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OM
With our ears may we hear what is good.
With our eyes may we behold thy righteousness.
Tranquil in body, may we who worship thee find rest.
OM, peace, peace. peace.
- Mandukya Upanishad
Faculty
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Chris
Acosta founded St. Petersburg Yoga and began using yoga 25
years ago to treat his severe scoliosis (spinal lateral deformation),
and herniated discs. After more than 2 decades of immersion
into all aspects of yoga practice and being transformed by
its healing power, he has gone on to becoming one of the areas
most popular and prolific instructors. |
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He
is known as a teachers teacher and has taught tens of thousands
of classes and hundreds of thousands of students over his career
(private, group, corporate). Chris is used by students and yoga
instructors alike to prescribe postures, as well as other aspects
of the extensive practice, to treat specific challenges.
Chris holds
a RYT 500 level certification and has just been voted “Best
[Yoga Instructor] of the Tampa Bay” by DuPont Registries (July 2007). He instructs from
many influences: hatha; Iyengar, Ashtanga, Power, Therapeutic, Vinyasa,
Pranayama, Mantra, Meditation, Yoga philosophy; Yoga Sutras, Upanishads,
Bhagavad-Gita. He works with the full spectrum of students
from the injured and very beginner to intermediate through to the most
advanced. Chris's open group classes are (Levels I,
II, III):
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Julie
Heppe
Julie is the Manager of St. Petersburg Yoga and teaches private,
group & corporate classes for all levels.
She
is a Temple of Kriya Yoga Ashram graduate and a lover of
yoga, meditation and philosophy.
Beginning
her yoga career in Chicago after working for years in the
event planning business; she has been teaching yoga full
time for the last 10 years to a full spectrum of students.
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Julie has
found an eclectic style all her own. She draws on Iyengar, Kripalu,
Viniyoga & Kriya Yoga methods that are accessible to everyone.
You will enjoy the restorative, rejuvenating practice of yoga
and meditation and leave with a sense of peace and well-being.
Julie is currently
studying to become a Swami (Yogic Priest) in the Kriya Yoga Seminary
program.
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I began practicing Yoga daily in 1996,
and every day I look forward to the overall well being
that Yoga brings into my life. As is the case for many
yogis, Yoga has inspired my way of living. So, when family
and friends started asking me to lead Yoga sessions for
them, I felt honored and exhilarated to have the opportunity
and responsibility to share my love of Yoga with them.
In the last few years, everything aligned beautifully
for me to enroll in a Yoga teacher training program to
deepen my practice and my understanding of Yoga.
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I
am grateful for the opportunities I have to touch other people’s
lives through Yoga and I hope that Yoga brings as many teachings,
joy and well being to them as it has brought to me. I feel that
teaching Yoga, besides being a dream come true, is an honor and
a responsibility that requires attention, knowledge, caring, preparation
and flexibility. More than a teacher, I see myself as a dedicated
student who loves to practice, learn and share. Everyday I am excited
to explore, research, practice, and share Yoga with others. Following
the example of teachers I admire, in every class I do my best to
help students discover their own way of practicing Yoga.Visit: www.rubenvasquez.com for more information.
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Suzanne Andrew
Thai Yoga Massage Therapist,
Reiki Master and LMT
www.TryThaiYogaMassage.com
Like so many people, I found reiki, yoga and massage as
tools to help me recover from a health crisis. In the summer
of 2000, I was extremely sick. My body was shutting down
all its natural processes; I was swollen with edema, my
muscles were contracted and so painful I couldn’t
walk to the end of my driveway.
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Almost
immediately, I realized that although the medical world could keep
me alive, it didn’t have the tools to keep me healthy, vibrant
and whole.
Taking full responsibility for my health; I became a Reiki Master
and for the last 7 years have been sharing Reiki Energy Therapy
with others. The biggest improvement in health has come as a result
of a daily yoga practice. Asanas, pranayama and meditation have
been part of my daily life for nearly 5 years.
Explore deep adjustments
and alignment usually reserved for those paying for a private Thai
Yoga session.
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Laura began practicing yoga in 1999 after her podiatrist
recommended it to heal a running injury. Not only did it
heal her running injury, it healed her mind and her heart
as well.
Originally from Chicago, Laura relocated to St. Petersburg
in 2004 with her Fiancé. After spending several years
working in Social Work, Laura realized her passions lay
elsewhere. A year long battle with a health issue that precluded
her from driving helped her realize she
needed to
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pursue
a career in line with her values and passions.
Laura’s teaching centers on helping students achieve mind-body
healing. She specifically focuses on helping students learn
to monitor their thinking and choose positive thoughts to create
holistic, positive life changes and creating a sense of internal
balance, union and completeness. Laura teaches a Vinyasa Flow style
of yoga for intermediate through advanced students. |
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Lizzy Sussman holds
a RYT 200 level certification, and teaches Hatha and Ashtanga/Vinyasa
Flow Yoga for students of all levels throughout Tampa
Bay. Her calming presence, coupled with a strong Ashtanga/Vinyasa
Flow practice for St. Petersburg Yoga, leaves her students
both relaxed and invigorated. Although Lizzy draws on
influences such as David Swenson, Shiva Rae and Rusty
Wells, she has developed a unique style of her own, emphasizing
the importance of prolonging the benefits of Yoga long
after the practice has ended.
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In
addition to Yoga, Lizzy enjoys travelling, reading, cooking, and
spending quality time with family and friends. She has a passion
for health and nutrition, as well as the study of Ayurveda, the
science of life. |
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Yoga has been a vital part of my life since 2000. I attended yoga teacher training in 2004 at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Woodbourne, NY, and have been teaching ever since. I am forever the student and practitioner of many different styles of yoga, drawing inspiration from Kundalini,Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Jivamukti yoga.
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My classes offer a variety of asanas and always include pranayama (breath work), bandhas, energetic aspects of yoga and a guided savasana. Sharing my love of yoga is a beautiful experience, one that keeps me inspired throughout my daily routine. Enjoy a vibrant vinyasa practice followed by cooling, seated asanas, inversions and mindful relaxation. See you there!
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