Yoga Teacher Training Graduates

D’shahn Coleman

D’shahn Coleman was introduced to yoga by her physician after a major car accident at age 17. In yoga, she rediscovered a since of strength while practicing very basic postures. Yoga was always in her life in some way, shape or form. While D’Shahn was pregnant with her first daughter she aggravated the injuries from years prior and it was yoga that allowed her to function day-to-day. In the beginning D’Shahn mainly taught herself the various postures and breathing techniques through books and videos and considered herself a “Living room Yogi”. Eventually, she found her way to It’s Yoga Columbus where she practiced with Kelly Foley and Laurel Hodory for more than a year. Realizing her passion for teaching coupled with a strong desire to give back, she enrolled in the 2008 It’s Yoga Teacher Training program with Laurel Hodory in February 2008. D’Shahn has not had many teachers but makes it a point to learn something new everyday from everyone she comes into contact with that can help her become a better person and Yogi. D’Shahn knows that there are many lessons that she has learned while on the mat and continues to become excited to see the infinite number of possibilities in life each day and to share with her students.

David Belcastro

At the age of forty-five, David Belcastro was encouraged by his college judo coach to consider yoga after decades of weightlifting. During his first practice, he laughed through every asana as he was unable to move deeply or gracefully in any direction. None-the-less, he thought that there was something here worth pursuing. He continued practicing with Martha Marcum at Yoga on High for several years. During that time, he attended workshops with Tim Miller, David Swenson, Doug Swenson, and Larry Shultz. When he became department chair of religion and philosophy at Capital University, he had to limit his practice to home. It was during this time, however, that his interest in yoga deepened. In 2007, he stepped down as chair to provide time so that he could enroll in the 2008 Yoga Teacher Training with Laurel Hodory at Its Yoga. During the following months, he discovered yoga as a playful practice for the cultivation of spiritual light-heartedness.

Dawn Valasco

Dawn Valasco first discovered yoga in 1998 when she attended a Hatha class. She has been doing a personal practice of combined aerobic dance and yoga since that time. Dawn sought out yoga as a means to help with a personal illness, and has been amazed at the power of yoga to heal mind, body, and spirit. She is also particularly interested in the connection between food and health.

Dawn has been a special education teacher for many years. She has worked with children and adults with learning disabilities and mild autism.

In order to deepen her knowledge of yoga, Dawn enrolled in the 200 Hour Teacher Training with Laurel Hodory in 2015.

Dawn loves being outdoors, especially hiking and gardening. She and her husband have been married for 30 years and have two wonderful, adult daughters.

Denise Kalos

Denise Kalos first came to yoga to cope with anxiety and stress in 2008 at Ohio Sate while studying for her master’s degree in applied statistics. She had always been intrigued by the benefits of yoga and certainly felt a special lightness after leaving her first class. It wasn’t until 2010 when she was introduced to Ashtanga that she knew yoga would be a life-long practice. She found yoga to be both grounding and challenging. She enjoys finding new energy in familiar poses and tries to approach life with the same positivity. Denise received her 200 hour certification in 2013 in Ashtanga and Hatha with Laurel Hodory and Faculty. Through teaching, she hopes to share the peace and wholeness she has found in yoga with others.

Denise Londergan

First drawn to yoga for the physical practice, Denise discovered the body wisdom that comes with aligning the breath with movement. The richness of yoga study parallels her study of nutrition, continually evolving in both. She sees parallels between yoga practice and the philosophy of mindful eating.

Denise has a B.S. in Medical Dietetics from the Ohio State University and Masters in Public Health from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her experience includes community and clinical nutrition, private practice, and research. She was the Lead nutritionist for the Columbus Women’s Health Initiative, developing skills in motivational interviewing and health coaching. She continues to work with WHI health outcomes and the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a study of knee health.

Denise will complete her Yoga Teacher Training Certification with Laurel Hodory in November 2010. She has been influenced also by Donna Winters, Amy Weintraub, Shiva Rea, and Todd Norian. Denise practices and teaches Hatha Flow with attention to healthy alignment, building of strength, with end result being a sense of calm.

Diane Ernsberger

Diane Ernsberger, RYT 200, is the owner of This Yoga Works! in Central Ohio, where she partners with wellness programs to provide the benefits of yoga to corporations. Diane was introduced to the yoga in 2001 when she took a Hatha community class to add variety to her weekly workout routine. She soon discovered the benefits that yoga had on her body and her mind. The idea of becoming a yoga teacher intrigued her for years and in 2013 she enrolled in the Yoga Teacher Training with Laurel Hodory & Faculty. Diane knows firsthand that when you share your passion with others the benefits are endless and it never feels like work.

Ebru Akman

For many years Ebru Akman practiced yoga on her own at home. Fueled by a desire to deepen her practice and learn more about yoga, she began taking classes in 2011. As her interest in yoga increased, she began to participate in yoga workshops and retreats. In 2014, she made the decision to enroll in Yoga Teacher Training with Laurel Hodory & Faculty, where she earned her certification in Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. Ebru is eager to share her passion for yoga with others and is especially interested in making yoga accessible to under-served populations. Ebru is trained in Work and Organizational Psychologist and has many years of research and teaching experience in that field. To learn more about Ebru’s journey into yoga, visit her blog at https://royogaro.wordpress.com

El-Ri Flataas

After many years of practicing the physical aspect of yoga, El-Ri Flataas discovered the fuller nature of yoga in 2006. More than just a place to exercise, her mat became a sanctuary where she was able to reflect, focus and tune out. Over time and through regular practice, her desire to deepen her understanding of yoga and the yogic lifestyle led her to Yoga Teacher Training with Laurel Hodory & Faculty where, in 2014 in Trondheim, Norway, she received her certification to teach Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. For El-Ri, the training was a powerful learning experience that is shaping her into an authentic yogi as a teacher, as a student, and in every aspect of her life. She is excited to continue her journey, follow her dream and share it with others.

Elin Jespersen

Elin Jespersen has practiced yoga since 1999 and has taught at her own studio since 2010. As a physiotherapist at a rehabilitation center, she has found practical applications for many elements of yoga to her work with patients. This sparked in her a desire to further her knowledge and understanding of yoga and led her to the Yoga Teacher Training Program with Laurel Hodory and Faculty, where, in 2013, she became certified to teach Hatha and Ashtanga. Influenced by the teaching of B.K.S. Iyengar and others, Elin is eager to expand the offerings at her studio to include greater variety.

Elin has a Master’s Degree in Public Health Science. She also has experience driving dogsleds and mountain climbing, enjoys kayaking and finds great pleasure in being outdoors, preferably with her daughter and her dog at her side.

Emily Hanafin

Emily Hanafin’s first yoga class was in an intimate setting in the mountains of San Diego, California in 2003. She fell in love with how the poses made her feel powerful and physically and emotionally balanced. Her practice continued to strengthen over the years and helped her become a loving mother of two. Emily was asked to take over teaching a yoga class in 2011, which sparked her interest in learning more about yoga and led her to Yoga with Laurel Hodory & Faculty where she was certified in 2013 as an RYT-200. Emily hopes to inspire her students to take time every day to appreciate their bodies and how the teachings of yoga can transfer from our mats into our lives.

Emily Olsen

Emily Olsen holds a B.A. in Exercise Kinesiology and has been teaching group fitness and personal training since 2001. The wear and tear on her body motivated her to take her first yoga class in 2012 and it was love at first class! Yoga immediately filled a spiritual void in her and challenged her mentally more than any other class she had experienced. In 2013, Emily completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program with Laurel Hodory & Faculty and became certified to teach Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. She currently teaches yoga in numerous studios around Dublin and Powell.

Emily enjoys the creativity that comes with sequencing her classes. She challenges her students, both on and off their mats, and injects elements of play into her classes to remind students that yoga doesn’t have to be serious. A little laughter is expected in every class.

When not in the fitness or yoga studio, you can find Emily volunteering for local animal rescue Peace for Paws Ohio. She spends much of her time helping home shelter dogs at risk of being euthanized. Emily sews and sells pet collars and donates the proceeds to her rescue. In addition to her own 2 cats and a dog (all rescues), Emily almost always has at least one more foster dog in tow.

Emily Robinson

Emily Robinson began her exploration of the body through years of dance and various workout routines. In 2007, Emily came to yoga as a way to compliment her primary trainings. Emily fell in love with yoga not only for the physical benefits, but for the peace and calm it brought to her life.

After years of attending classes, Emily wanted to deepen her personal practice and learn how to give back through sharing yoga. Emily received her Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher Certificate with Laurel Hodory and Staff in 2015.

Emily endeavors to share her joy of yoga with all she meets both on and off the mat. She strives to support and empower those around her through the creation of a safe space where accomplishments can be made and challenges met.

When not on the mat, Emily can be found continuing her education through reading and exploring new opportunities, cooking some Cajun recipes, and adventuring with friends and family.

Emily Rose

At the young age of three, Emily Rose began taking ballet lessons at ‘The Marjorie Jones School of Dance’ in Columbus, Ohio. As the years progressed, and Emily’s exposure to different movement forms increased, she started feeling the drive to continue her education in modern dance. Emily attended the ‘Interlochen Arts Camp’ in Michigan to study modern dance and improvisation; it was there that she began taking a Bikram inspired yoga class taught by a member of the dance faculty. Emily graduated from Hope College in Holland, MI with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Dance. While studying with the Hope Dance Department Emily developed her dance technique skills with teachers who had danced with Alvin Nikolais, Pilobolus, and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Emily was greatly influenced by these teachers and began investing herself in learning Contact Improvisation, Capoeira, dance composition, and even Qigong. Beginning in the summer of 2008 Emily regularly began attending yoga classes at Grow Yoga in Grandview,OH and found great comfort thanks to the help of her teachers: Zoe Rabinowitz, Abby Dorn, Marie Burson, Tyler Reed, Sally Roberts, and Laurel Hodory. In November 2009 Emily completed her 200 hour RYT Yoga Teacher certification with Laurel Hodory.

Erin Sainato

Erin Sainato began practicing yoga over ten years ago and has found herself drawn to the mat over time. She joined the 200 hour yoga teacher training with Laurel Hodory in January 2012 in search of a deeper connection with the roots of yoga. Erin enjoys the peace her yoga practice brings to life and seeks to share happiness and peace with others. Erin lives in Columbus with her husband Nick and is expecting baby Rosalie to make her appearance in March 2013.

Geetanjali Vashisht Geetanjali

Geetanjali Vashisht Geetanjali had her first introduction to yoga during her school years. She carried the early teachings with her across the ocean when she came to the US from India after her marriage. What started out as a playful practice, turned into a very meaningful practice when the stress of life in a new place started taking its toll. Her yearning to understand the mind-body connection brought her to the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program with Laurel Hodory, where she received her RYT 200 certification in 2013.

The knowledge and tools she gained from her teachers helped her delve deeper into herself, pushing her further on the path to self discovery. The regular challenges on the mat and the ability to overcome them rejuvenated her spirit. Her yoga practice has brought out the best in her. She hopes to inspire others to do the same.

Gunnhild Breirem

Gunnhild Breirem’s first encounter with yoga was more than 20 years ago at a university yoga class. Her practice was inconsistent until three years ago when she fully committed and began to practice regularly. Gunnhild finds joy, serenity and peace of mind through her practice, which has become such an integral part of her life that she can no longer imagine life off the mat. In July 2013, Gunnhild became certified to teach Hatha and Ashtanga yoga through the Yoga Teacher Training Program with Laurel Hodory and Faculty.

When she’s not on the mat, Gunnhild is a singer, voice teacher and choir conductor. She loves sharing her time with family and friends and spending time outside in nature. She is the mother of two grown sons and the proud grandmother of a little baby girl.

Hannah Siegle

Hannah Siegle came to yoga to cope with the effects of graduate school and stressful job as a high school science teacher. Through the wonders of the breath, movement, and mindfulness that is yoga Hannah chose to leave her teaching job and enter recovery for a 14-year long battle with an eating disorder and anxiety. Yoga has empowered her life and allowed her to step into her authentic self.

Hannah has been teaching since August of 2010 and in November of 2011 completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program with Laurel Hodory. She is now actively working on her training in yoga therapy to help attain her goal of working with those who struggle with mental illness.

Her classes are full of freedom and light energy. Her teachings focus on stepping away from the seriousness of life, and opening to the playfulness of life while creating a space for a strong body and mind.

Hannah is currently is working toward teaching yoga full time both in public classes as well as private as a yoga therapist through Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. She also tutors in after-school programs with Communities in Schools. In her free time she enjoys laughing with friends and family, her two Pugs, blogging, writing, and any activity outdoors. Hannah regularly blogs on her website Balancing on Two Feet where her current teaching schedule can be found and can also be reached at hannah.siegle [at] gmail.com.

Heike Horrmann

Heike Horrmann has practiced yoga since 2006. However, it wasn’t until 2011 that her practice became a more integral part of her life; not just exercise but an exploration into herself. In 2013, Heike completed the Yoga Teacher Training Program with Laurel Hodory and Faculty and became certified to teach Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. Heike’s practice has been influenced by such teachers as Anne Devismes, Jordan Bloom, James Fox and Lea Loncar.

Originally from Berlin, Heike has lived and worked as an architect in Trondheim, Norway since 2003. She is drawn to the mountains and the sea and enjoys attending concerts and festivals, hiking, and preparing meals to share with good friends.

Jackie Theibert

Jackie Theibert took a yoga class from a teacher who came to the child care center she worked at when she was 19. She asked her teacher how she got into it and her teacher responded “once I started doing yoga, everything in my life got better.” That made Jackie wonder how this magical yoga could do such a thing. Jackie started practicing regularly several years later at a vinyasa studio full of high energy, open minded, and talented yogis and started to understand what her teacher meant by “yoga makes everything in life better.” Feeling the all around positive effects from yoga, Jackie was inspired to become a yoga teacher to deepen her practice and share the wonders of yoga with others and received her certificate from Laurel Hodory & Faculty in the spring of 2013. She loves working with children and taking on several different artistic endeavors, which shows in her upbeat and creative style of teaching vinyasa style of teaching to adults and various active themed styles to children.

Jamie Davies O’Leary

A lifelong competitive soccer player, Jamie found yoga in 2006 and fell in love immediately with its ability to help calm her mind, ease her stress, relieve tension, and find better sleep. She’s been practicing ever since and credits yoga for catalyzing her own healing process, finding a pathway of mindfulness, and creating the life she was meant to live.

Jamie has developed a special interest in bringing yoga to underserved populations, especially women affected by violence. In June 2011 with the help of several other committed yogis, Jamie started a coalition group, “yogaServe,” to bring yoga’s healing benefits to those with limited access to it. She teaches yoga to women at a domestic violence shelter and to workers working with traumatized women and kids.

She is certified in both Hatha and Ashtanga styles through Laurel Hodory’s RYT-200 hour certification program, and is passionate about teaching yoga to anyone wishing to experience the manifold benefits it brings. Jamie has completed workshops with Sean Corne and John Friend, and is drawn toward their respective styles of service-oriented yoga and Anusara. Jamie has a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University, is a former school teacher through Teach For America, and was named a 2004 Truman Scholar for leadership and likelihood to be a “change agent.” She views all of these experiences in teaching and learning as integral for developing her passion for social justice, writing, and activism.