Atma Bodha Yoga, Virginia Beach

Atma Bodha Yoga Studio

2728 North Mall Dr. Suite 109 Virginia Beach, VA 23452

or send an email to: email@atmabodhayoga.com

Teachers

A.J.’s first step along the yogic path was at the age of 13, when he decided to become vegetarian, for no other reason than that it seemed the right thing to do. At 16, he took another step when he came across the Bhagavad Gita in a collection of his Father’s books. After this, he immediately began a lifelong study of yogic philosophy. He continued by studying meditation and yoga asanas (poses) through various books, though intimidated by the idea of a yoga class. A.J. put this idea to the back of his mind, as someone who could not even touch his toes, he mistakenly decided yoga classes were for more flexible people. For the next few years, A.J. practiced sporadically, picking up meditation and hatha yoga for short sprints, and then dropping back into a normal teenage routine. Just over 3 years ago A.J., with encouragement, took his first yoga class and fell in love with the practice. He quickly began taking a yoga class every day, sometimes twice a day, rekindling his interest in meditation and yoga philosophy. After a year of feverish practice, he decided the next step was to become a teacher himself and devote his life to studying and passing on this ancient tradition. After two years of teaching yoga full time, A.J. opened our beloved studio in March of 2008, where he teaches 6 days a week. A.J. approaches the responsibility of teaching with professionalism and care. He has a wonderful ability to help students take their practice to the next level and approach advanced postures in an non-intimidating way.

A.J. was raised in the Hampton Roads area and has lived here all of his life. He is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a 500hr registered yoga teacher and is certified to teach both the Integral Yoga and Jivamukti Yoga Methods. A.J. attended Dharma Mittra’s advanced teacher training in the winter and spring of 2008 and currently has permission from Sri Dharma Mittra to teach his advanced sequences as he works towards certification in this style. He is also certified by the Integral Yoga Academy to teach Yoga for Stress Management and Integral Yoga Meditation.

Avery Jones (A.J.)

Certifications: (RYT 500)

-Integral Yoga Basic Hatha

-Integral Yoga Intermediate Hatha

-Integral Yoga Meditation

-Integral Yoga for Stress

Management

-Jivamukti Yoga Method Certified

-Dharma Mittra Yoga Advanced

Teacher Training

(currently ongoing)

While studying history and religion in college, Zoe was inspired by her Indian history professor's stories. After graduation she decided to travel to India for herself, hoping to learn more about Indian culture and yoga. After a few weeks of traveling she found herself sitting on the stone floor of the tiny Satchidananda Ashram in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, looking up at two smiling orange clad sanyassis. It was then that she began to realize that there might be a little more to yoga than just standing on your head.

Zoe returned to the States a couple of months later having hiked through jungles, prayed in temples, and chanted and meditated more than she ever knew she would. She quickly became involved with Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, in central Virginia. Zoe followed up the Basic Hatha Teacher Training she completed in India with the Raja Yoga (yogic philosophy) training and the Intermediate Hatha teacher training in Yogaville. During that time she was invited back as staff for the Basic training and later the Raja Yoga training, as well as various workshops.

After nearly 2 years of dedicated Integral Yoga practice Zoe began to branch out into different styles of hatha yoga. While in Yogaville, Zoe was inspired by Dharma Mittra's loving personality and vigorous vinyasa style, and in 2008 she participated in his rigorous advanced teacher training program. Zoe speaks often of how grateful she is to have had the opportunity to study with such a great master; she and AJ are currently the only teachers in Hampton Roads to have been personally, formally trained by Sri Dharma.
Around the same time, she began to practice regularly at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville, experimenting with the first and second series. Now, more than a year later, Zoe has devoted a majority of her personal practice time to the Primary series, practicing diligently 6 days a week. She is grateful for the guidance of Jennifer Elliot, Tim Miller and Kino MacGregor in her investigation of this school. As a teacher, Zoe strives to incorporate elements from many of the traditions she has studied, leading creative classes and encouraging students to approach their practice with a light heart and a sense of adventure.

Zoe moved to Va Beach in 2008 to be a part of Atma Bodha Yoga Studio. She loves to teach and practice with A.J. and the wonderful people at Atma Bodha, as well as at the other supportive and welcoming studios in the area. Zoe looks forward to any opportunity to practice with all of the teachers who have inspired her in her studies, especially Dharmaji, Swami Asokananda, and Kino MacGregor.

Zoe Ward

Certifications: (RYT 500)

-Integral Yoga Basic Hatha

-Integral Yoga Intermediate Hatha

-Integral Yoga Raja Yoga

-Dharma Mittra Yoga Advanced

Teacher Training
-Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series
Training with Tim Miller.

Florence Cristelli

Certifications: (RYT 200)

-Sivananda Basic Hatha

-Integral Yoga Basic Hatha

-Anusara Yoga (10 day training)

-Yoga for Osteoporosis Prevention

-Yoga and Ayurveda (Professional Yoga

Therapist)

Florence has been a Certified Yoga teacher for over eight years and a practitioner for over fifteen. She has her original teaching certification in Sivananda yoga. In addition she holds an Integral Yoga teachers certificate and has taken training with John Friend and his senior teachers studying Anusara Yoga. Her most recent teacher training was with Kay Hawkins' Yoga for Osteoporosis Prevention.

Florence has the ability to relate to each student in a very warm and personal way. Her inspiring and encouraging teaching methods are perfect for both the seasoned and beginner student who want to increase their strength and flexibility as well as improve their emotional stability through a total body, mind, spirit connection.

2728 North Mall Dr. Suite 109 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 ph.757-233-9644 or 757-286-3987(cell)

Lisa Cawley

Certifications: (RYT 200)

-Multi-Style Basic training

Lisa began her yoga practice in 2006 and knew early on that she wanted to learn as much as possible about the many different Yoga traditions. She completed her 200 hour training in 2008, but has not allowed her graduation to mean that she has stopped studying.

Lisa practices with many different teachers throughout Virginia Beach, humbly acknowledging how much there is to learn from every person, yoga teachers and students alike.

Since her teacher training Lisa has continued to seek a deeper understanding of yogic philosophy through workshops with Graham Schweig, and has continued to practice hatha with teachers such as Tao Porchon-Lynch, Rolf Gates, and Jimmy Barkan. More recently, Lisa has become inspired by the wonderful community in Yogaville, and she hopes to participate soon in Bharata Wingham’s course on Laughter Yoga.

Lisa feels that her true gift as a yoga teacher is in communicating the practice to beginners, making the postures available on many levels. Her classes are filled with loving kindness and are engaging for the new beginner as well as the more experienced. Lisa is honored to have been invited to become a member of ABY’s teaching staff; her genuine love of yoga and her desire to continue to learn and grow makes Lisa an ideal part of our community.

Teacher Trainees

The ABY trainees are a dedicated, hardworking group of students who have commited themselves to the rigorous 8 month teacher training program at Atma Bodha Yoga. As they progress in their studies they will become qualified to teach the basic and beginner intermediate classes that are offered at the studio. Tuesday night's "community yoga" class will be taught by those trainees who have shown a thorough and responsible understanding of the basic class postures, and are deemed qualified to teach by either AJ or Zoe. Since this will give them valuable opportunities to learn and grow as budding teachers, these classes are offered free of charge, although small donations are encouraged.

Kelly Hardy

Certifications: (RYT 500)

-Hatha Yoga Basic Training

- Advanced Training at the North Carolina School of Yoga.

Kelly began her yoga practice 10 years ago at a local gym. Being inspired by what she learned there, Kelly began to develop her personal practice by practicing at home as well as at other studios. The

physical practice awakened long lingering spiritual questions and she began to explore yoga on an intellectual level. Kelly became more and more dedicated to her yoga practice as she expanded her understanding of the yoga system, reading the works of Donna Farhi and other notable yogis.

In 2006 Kelly decided to bring a level of commitment and structure to her personal studies by participating in her first teacher training. Striving to continue in her spiritual growth, Kelly chose to participate in the 500 hour program held at the North Carolina School of Yoga in 2008, under the guidance of renowned Yogini, Chandra Om. Adhering to the strict guidelines of the program, as well as striving to live up to the high expectations of her teacher, Kelly travels to NC regularly to practice in Raleigh. Chandra Om is the senior disciple of Sri Dharma Mittra, and Kelly joins AJ and Zoe as the only teachers in Hampton Roads to have formally trained in Sri Dharma’s tradition.

We are very happy to welcome Kelly to our teaching family. Her beautiful spirit and kind energy make her a perfect match for our space. Kelly’s classes can be challenging, but are very approachable. Her kind and considerate approach to teaching makes it easy for her students to move farther in their practice without feeling the need to go beyond where they are comfortable.