would like to thank Manorama ji for showing her the beauty in Sanskrit, Sharon ji and David ji for their inspiring ability to share these ancient teachings so fearlessly. Her gratitude further extends to those that strive to make the world beautiful for all beings including but not limited to: her life partner Matt, her guiding light Asha, everyday lorax Julia Butterfly Hill, and all animal crusaders. She bows humbly at the lotus feet of all her teachers and her students. Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May all being everywhere be happy and free. May my thoughts words and actions contribute in some way to that happiness and freedom for all.)

Mary Kay

Mary Kay has been practicing yoga for six years. She is a certified Yoga Siromani with over 500 hours of training with The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre of Rishekish, India. Currently, she is receiving her Master’s degree in Special Education and Art at SUNY Cortland and is studying how yoga affects people with disabilities for her thesis. Mary Kay wants to bring peace and joy to people through the science of yoga. Yoga literally translates to mean union. It is the oldest science of life and can teach you to bring stress under control on all levels of being; physical, mental, and spiritual. With her gentleness, positive encouragement, and grace, Mary Kay wants to bring this to you in order for you to become more centered and balanced. She is enthusiastic and ready to share her passion for yoga with you! Anyone can participate and no special equipment or clothing is required! Give it a go!

Astrid

I have come to have a deep appreciation for yoga during my many years of practice for the inner peace it has brought to my life. It has been amazing to watch the effects that yoga has had on my physical, mental and spiritual lives and it has been inspiring to see how patience and dedication to the practice over the years has created great personal growth. It is one of my greatest wishes that others may also discover such a vehicle in which to find contentment. I am also greatly impressed by yoga's unique teachings which can transcend religions, nations, race and other human divisions. While deeply respecting and honoring the ancient roots of yoga in India, I am also interested in incorporating other cultural metaphors into the yoga practice in order to create a universal space for peace and unity, within and without. I have drawn both information and inspiration for my own practice and teachings from trainings with nationally recognized teachers such as Shiva Rea and Seane Corn (among others) as well as from many local instructors, especially Jim Eavonson, Steven Valloney, Sarah Brown, Kelly Morris and Dominique Fry. I practice and teach in the vinyasa style, with emphasis on connecting breath with movement, while also paying attention to the alignment of the poses.

Jamie

Jamie is excited to be joining the Ahimsa community. She is a certified yoga instructor who studied under Jonny Kest and believes she learns something every time she steps on her mat. Jamie has been teaching yoga for six years. Jamie has a positive, dynamic, energetic teaching style and she has been honored to work with professional athletes and share the gift of yoga. (Incidentally, she was also an athlete herself.) Jamie is also a certified Health Counselor.

607-280-0191
www.ithacayoga.org