Quick introduction :) my name’s Brittany. I'm a recruiter for a healthcare company by day, and a yogi by night. 

 My yoga journey started several years ago, but wasn’t kicked into full gear until a little over a year ago. I started a Zumba class because my doctor recommended that I exercise more to manage some health issues. Sound familiar?

 I showed up to my first Zumba class by myself. I loved it! Someone at the front desk suggested I stay for the next yoga class, “Tru Roots,” so I did. 

 Month after month I showed up to these two classes back to back every Monday. I looked forward to Mondays. I felt SO much better. Yoga and Zumba brought me clarity, a sense of calm, flexibility, energy, and joy. I signed up for yoga teacher training at the same studio and really began to feel a shift.

 Yoga teacher training brought awareness. I made so many changes in my life and created a daily practice. Yoga taught me to live beyond existing. So a little over a year later, you can now find me on Mondays at 7pm teaching Tru Roots.

 From this experience, I began to hone in on my own passions and strengths. How do I really want to live and spend my time and energy, and how can I inspire others to do the same? I’ve started to focus on developing myself as a person and creating something to share with others...update coming soon :) 

Linda King is a dynamic educator, counselor and coach.  Linda is the founder and CEO of The King Advantage, combining wellness and life coaching to support students and parents with college and career readiness.  She is a licensed school counselor with an MS in Counseling from Sage Graduate School, CAS in School Leadership & Administration from The University of Vermont, an Advanced Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Buffalo, Yoga Training from Breathe for Change, and finished her health coach training from The Health Coach Institute.  Linda holds professional memberships with many organizations including the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and the American Counseling Association. Most recently Linda spent five years as a mental health counselor and is currently is a professor of School Counseling at The College of St. Rose.  She served as Director of School Counseling for over a decade and has assisted hundreds of students and families with a variety of counseling goals. 

Phoebe is a yoga alliance certified RYT 200 instructor that is continuously working on expanding her knowledge. She took ballet for many years before finding yoga through free classes at her college. Phoebe wants to encourage others to find something new in each practice; whether it’s achieving a deeper expression of an asana, bringing physical and mental awareness, or finding inner peace on the mat.  Her classes would focus on building strength and flexibility while incorporating breath work.

Jill always knew there was a warmth that radiated from her hands, she thought everyone could do it. As we know in the teachings of Reiki everyone can in fact do Reiki, it just seems some people are more in tune than others. Jill also realized at a young age she could read playing cards. In her teens she became very involved in reading Tarot cards and Runes. In 2018 Jill decided it was time to become an official Reiki master and studied with Lynette Denson at the Tru Nature Studio in Lake Hopatcong for both her level I and Level II certification. That lead to the Guided meditation certification.

Jill has two daughters – who by the way benefitted from Reiki as children when they did not feel well. She is an animal lover and yes, she does Reiki her pets. Now that her children are grown up, she has embarked in her ever-growing spiritual journey.

Allison is a Reiki Master, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner, and Sound Healer, Allison will be facilitating a series of Healing Circles and Energy Medicine Workshops at SMG. Allison has been practicing Energy Medicine for ten years taking her first Healing Touch class at the Carol Simon Cancer Center where she volunteered as a Healing Touch Practitioner for four years. She has also practiced Energy Medicine at halfway houses for drug and alcohol addiction as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s units while presenting energy medicine workshops for hospital support groups and integrative health networks in Morristown and surrounding areas.

            Realizing the importance of Integrative Health in the healing of body, mind, and spirit, Allison is in a Master’s Program for Integrative Health and Medicine at Georgian Court University looking forward to enhancing her knowledge and skill set for the people she works with.

I began my yoga practice approximately 14 years ago. I was taking yoga classes as a fitness tool, and it wasn’t a consistent practice. It wasn’t until I took this one class at a studio I’d never been to that really touched me in a spiritual way when the teacher talked about connecting the breath to the body, silencing the mind, finding stillness and being in the present moment. I remember thinking to myself “Wow, Ok, this sounds pretty deep but also pretty cool and something I’ve never thought to try.”. After class I remember feeling this part inside of me, maybe it was my heart that felt softer and this weight that came off that made me feel lighter from the chaos of that time and everything in me felt calm, it was beautiful.  After that experience I began to practice quite often, but it became a bit expensive, so I began to just practice at home with Gaim videos and YouTube videos, but it was never the same and my practice became inconsistent, so I would take studio classes when I had a bit of cash to spare, which wasn’t often.  

I felt yoga made a positive impact in my life, both mentally and physically. It helped me in so many ways on how to handle emotional situations, how to pause and think things through, not just react out of emotion and not respond until I was emotionally and mentally ready. My practice has improved so much through the years and has helped me get through many difficult times. So I decided I wanted to share this way of emotional healing with others and thought I’d sign up for YTT and begin my journey. 

My classes encourage students to explore physical and mental challenges in a safe, non-competitive and supportive environment. I offer modifications for new students and advanced options for experienced yogis so that all can reach their potential. I enjoy blending a mixture of playful challenge moves and sequences with the intention that the students find balance mentally, physically, and spiritually. My hope is that the students can incorporate what they learn in their practice into their daily lives off the mat.

My favorite quote is “I came to yoga class to heal my body and I found myself instead.” - Anonymous

Namaste,

Aly

Julia started practicing yoga in middle school as a way to help manage anxiety, she deepened her knowledge, passion, and influences others to do so every day.

The ability to help maintain balance in her life and her love of yoga led Julia to complete her 200 RYT, meeting Yoga Alliance standards, in 2015.

Ayurveda was something that interested Julia and with its approach and benefits to allow one's self to reach its full potential – mind, body, soul. Julia graduated from the School of Ayurveda at Kripalu, Center for Yoga & Health in 2016, as is certified as an Ayurveda Health Counselor. Julia has completed 650 hours in Foundations of Ayurveda and is expanding her knowledge with Ayurveda in the future!

Katie is a Colorado native who grew up in a ski town loving exploring the outdoors. She spent her middle and high school career touring with a local dance company and began to integrate Pilates and yoga into her life. She soon discovered her passion for yoga and completed her 200 RYT in 2009 in Costa Rica. Katie is pure positivity and her authentic spirit shines through in her classes. She is dedicated to bringing balance and encourages spiritual as well as physical growth. Katie’s dance background shows in each class, as she weaves a natural flow into her compassion centered practice with thought-provoking intentions, meditations, breathwork, and postures. 

Jean O'Toole received her certifications for facilitating JourneyDance at Kripalu in Stockbridge, MA. She studied with JourneyDance founder, Toni Bergins, who has now brought the conscious dance movement across the globe. Off the dance floor, Jean is an author and scholarship strategist for high school and college students. Her designed strategies have helped students win thousands of dollars to contribute towards their college educations. Over 150,000 students have attended her programs across the United States. For more information about the work she does with students visit www.connections101.com As a JourneyDance facilitator, she is able to help others ignite their passion for creativity and knows firsthand that honoring the whole self resonates into other areas of life.

My JOURNEYDANCE™ Story...

I am an empire builder. I have a history of burying myself in my professional path. I have focused enormous time and attention to helping others design their lives. Over the past 15 years I have placed priority on my work life and my connection to my body and my creative self was pushed down to the bottom of my list of priorities, JourneyDance has helped me to reconnect to myself and reclaim my creative expression. JourneyDance has allowed me and many others to find my inner dancer and celebrate her. JourneyDance makes me whole. I am a better wife, daughter, sister and friend because of this practice. I look forward to helping you “tell your story on the dance floor”. Thank you in advance for honoring us all with YOUR dance, as each of us will be more fulfilled because of it.

Contact: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyDancewithJean/

jeanfedora@hotmail.com, 917-405-0596

Yomayra (Yomi) first fell in love with Zumba and fitness shortly after giving birth to her second child in 2011.  Her passion for health and fitness has flourished.  Her motto is to “Aspire to Inspire”.  Her goal is to assist women to learn to love their bodies and take care of themselves.  She became a Zumba instructor in April 2017 and loves every second of her new path in life.

Holly Johnson, an international yoga instructor and author, blossoms from an extensive background of research, study, and direct experience of therapeutic avenues to balance and mend the relationships between the mind, body, and Spirit.  Presently rooted in the state of Illinois serving the growth and expansion of the aerial yoga industry in the Chicagoland area, she frequently travels to new studios in other states and countries to support the global movement of the gifts of aerial yoga as well as stand up paddleboard yoga.  

She is certified as a nutritional therapist, personal trainer, equine massage therapist, aromatherapist, Reiki master, Thai bodyworker, and 200-hour yoga instructor.  Her extensive comprehension of optimal alignment, spiritual understanding, and energetic sensitivity lends to her authentic presence as a heartfelt, humbled leader in the aerial and SUP yoga industries. 

Holly is committed to her path as an educator, healer, and facilitator of empowering experiences. Her vision for possibility and passion for a life of purpose placed her on the pursuit of a niche for the dynamic and abundant benefits offered through aerial and SUP yoga.  Aviana appeared in Holly’s life at just the right timing while traveling through Ecuador, to serve as the vessel for Holly’s pursuit. 

Heather Bivona is the mother of three beautiful children and resides in Sparta.  

Heather began practicing yoga in 2004. After only a few classes, she felt a strong desire to pursue Yoga Teacher Certifications. In 2006 she studied with Shakta Kaur Khalsa for her certifications in the Radiant Child Yoga Program Levels 1 & 2. In 2008 she returned to Shakta for another certification in Women’s Health Kundalini Yoga. Heather expanded her yoga certifications in 2011 with the 200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Training with Paula Tepedino & Cheryl Paulson. Always feeling the desire to learn more, Heather expanded her Theraputic Yoga knowledge with Kula for Karma and Charlotte Stone for an Intensive Yoga Training for Movement Disorders: MS & Parkinson's Disease, as well as an Intensive Yoga Training for Cancer patients.  

H.A.L.O. YOGA (Health, Alignment, Lymph & Organs) is a special yoga program unlike any other. With emphasis on full body Health, spinal Alignment, Lymph movement and healthy Organs. A different class each week with special focus on spinal flexibility, breath work, immune system, lymph movement, organs, glands & chakras. Spinal flexibility keeps our bodies healthy and our organs working at their full potential. Adding strength, flexibility & relaxation for well rounded, full body health.  

Contact Heather through email or phone: hbivona@gmail.com or 973-951-4554.

“Yoga isn’t about doing….Yoga is about un-doing.” ~Dr. Brian Trautz

Under the teachings of the late Dr. Brian Trautz, Cari learned ancient wisdom along with playfulness of breath and movement.  She practices Kripalu teachings and received her yoga teacher certification from a creative vinyasa program incorporating heat, breath and flowing movement. 

In class all will be offered with storytelling, wisdom from yoga tied all together with breath and fluid motion through yoga asanas.  Acoustic covers and instrumental versions of your favorite songs frequent class as well as quotes and kind words to send you on your way!

Cari is thrilled and honored to become part of Tru Nature Yoga and looks forward to meeting fellow yogis Sunday morning. 

Along with yoga, she has a passion for pugs, beads, watching her son Brayden on swim team and her daughter Everly dance.  She is a fierce advocate for Type 1 diabetes and mental health, having worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years and pursuing a master’s degree in counseling.

If you are doing what you love and following your life’s blueprints, you will always be okay and all will unfold as it should. Trust the journey and love your path.

Sat Nam Om Shanti ~ Honor your truth with peace and love to all

Arti Mathur has been a lover of life and a true yogini since birth. All of her cumulative experience has helped her to find her purpose and passion of being a yoga instructor and wellness coach. As a compassionate, eager and loving Indian woman, she was always intrigued to learn more about her heritage as she grew up here in the U.S. Through this search she continues to learn more about herself and yoga deepens her journey in profound ways. She’s been dedicated to holistic health and wellness for well over a decade; researching and eating for balance and enjoying workouts. She became a fitness trainer in 2011 and has received a double certification as a yoga instructor. Prior to this, she taught ballroom dance and preschool. A true teacher at heart!

Arti's mission is to inspire others to live more mindfully and to encourage them to know that they already embody exactly what they think they need from the outside world. She believes asana practice is one integral avenue to connect to your higher wisdom and it’s her honor to guide you on a journey there through her classes.

Her classes consist of mindful awareness, breath work, and postural alignments, knowing that every day you bring a new self to your mat.

At 39 Suellen decided it was time to stop being on the sidelines watching her children practice Martial Arts and jumped in...what a trip it’s been. In the beginning it was Taekwondo, moving to the Lake Hopatcong area she found Isshinryu Karate. The name means, literally, “one heart way” (as in “wholehearted” or “complete”). She knew it was the perfect fit. Suellen began teaching a few years into her training. Achieving black belt in open hand and weapons.  A dream came true in 2015 when Suellen visited Okinawa Japan to train with the masters for a few weeks. Pictured above with the oldest Swords Master in Japan. On her journey she has crossed paths with many teachers from different forms of martial arts creating a beautiful infusion.   Pair that with a delightful career at Virgin Mobile working closely with the music team. Opening Suellen’s heart & mind to all genres. This woman loves to rock out and kick butt at the same time on the floor Please join her for a new kind of kickboxing. Let’s take to a new level together.

Bridget started her yoga journey about 4 years ago initially to improve her flexibility.  Always an active athlete, growing up playing soccer, tennis and running track, she has had a strong connection with her body.  Although her initial journey was to develop a more flexible body, she gained so much more.  As her yoga practice and interest began to develop, she found herself attracted to Ayurveda, pranayama and the mind-body connection.  She enjoys the relationship between breath work, mindfulness, and movement which she actively displays in her classes.  She completed her 200-hour teacher training in Ibiza, Spain at Lilypod Yoga and Ayurveda school.  Recently she became certified in Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga.  She hopes to transfer her positive outlook on life and open-mindedness onto all her students regardless of strength, and/or flexibility making her classes accessible to all.  Her goal is to teach yoga as a pathway to listen to the inner voice and engage the inner wisdom inside all of us. 

Off the mat, Bridget enjoys working with a non-profit, Life with joy, a living and learning community of young adults with Autism.  She loves to exercise, run, hike, garden and speak about all of her passions publicly. 

Christina Hanna is a Belly Dance Fusion Artist and is excited to share the healing power of movement at Tru Nature Yoga!  She is the owner of Hips of Fire Entertainment, providing Polynesian, Samba, Belly Dance and Fire Dance Arts for special events throughout the tri-state area.  Being of Cuban and Filipino heritage, Christina celebrates the melting pot of international dance forms in America to promote Middle Eastern Cultural Awareness.  her Beginner class focuses on five foundational elements of Bely Dance perfect for fitness and body awareness or for the aspiring professional.  

My love of fitness started when my mom popped in a Jane Fonda tape and said: “Let's do this!”  Since then, I have been hooked on keeping my body strong and able.  However, after several marathons, muddy runs, fitness challenges and so on, my mind was never at ease.  And then I met Yoga.  It is through Yoga that  I breathed for the first time!  Nourishing my mind and spirit made me a better, happier person.  It was because of this change in me that I sought out teaching or rather, sharing this practice with others.

My classes integrate the ideas and asana of yoga to help my students feel great inside and out.  I have trained with Diane Bondy (Yoga For ALL Shapes Sizes and Abilities), received a certification in Yin, Chair Vinyasa, and currently working toward my 500-hour training.  I believe community is key and everyone should feel welcome.  Yoga is unique in that it brings people together but always honors the individual.  Every life has a divine purpose and my wish is that you embrace yours!  

One of the mottos I live by...“Be somebody who makes everyone feel like somebody.” Hope to see you in class!  

Chrissy found yoga almost a decade ago while going through a rough time in her life.  She had been into exercise and fitness but never pursued yoga thinking it was all chanting in a circle.  Boy was she wrong.  It was love at first down dog, the affair continuing when her good friend Lindsay took her to her first yoga class.  After that, she was hooked.  When she became pregnant with her daughter in 2015, she did the research to find out how much yoga helps and upon finding a prenatal class, she practiced until the birthing, contributing yoga to her fast recovery. With talks of having a second baby, she began toying with the idea of getting certified, and when one of her teachers told her she would make a great teacher, she knew it was time to start looking.  It was kismet when the following day she saw an advertisement for teacher training starting February of 2018.  She signed up and found out she was pregnant after the first weekend of training.   Once again, she was able to practice up until the birth of her son at the end of August, gaining the friendships of the amazing yogis she trained with as well as with those who taught her and continue to teach her.  Now as a working mom of two, she has the honor of teaching kids as well as seniors, works with the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign in teaching yoga at her workplace, helps moms in their postnatal recoveries, and teaches at her neighborhood clubhouse with fellow graduate Lauren.  When not on her mat, you will find her reading yet another yoga book, sleeping, cooking/baking, walking/hiking, and with one or both kids attached literally or figuratively to her most of the time.

Influenced by her passion to cultivate more love, healing, awareness, and connection to the Divine, April draws from a well of her personal experiences in life. With a background in elderly care, Hospice work, childhood education, and tending to plant life in various forms, April has been a detective for glory and grace in the everyday details. She has lived in Maui Hawaii, traveled to India, and enjoys the beauty of her cozy lake home in northern New Jersey. She is blessed to be the Manager of Prana Yoga Center, in Denville,for over 10 years, is a Graduate of the 200 Hour Aligned Flow Yoga Teacher Training, Ha-Tha Yoga Method Chair Yoga Certification, and holds certificates for David Elliott’s Breathwork Healer Training, and Tuning Forks/Sound Healing Training. With gratitude, grace, and understanding, her passion is to live out her days on this earth as an agent of change. She is a wife, mama, light keeper, gardener of souls, breathwork healing facilitator and peacemaker and welcomes all fellow travelers to join her on their journey.