Karen Leaming

E-RYT 500, YACEP

Co-founder & Owner

Karen Leaming is a 500 Hour E-RYT YACEP certified through Yoga Alliance with over 14 years of teaching experience. Trained in the Vinyasa style with an emphasis on safety, accessibility and a focus on therapeutic application, she loves teaching all levels flow, beginners, gentle, restorative, and one-on-one private classes.

Karen’s yoga journey began in college over 25 years ago when she was drawn to take a class, by some force beyond her understanding at the time, and soon realized that it was her true purpose to share and help as many people as possible through yoga. Despite her shy nature and her lack of a business education, Karen began taking trainings, teaching and eventually opened Ananda Yoga + Wellness in 2016. She is truly passionate about creating an environment where yoga is accessible to everyone and strives to create a safe, non-judgmental and inspiring space where you can truly let go, be yourself, and connect to your body, mind and spirit. Karen believes strongly in continuing to learn and grow in her own practice and education so that she can continue to share her knowledge and experience with her students.

When she is not doing or teaching yoga, Karen loves to travel, hike, snowboard, exercise, try new things and spend time with her two adult sons. She basically never stops and believes that life should be lived to its fullest every day!

Trainings and Certifications:

• 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training, YogaFit
• 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Therapeutic Focus, YogaFit
• Yoga as Medicine, Level I with Timothy McCall, MD
• Reiki Level 2 Certified
• Yin Yoga Certification
• Yoga 4 Sobriety

Karen Nolan

E-RYT 200
Studio Manager

Karen is a Registered Yoga Teacher,  ERYT-200 certified through Yoga Alliance and is an instructor and the Manager at Ananda Yoga + Wellness.

After many years of interest in yoga, Karen began a regular practice to help recover from an injury. She soon discovered that yoga and meditation improved her life in aspects beyond physical with stress reduction, improved relationships and added peace of mind.

After practicing for five years, she took 200 hour teacher training to broaden her knowledge of yoga and realized she needed to share her love of yoga through teaching.

Karen has been an instructor at Ananda Yoga + Wellness since the studio opened in 2016 and has experience teaching Vinyasa, Hatha and Beginner/Basic classes. She is also trained in Thai Massage and teaches private sessions.  Karen loves being part of the Ananda community.   She finds joy encouraging students to practice with self acceptance, self confidence and to take their practice “off the mat” to enrich their lives.  Karen believes there is a practice for everyone no matter what their fitness level, age, or experience.

Barbara Paulsen

E-RYT 500, YACEP, POLY500, RM and LMT

Barbara took her first Yoga class in 1992, at the recommendation of a close friend who suggested that it would help with the grieving process. Barbara and her family had experienced the tragic loss of her two brothers.

In her words, “My first class was profound. I found a quiet space inside of me that allowed me to connect with my heart and start to grieve my loss. The next two years were very challenging, but my practice led me to open my heart and to trust my connection with myself, others and with the Divine. Over time, my Yoga practice became about seeing beyond myself, so I can hold a space for others to grow and achieve wellness through their practice.”

Barbara’s classes are influenced by the flow of energy. Each class includes movement, breath-work, meditation and practices to help reduce stress. “My greatest hope is to provide a safe haven for students of all levels and abilities, fostering a space for restorative acceptance, compassion and love.”

Certified through Yoga Alliance; E-RYT500, YACEP, POLY500, RM and LMT, Barbara has over 22,900 hours of teaching experience. She offers a 200 hour training and a 300 hour Advanced Studies Program, for those who aspire to grow their personal experience and understanding of yoga and become certified to teach.

Barbara was trained and mentored by Larry Payne, Ph.D, the founding father of Yoga Therapy in the United States. She believes Yoga is not only an amazingly inspirational experience, but also a powerful tool that anyone can learn and use to improve lives. Barbara’s teaching approach is inviting, personalized and inclusive. She embraces the belief that yoga is truly for everyone … and every body.

Erik Marrero

E-RYT 500, YACEP

Yoga found Erik in the Spring of 2007. As a cancer patient, he enrolled in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, through the Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.  After graduating from the 8-week MBSR program, Erik continued his daily meditation practice and sought out yoga in a non-hospital environment. Erik is a graduate of the Yogawood 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher-Training, Linda Maguire’s 30-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training, and the Trishula Yoga300-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs.  Erik started practicing Ashtanga Yoga with Zoe Mai in 2009.  He has taken several teacher trainings with Manju Jois, and is authorized to teach Ashtanga.

In 2008, as part of the Yogawood 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, he took a Sanskrit immersion weekend with Zoe Mai of the American Sanskrit Institute (ASI). He was amazed that by the end of the second day, he was able to read Sanskrit words. The ASI learning model made that possible. In July 2011, with Zoe as his teacher, Erik joined Trishula Yoga’s weekly Sanskrit study group focusing on chanting and studying the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and other texts, as well as chanting the Sanskrit alphabet and Maheshvara Sutras. In July 2013, Erik participated in ASI Sanskrit Level 1 Teacher Training with Zoe Mai.  Erik is a Sanskrit teacher for ASI ( https://www.americansanskrit.com/teachers).

Erik is also a Yoga teacher Wellness Provider for Unite for HER ( https://uniteforher.org/).  This amazing organization provides complementary therapies to breast cancer survivors, at no cost to the survivor.

Erik studies and teaches Yin, Vinyasa, & Ashtanga yoga, is authorized to teach Ashtanga by Manju Jois, and is registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500 and a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).

Rose Knowles

E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP

Rose has been regularly practicing yoga for more than a decade; and although she teaches, she is also a forever student. Finding a balance between mind, body and spirit is of utmost importance for Rose. She incorporates pranayama along with asana and playfulness in all classes. She enjoys teaching a variety of yoga styles. When not instructing, she’s practicing…. Rose strongly believes in fostering a sense of well being, laughter, and commitment to community.

She has logged over 1500+ teaching hours at yoga studios, gyms, and in the high school in which she teaches. Rose has been a registered Yoga Alliance member since 2017. She has also led many Professional In-Service days and weekly classes for special needs students at Pitman High School.

When not teaching Physics and Chemistry, Rose enjoys being outside and as close to nature as possible. She enjoys camping, hiking trails, kayaking, and her pups love it, too. Rose enjoys getting away on yoga retreats…favorite ever is Kripalu in the Berkshires. Always looking for more places to visit in order to practice, meditate, and learn different styles of yoga.

Certifications:

• 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Experience Yoga Studios 2017 under Jill Blumenstock
• 500 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, Fitness Yoga Studios 2020 under Jill Blumenstock
• 40 Hour Yin Yoga
• 35 Hour Restorative Yoga
• 25 Hour Yoga Nidra
• 30 Hour Prenatal Yoga
• Metta Meditation
• Level 1 and 2 Reiki Healer

Jenn Veale

E-RYT 200, YACEP

Jenn found yoga in 2005 and it soon became so much more than physical after realizing the mental and spiritual benefits of the practice. Her aim is to help students find their bliss through the connection that practicing yoga brings. She loves to incorporate meditation, breathing techniques, and mudras into her classes and is passionate about making yoga accessible for every body.

Certifications and Community Service

• Level 1, YogaFit
• 200-Hour Certification, Experience Yoga Turnersville
• Yin Yoga Certification
• Divine Sleep^® Yoga Nidra
• Reiki Level 2 Certified
• Yoga 4 Sobriety

Jackie Ricketts

PT, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Jackie began practicing yoga 15 to 20 years ago, initially seeking an exercise program that would be gentler to muscles and joints compared to other classes offered at the gym.
Jackie was able to incorporate her love of yoga into her work as a school-based physical therapist, which further expanded her interest in yoga on a personal and professional level.  Upon retirement in 2015, she pursued a “second career”, enrolling in a Yoga Alliance Teacher Training program and completing her 200 hour certification in April 2016.
Jackie considers herself a life-long learner, and has completed additional trainings including Kidding Around Yoga (KAY), Therapeutic Yoga, Chair Yoga, 30 hour Yin Yoga certification, and 45 hour Yoga for Cancer certification (Y4C).  She is grateful to have been given the opportunity to share this knowledge and experience with her students, and believes that yoga can be beneficial to all, no matter one’s age, gender, body type or fitness level. She particularly enjoys teaching Beginner and Gentle yoga classes, and is available to work with clients privately who may be new to yoga, or coming back from injury, surgery or illness. Acknowledging that she has only explored the “tip of the iceberg” in this ever evolving field, she is eager to continue teaching and practicing yoga, and pursuing continuing education.
When she is not on her mat, Jackie enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, taking long walks with her dog, bike riding, and traveling.

Sue Lewbart

RYT-200

Sue believes that yoga saved her life.  She has always led an active lifestyle, but when health issues sidelined her from a regular exercise routine, her doctor “prescribed” yoga.  She quickly found that yoga was the answer, not only for her physical health, but also for her mental and spiritual wellbeing.
In 2018 she earned her 200 hour yoga teacher certification from Ananda Yoga + Wellness and is a registered yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance.  After retiring from a long career in elementary education, Sue made it her mission to bring yoga and mindfulness to people of all ages.   Along with teaching classes at Ananda, she also teaches yoga and mindfulness classes in several schools and preschools.
You can check out her you tube channel, where she regularly posts mindfulness and yoga videos.  Although most are geared towards children, some are suitable for adults as well.

Certifications and Community Service

• 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification, Ananda Yoga + Wellness
• Certified Children’s Yoga Instructor, Kidding Around Yoga and Next Generation Yoga
• Mindfulness Fundamentals, Mindful Schools
• Mindful Educator Essentials, Mindful Schools

Deb Cline

RYT-200

Deb first fell in love with yoga at Penn State University when she had to fulfill her PE credits. After not having a regular practice for a couple years, she came back to yoga in 2012 after her children went to school full time.  She embraced the benefits yoga provided for her own sanity, as well as the physical strength she gained.  Wanting to learn more, she enrolled in Ananda Yoga and Wellness’s teacher training program in 2018.
Meditation and yoga have helped not only Deb, but her family as well.  She has brought what she has learned into her own home to help with her children’s anxiety and ADHD issues.  She has taught an after school yoga club at the local elementary school & currently instructs middle school and high school athletes at a nearby school weekly.  Along with teaching school aged kids, she has also taught private yoga sessions to adults with specific injuries or tightness in muscles. She is dedicated to bringing yoga to all ages and physical abilities.   Deb believes there is always room to grow as a student and a teacher.  She hopes to continue to share her love for yoga with her students and help them along their own journey.

Certifications and Community Service

• RYT 200 Hour Teacher Training, Ananda Yoga & Wellness
• Reiki Level I & II Certified

Kym Stone

RYT 200

Kym has been a runner for as long as she can remember. She is a triathlete turned yogi who loves connecting movement, power and stillness into her practice… often outdoors. Kym owns Glisten, an outdoor fitness facility offering swim, paddle, run, yoga and many special events.

Gina Redrow

RYT 200

A regular exercise program, yoga practice, and healthy nutrition choices have benefited Gina for many years. As a result, she is passionate about helping clients incorporate this lifestyle to create better balance in their lives. Gina’s yoga classes blend mind, body and breath to help practitioners discover new strength and relaxation. They are designed to inspire participants of various fitness levels and demonstrate necessary modifications to help motivate all, while fostering a welcoming environment of friendship and fun. Her teaching experience includes Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yoga for Children, Hot Vinyasa Flow and Kundalini. Gina feels that sharing yoga practice and philosophy together is a beautiful experience of love, compassion and growth and changes the way we live.

Certifications and Community Service

• 200-Hour Teacher Training, Fitness Yoga Studios
• Primary Group Exercise Certified Instruction
• Continuing Education Classes Include: Life Coaching, Eating Disorders, Mind-Body-Spirit Connection, Stress Management

Becca Bielat

RYT-200, Reiki Master

Becca Bielat began her yoga practice in 2011 for its physical benefits. Being an athlete, she knew it was a particularly valuable form of exercise because she noticed immense differences in her body on the days she didn’t practice. In 2016, she learned that yoga is much more than just physical exercise. She began to learn mindfulness that she never knew possible, as if she unlocked a superpower that’s been within her all along, and yoga was the key!

She became more connected with her breath, body, mind, and spirit. Yoga helped her build her mental “observer” muscle, as she was learning how to detach from any judgments and labels of her thoughts. This grew self acceptance and unconditional love within her. She also learned how to listen to her body’s messages, as opposed to pushing her body passed its limits. Yoga also helped her become more in touch with her emotions, and to see that her inner child is still within her yearning to be nurtured, which always was/is during yoga. Lastly, yoga has shown her that she is a spiritual being with a grand opportunity to be alive. The present moment tends to find her more during yoga, than most other times. She feels these tools that she has gained from yoga has helped her immensely throughout each heavy challenge in her life, and thus believes it can help many others.

After a very intense healing time during Becca’s life, she took the opportunity to deepen her yoga practice, as well as share it with others. She treats each class as if it’s enriched, delicious food for the soul. She loves to encourage her students to have fun exploring their bodies organically with her gentle guidance, and she makes sure everyone is safe when doing so. She has had many students tell her of their new and exciting meditation experiences within her class, as she enjoys letting her clients have a deep shavasana (meditation) infused with Reiki. She is endlessly grateful for the opportunity to teach yoga, and loves sharing its fruits to each student. Though a teacher, she remains a student, and incorporates her fresh studies and realizations within each class.

• Trainings, Certifications, and Degrees:
• 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training
• Reiki Master Level
• Integrated Energy Therapy Level 1
• BA in Psychology

Michelle Ciociola

RYT 200

Michelle has worked in the medical field for over 10 years and has furthered her education becoming a certified yoga teacher. She wants to help people live a healthy lifestyle in her career and now in her students’ yoga journey. She looks forward to sharing her practice with students and opening their minds and hearts to yoga. She hopes to help deepen their practice and teach lessons on the yoga mat that can be applied off the mat.