Ananda Yoga

Justine Budhram, owner and director of Ananda Yoga, was first
introduced to basic yoga postures and sun salutations in 2002 as
part of an acting movement class that she attended in
college.  After starting the semester barely able to reach
past her knees in a forward bend and ending the semester able to
reach her toes, she realized that yoga should definitely be a part
of her life.  As she continued her yoga journey, she realized
that the benefits she was receiving from her practice went much
deeper than physical flexibility and strength; she began to find a
level of gratitude, self-acceptance and calmness of spirit that she
had never experienced before.  She decided she wanted to share
her joy and love of yoga and completed her 200-hour certification
at Core Power Yoga in Minneapolis, MN.  Justine completed an
additional teacher training at Bhava Yoga Center in May of 2009.
She continues to practice and explore on her own and is delighted
to share her discoveries with her students.
Justine is also a certified Movement and Mobility Specialist
through Mobilitywod.com. Through this certification she has delved
deeper into musculoskeletal anatomy and movement biomechanics, and
she also learned many techniques to restore joint function and soft
tissue mobility. This training informs her yoga classes, and makes
them unique in their language, content, and practical applicability
to daily life.
Justine's classes have a fun, playful and exploratory
atmosphere, no matter if she is teaching a vigorous vinyasa flow or
a slower paced beginner class. Justine strongly believes in the
power of breath to guide movement and release the mind, and her
classes have a strong focus on flowing and moving with the rhythm
of each inhale and exhale. Her hands-on assists help students find
proper alignment and their deepest release in each posture.

Justine Budhram, owner and director of Ananda Yoga, was first introduced to basic yoga postures and sun salutations in 2002 as part of an acting movement class that she attended in college.  After starting the semester barely able to reach past her knees in a forward bend and ending the semester able to reach her toes, she realized that yoga should definitely be a part of her life.  As she continued her yoga journey, she realized that the benefits she was receiving from her practice went much deeper than physical flexibility and strength; she began to find a level of gratitude, self-acceptance and calmness of spirit that she had never experienced before.  She decided she wanted to share her joy and love of yoga and completed her 200-hour certification at Core Power Yoga in Minneapolis, MN.  Justine completed an additional teacher training at Bhava Yoga Center in May of 2009. She continues to practice and explore on her own and is delighted to share her discoveries with her students.

Justine is also a certified Movement and Mobility Specialist through Mobilitywod.com. Through this certification she has delved deeper into musculoskeletal anatomy and movement biomechanics, and she also learned many techniques to restore joint function and soft tissue mobility. This training informs her yoga classes, and makes them unique in their language, content, and practical applicability to daily life.

Justine's classes have a fun, playful and exploratory atmosphere, no matter if she is teaching a vigorous vinyasa flow or a slower paced beginner class. Justine strongly believes in the power of breath to guide movement and release the mind, and her classes have a strong focus on flowing and moving with the rhythm of each inhale and exhale. Her hands-on assists help students find proper alignment and their deepest release in each posture.

Kim first stepped onto a yoga mat in 2006. She ventured into her
first yoga class looking for a new form of exercise but found so
much more.  Exploring a new world of challenging yoga posses
quickly produced noticeable changes. Her muscles strengthened and
her balance and flexibility improved.  She noticed an increase
in both energy level and confidence in her physical abilities.
However, the surprise and true inspiration to delve deeper into her
practice came from the unexpected benefits yoga brought to her mind
and spirit.  The physical flow of yoga didn’t just strengthen
her body -- it transformed her outlook. The more she practiced, the
more she noticed less reactivity, more focus, and a greater degree
of self-acceptance. Wow! This power of yoga to transform one’s life
was something she wanted to share with others.

In 2009 she completed Level 1 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste,
and in 2012 received a 200-hour Teacher Training Certification from
Shiva Shakti Power Vinyasa Yoga.

Kim strives to teach a fun and invigorating power vinyasa flow to
systematically work all muscle groups.  She offers students a
chance to challenge themselves, while empowering them to grow
through exploring their yoga practice at their own pace.

Kim first stepped onto a yoga mat in 2006. She ventured into her first yoga class looking for a new form of exercise but found so much more.  Exploring a new world of challenging yoga posses quickly produced noticeable changes. Her muscles strengthened and her balance and flexibility improved.  She noticed an increase in both energy level and confidence in her physical abilities. However, the surprise and true inspiration to delve deeper into her practice came from the unexpected benefits yoga brought to her mind and spirit.  The physical flow of yoga didn’t just strengthen her body -- it transformed her outlook. The more she practiced, the more she noticed less reactivity, more focus, and a greater degree of self-acceptance. Wow! This power of yoga to transform one’s life was something she wanted to share with others.

In 2009 she completed Level 1 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste, and in 2012 received a 200-hour Teacher Training Certification from Shiva Shakti Power Vinyasa Yoga.

Kim strives to teach a fun and invigorating power vinyasa flow to systematically work all muscle groups.  She offers students a chance to challenge themselves, while empowering them to grow through exploring their yoga practice at their own pace.

Christine Texiera came to yoga as a less boring cardiovascular
exercise alternative to running on the machines at the gym.
Starting with an Anusara teacher she got a good foundation of body
awareness alignment and breath. She then learned to love the
kinetic prayer-like movements in Ashtanga but began to feel
neglected in gym-style yoga. Around the time she outgrew the gym
she was introduced to Vinyasa and loved the breadth of practice in
Bhava. The longer classes and being surrounded with people whose
postures were many examples of where the yoga could lead blossomed
what she did. Picking up her practice on her own and in class she
learned the true magic of yoga wasn’t just in a healthy body but a
resilient mind that could handled life’s larger trials. She
completed teacher training with Peter Rizzo in Spring 2009 and
started teaching immediately after.
Her class offers assists systematically around the room with a
voice lead, joyful music chosen to match the energy of the part of
the practice. Careful attention is made to sequence a complete and
balanced class with most offering vigorous Vinyasa and warm up, a
variety of seated poses, twists, balances, arm balances, inversions
and the opportunity for full back bends. Classes are designed to
challenge anyone who attends while giving space to care for body
and mind by skipping, modifying or substituting poses.
Christine is also an avid dancer, enthusiastic foodie and is
both artsy and geeky, often combining any of those with something
new and fun.

Christine Texiera came to yoga as a less boring cardiovascular exercise alternative to running on the machines at the gym. Starting with an Anusara teacher she got a good foundation of body awareness alignment and breath. She then learned to love the kinetic prayer-like movements in Ashtanga but began to feel neglected in gym-style yoga. Around the time she outgrew the gym she was introduced to Vinyasa and loved the breadth of practice in Bhava. The longer classes and being surrounded with people whose postures were many examples of where the yoga could lead blossomed what she did. Picking up her practice on her own and in class she learned the true magic of yoga wasn’t just in a healthy body but a resilient mind that could handled life’s larger trials. She completed teacher training with Peter Rizzo in Spring 2009 and started teaching immediately after.

Her class offers assists systematically around the room with a voice lead, joyful music chosen to match the energy of the part of the practice. Careful attention is made to sequence a complete and balanced class with most offering vigorous Vinyasa and warm up, a variety of seated poses, twists, balances, arm balances, inversions and the opportunity for full back bends. Classes are designed to challenge anyone who attends while giving space to care for body and mind by skipping, modifying or substituting poses.

Christine is also an avid dancer, enthusiastic foodie and is both artsy and geeky, often combining any of those with something new and fun.

I stepped into my first yoga class almost 9 years ago. At the
urging of a friend, I went to a beginner hot power vinyasa class
and was immediately hooked. Well maybe not immediately; I had to
crawl home first! This led me on a path to becoming a teacher.
After my first Baptiste training I knew this style of yoga was
going to be a big part of my life. I was also running a busy family
daycare but I continued trainings and finally signed up for teacher
training at Shiva Shakti and completed in 2013. This training
changed my life. I never planned on being a teacher or had
confidence that I could lead a class. I feel so grateful for the
wonderful yoga communities I'm part of. Ellen Abraham who owns
Burning Heart in Greenfield gave me my first class when I finished
teacher training. I was able to take my training to the next level
with teaching a beginner class. I currently teach at 3 different
studios, have taught 2 summer kids programs at Smith College, led
class for a Amherst College soccer camp, and started “ Yoga under
the Tent ” on Martha's Vineyard. I also traveled to Kenya last year
to assist in Africa Yoga Project’s 200 TT. I also just became
certified in Yin and I’m so excited to bring my love of this style
to the community at Ananda Studio. I’ve been a sub for Justine at
Ananda for several years. Words can't begin to express what a
transformation yoga has been for me and my life on and off the mat.
I incorporate yoga into my daycare daily and I love being able to
share my love and passion for yoga with others.

Certifications include:
200 hr training at Shiva Shakti with Brandon Compagnone & Naima
Workman. Level one & Level two and other Baptiste trainings and
immersions.
Certified Baptiste Teacher 2018
AYP assistant 2017
Yin certified 2018

I stepped into my first yoga class almost 9 years ago. At the urging of a friend, I went to a beginner hot power vinyasa class and was immediately hooked. Well maybe not immediately; I had to crawl home first! This led me on a path to becoming a teacher. After my first Baptiste training I knew this style of yoga was going to be a big part of my life. I was also running a busy family daycare but I continued trainings and finally signed up for teacher training at Shiva Shakti and completed in 2013. This training changed my life. I never planned on being a teacher or had confidence that I could lead a class. I feel so grateful for the wonderful yoga communities I'm part of. Ellen Abraham who owns Burning Heart in Greenfield gave me my first class when I finished teacher training. I was able to take my training to the next level with teaching a beginner class. I currently teach at 3 different studios, have taught 2 summer kids programs at Smith College, led class for a Amherst College soccer camp, and started “ Yoga under the Tent ” on Martha's Vineyard. I also traveled to Kenya last year to assist in Africa Yoga Project’s 200 TT. I also just became certified in Yin and I’m so excited to bring my love of this style to the community at Ananda Studio. I’ve been a sub for Justine at Ananda for several years. Words can't begin to express what a transformation yoga has been for me and my life on and off the mat. I incorporate yoga into my daycare daily and I love being able to share my love and passion for yoga with others.

Certifications include:
200 hr training at Shiva Shakti with Brandon Compagnone & Naima Workman. Level one & Level two and other Baptiste trainings and immersions.
Certified Baptiste Teacher 2018
AYP assistant 2017
Yin certified 2018

Leah Drabek is an American yoga
teacher who’s passionate about movement.  She enjoys taking an
individualized approach in her teaching by tailoring her classes to
assist with general to chronic stress, coping with, managing and
recovering from injuries - both mental and physical.  Although
she specializes in Vinyasa and Power Flow, she is trained in
and equally enjoys teaching Prenatal Yoga, Kids Yoga, YinYang,
Meditation, Mindfulness and Restorative/Yin Yoga.  She
believes that so many of us need to balance our busy and fast-paced
lifestyles and meditation, mindfulness and restorative/yin yoga are
very important to remind us and allow us to slow down. 
Leah strongly emphasizes pranayama (breath control) in each of her
classes to allow students to connect to their bodies and the
present moment, finding a moving meditation in connecting the mind,
body and spirit.
Leah has an extensive background in
dance, which allows her to sequence with strength, anatomical
intelligence and creativity.  Although she partook in yoga on
and off throughout her life, yoga found Leah as she was suffering
from an extensive groin injury from dancing; it saved her mentally
and spiritually through a time of struggle and desperation.
 Leah has returned to her roots of Western Massachusetts after
living and teaching in Australia for the past 2 1/2 years; she
looks forward to sharing her passion for life, love and yoga
with the community on and off the mat.

Leah Drabek is an American yoga teacher who’s passionate about movement.  She enjoys taking an individualized approach in her teaching by tailoring her classes to assist with general to chronic stress, coping with, managing and recovering from injuries - both mental and physical.  Although she specializes in Vinyasa and Power Flow, she is trained in and equally enjoys teaching Prenatal Yoga, Kids Yoga, YinYang, Meditation, Mindfulness and Restorative/Yin Yoga.  She believes that so many of us need to balance our busy and fast-paced lifestyles and meditation, mindfulness and restorative/yin yoga are very important to remind us and allow us to slow down.  Leah strongly emphasizes pranayama (breath control) in each of her classes to allow students to connect to their bodies and the present moment, finding a moving meditation in connecting the mind, body and spirit.

Leah has an extensive background in dance, which allows her to sequence with strength, anatomical intelligence and creativity.  Although she partook in yoga on and off throughout her life, yoga found Leah as she was suffering from an extensive groin injury from dancing; it saved her mentally and spiritually through a time of struggle and desperation.  Leah has returned to her roots of Western Massachusetts after living and teaching in Australia for the past 2 1/2 years; she looks forward to sharing her passion for life, love and yoga with the community on and off the mat.