RYAH - Rivertown Yoga and Health (Practicioners)

OPERATIONS

Phyllis Bookspan - Founder

Phyllis has been practicing yoga since 1976, and teaching Kali Ray TriYoga® since 2002. Over the years, Phyllis has studied many forms of Yoga. When living and going to college and graduate school in New York City she studied at the Integral Yoga Center. She also studied hatha yoga with Frank Finnerty in Greenwich Connecticut and took classes at the Sivananda Center in WestChester, NY. She spent many summers attending classes and workshops at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass. In 1994, Phyllis met her true teacher, Kashi (Carolyn Armstrong) and discovered the power and bliss of KaliRay TriYoga. Since 1994, Phyllis has devoted her yoga practice to TriYoga, and has studied with many senior Kali Ray TriYoga teachers and with internationally famous yogini, Kali Ray. In 2006, Phyllis decided to share the joy and sense of well-being yoga brought to her life and opened RYAH.

In addition to being a certified TriYoga teacher, Phyllis also is a law professor. She brings the skills developed over twenty years in the law school classroom, along with her life long commitment to yoga practice and philosophy, to ensure a gently balanced and flowing approach to all RYAH programs and clients.

Bunnie Malazita - Front Desk

Bunnie comes to RYAH after a long and rewarding career in the Corporate Sector. As a member of RYAH's Yoga Community for almost 2 years the progression to the front desk position when it became available, was a perfectly natural move. She brings a wealth of experience in Customer Service and Operations to RYAH.

Bunnie has lived in Conshohocken for over 35 years and has 4 wonderful children and 3 beautiful grandchildren. She was very active in the Conshohocken Schools Community and was the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Varisty Cheerleading Coach for 11 years. Since arriving at RYAH, Bunnie has become a level II Reiki Practitioner and hopes to continue on to the Master Level.

Jill Patterson - Front Desk

Coming Soon!

Bill Simpson - Business Manager

Bill Simpson is a gifted teacher, holistic health practitioner and communicator who has dedicated his life to helping people live a life well-lived.

As Manager of RYAH Yoga, Bill brings his experience as the owner of Holistic Hands Wellness and as a certified Holistic Health Practitioner for the past 16 years. He is certified in Corporate Worksite Wellness Program Management, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Swedish Massage, Shiatsu, Tuina, Reflexology and Ondamed Biofeedback.

Bill embraces the general Yoga philosophy that body, mind and spirit are one through his daily living and personal practice. He also embraces other aspects of Yoga culture including Aryuveda and Kirtan. Healing through nutrition, exercise, personal and spiritual growth, Bill shares his professional knowledge and personal experience with clients to provide a supportive, safe and caring environment as they follow their path to living life well.

Bill has also has been a successful radio personality since 1977 (specifically in Philadelphia since 1987). He was Sanborn of the successful morning show Carter & Sanborn (on Power 99FM and WDAS) for 12 years. He was also heard on Smooth Jazz WJJZ for 9 years. In order to keep up with the high pressure demands of doing a competitive radio morning show, Bill sought out healthy ways to reduce the stress of such demands and lifestyle. In 2004 Bill combined his passion for holistic health and radio as host/producer of Pathways To Health Radio.

Candace Stevens - Front Desk

Candace is another member of Ryah's front desk team. She graduated with a B.A. From Villanova University, and is pursuing her Master's in Counseling Psychology at Chestnut Hill College. She recently completed her 200-Hr Yoga Teacher Training. In addition to practicing yoga, Candace loves making music, meeting new people, her poodles, and eating Asian food.

Devin Toland - Front Desk

YOGA/PILATES [top]

Phyllis Bookspan, E-RYT 200 - Yoga Instructor

Phyllis has been practicing yoga since 1976, and teaching Kali Ray TriYogaÂ® since 2002. Over the years, Phyllis has studied many forms of Yoga. When living and going to college and graduate school in New York City she studied at the Integral Yoga Center. She also studied hatha yoga with Frank Finnerty in Greenwich Connecticut and took classes at the Sivananda Center in WestChester, NY. She spent many summers attending classes and workshops at Kripalu Center in Lenox, Mass. In 1994, Phyllis met her true teacher, Kashi (Carolyn Armstrong) and discovered the power and bliss of KaliRay TriYoga. Since 1994, Phyllis has devoted her yoga practice to TriYoga, and has studied with many senior Kali Ray TriYoga teachers and with internationally famous yogini, Kali Ray. In 2006, Phyllis decided to share the joy and sense of well-being yoga brought to her life and opened RYAH. In 2009, Phyllis became an Experienced RYT at the 500 hour level.

Patty Boyle, RYT - Registered Yoga Teacher

When Patty first heard about yoga, she was told it was â€˜exercise that was relaxingâ€™. Intrigued, she decided to see for herself. What she initially found were physical challenges unlike ones she had experienced as an athlete. As she continued to explore yoga, it became the vehicle to developing and discovering her breath and living life in the present moment.

Becoming a yoga instructor was the perfect next step for Patty, as it compliments her commitment and previous studies in nutrition and health. Patty obtained a B.S. in Kinesiology. In addition to her degree, she is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor through the Institute for Intgrative Nutrition. Patty completed her 200-hour teacher training this spring. She works for Big Brothers Big Sisters and is happily integrating her passion for working with youth and teaching nutrition, health and yoga by volunteering her expertise and holistic philosophy to teach yoga at St. Gabeâ€™s, a youth detention center for boys. Through challenging practices and gentle assists, Patty is excited to explore the many benefits that yoga has to offer with the students of RYAH.

Jennifer Fugo - Registered Yoga Instructor

Yoga is an evolutionary journey of energetic movement that captured Jennifer's attention back in 1999 while living in New York City. Though a more serious, committed yoga practice did not arrive in her life for six more years, Jennifer eventually began cultivating a more balanced and still life while living in NYC during 9/11 and later experiencing physical injuries to her lower back & hip.

A consistent yoga practice taught Jennifer that there is so much more to life than the rat race that often consume us. Connecting yoga to the natural rhythms of the world in which we live, Jennifer structures her classes based on the cycles of seasons, sacred holidays, and the moon to help students rekindle their inner fire and passion for life. Creative sequencing and music help set the stage for the class container which Jennifer builds so that students can move away from the "doing" and strain of purely physical yoga to a deeper, "energetic" practice of grace, lightness and space within the body.

Jennifer is a certified RYT-200 teacher through Yoga Alliance who is now in the midst of a 500-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher training with world-renown yogini, Shiva Rea (Prana Flow). Her classes blend a number of elements from studies in Prana Flow, Classical Hatha, Anusara, Yin, and Ayurveda. Jennifer is also a certified health coach with a specialty in gluten-free living which you can learn more about through her website (http://www.jenniferfugo.com).

Kate Goodyear - Yoga Instructor

Lana Jaclyn, RYT - Registered Yoga Teacher

Lana first yoga class in 1999 in a little loft in NYC and fell in love with the practice right away. "I remember walking down the city streets after class with a newly found sense of clarity, lightness and groundedness. The practice has continued to inspire me and deepen my awareness of myself and my relationship with the world around me."

In the spring of 2009, Lana completed a 250 hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Certification at Wake Up Yoga, adding another dimension to her experience as a bodyworker. She has continued her yoga studies with Yoganand Michael Carrol, partaking in his Asanas as Spiritual Doorways workshop at Stillpoint Yoga Studio. In July of 2010, she took a week long intensive workshop in Kripalu with Anodea Judith and Selene Vega, Psychology of the Chakras.

As a teacher,Lana is dedicated to meeting the students where they are in their practice and from there helping them to grow. Students can expect a gentle yet challenging class with mindful hands-on adjustments, inspiring poems and quotes, in a fun lighthearted atmosphere.

Theresa Kreider - Pre Natal Yoga Instructor

Kristin Laws - Registered Yoga Teacher

After years of personal training, lifting weights, step and aerobic classes and a smattering of running, curiosity brought Kristin to her first yoga class. Her skepticism quickly dissolved and since 2005 she has been devoted to a yoga practice. She discovered yoga is so much more than physical exercise; it can transform. The initial physical challenge evolves into a mind, body and breath connection creating strength and flexibility. Changing small details of a pose can have a profound effect. Being present in the moment, in each pose, carries-over off the mat and into life.

Kristin has an RYT-200 certification with Yoga Alliance and is a graduate of the Verge Power Yoga Teacher Training Program. She is currently working toward a 500 hour advanced teacher certification in Yoganand Michael Carrollâ€™s program. Her working life has been diverse, from analyzing corporate planning projects to teaching first and second graders. Upon discovering yoga she immediately volunteered at a local studio and worked there for 4 years.

Kristin brings her enthusiasm for yoga into the studio. Her classes are evenly paced and challenging. After breathing through the physical and mental effort used in class her students leave refreshed, mentally calm and energized. She hopes by sharing her enthusiasm you will discover the many benefits of a yoga practice, on and off the mat.

Betty Levengood - Pilates Instructor, Personal Trainer

Betty Levengood, NSCA-CPT Betty brings over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry to RYAH. She is a certified Personal Trainer and certified Pilates Mat and Reformer Instructor through PHI Pilates. For the last 11 years she has worked at the Healthplex Sports Club in Springfield, Delaware County. She was their Group Fitness Director for 7 years before giving up her administrative duties and devoting her time to training clients one-on-one, teaching group fitness classes, instructing Pilates Mat classes, and doing both one-on-one and small group Pilates Reformer training. She was voted Best of Delco Female Personal Trainer in 2003. She brings to RYAH experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, and the ability to bring out the best in each participant in her classes. Betty strongly believes that staying healthy in mind, body and spirit is a life long process and we only get better with age!

Maura Manzo, RYT - Yoga Instructor

Maura Manzo began to practice yoga to â€œlearn to breatheâ€ after a fire destroyed her home in 2006 and has been in love ever since. She contributes her training as a competitive gymnast in her early years and year round athleticism thereafter to her immediate physical attraction to yoga but quickly recognized the significance of the connection of breath to mind, body and spirt. Her classes are challenging, creative and inspiring (and always have a good playlist!)

Maura completed her 200-Hr yoga teacher training in the spring of 2010. As part of her practicum, she created Local for Global, a project aimed at creating local events to support a global cause. She is currently fundraising $20,000 for Off the Mat, Into the World's 2010 Global Seva Challenge which will support the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa, where she will travel to in February 2011 to work directly with the organizations and children affected by the disease. Learn more or donate at www.localforglobal.org

Marissa Paino, RYT - Yoga Instructor

Throughout her life, Marissa knew she was meant to teach, but her subject had yet to reveal itself. After working 10 years in corporate finance, she discovered her true passion for yoga. During her journey of discovery on the yogic path, she experienced a profound physical and emotional transformation, and heard her calling to share this special gift with others. Marissa has been practicing since 2005 and earned her RYT-200 hour certification in Pranakriya Yoga, developed by Yoganand Michael Carroll, in 2008. Marissa fully embraces the Pranakriya style of yoga, and aims to inspire her students to look within and find the transformational magic of the practice that can improve overall well-being. Marissa brings energy of enthusiasm and humor to her classes, but also offers her students the opportunity for self-reflection and exploration to improve their quality of life. Marissa is continuing on her path of swadhyaya (study) to enrich her practice and classes. She is currently pursuing RYT-500 hour certification in Pranakriya Yoga with Yoganand Michael Carroll.

Wania Schmitz - Registered Yoga Teacher

Cyndie Slagle - Pilates Instructor

Cyndie is a Pilates Matwork Specialist. She brings passion, inherent knowledge and skill to her classes - working with each student at his/her level. Students love Cyndie's friendly style, and clear instruction. When not teaching Pilates, Cyndie can be found swimming, running, or bicycling, training for the triathylon that she runs on a regular basis.

Cyndie is a mom and teacher in the Planetarium in the WhiteMarsh School District.

Candace Stevens, RYT - Registered Yoga Teacher

Candace was first drawn to yoga in high school through the music of The Beatles and George Harrison. After taking a several-week course her Freshman year of college, she knew she wanted to dive deeper into her study of mind, body, and movement. After practicing for five years, she entered RYAH Yoga & Health and Yoga Schelter's 200 hour Vinyasa Flow training, graduating in April of 2010. Candace draws from many styles of yoga and specializes in creative, dynamic flows, while striving to cultivate energy and inspiration. In addition to teaching yoga, Candace is a graduate student of Psychology, and a musician.

Jess Van Ness - Registered Yoga Teacher

Jessica has been passionately breathing and moving throughout life. She welcomes opportunities to explore infinite ways that Yoga can teach us to grow physically and mentally through practicing together at RYAH. Discovering yoga in 2004, Jessica has been investigating the human body, delving into pranayama, and opening up in spirit ever since. She began teaching as a way to reinvigorate her yoga club at Penn State University. Certified by Yoga Alliance, Jessica has her 200 Hour Teacher Training and specializes in LÃ®la Yogaâ„¢, a type of Vinyasa (flow) Yoga. An Engineer by trade, she incorporates anatomical mechanics while teaching a fun and creative class inspired by music. Through yoga postures and flows, she helps students survey internal energy pathways. Find your breath in her class, and find a smile facing life's challenges, on and off the yoga mat.

HEALTH AND THERAPY [top]

Maura Manzo, HHC - Health Coach

Maura is graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and received additional cetification from Columbia University. She received her B.A. in Creative Writing and Popular Culture from Pennsylvania State University.

Maura is thoroughly intrigued by the ever-changing world of nutrition and saddened by the poor state of health in our country today. She sees clients for a range of health issues, including but not limited to: weight loss, increase in energy, improved eating habits & healthy alternatives, meal planning, and awareness in eating & life. Maura meets with clients individually and teaches nutrition classes and workshops at RYAH. She recently completed a cooking internship with The Nourishing Well in Havertown and becameregistered yoga teacher through the RYAH/Schelter Teacher Training Program. In the summer of 2010, Maura was the Head of Nutrition for Julian Krinsky's Fitness Camp at Bryn Mawr College. She also is blogger for Philadelphia Magazine's Be Well Philly website. Learn more at www.mauramanzo.com

ENERGY WORK/MASSAGE [top]

Julie Deery - Certified Massage Therapist

Julie has over 20 years experience as a massage therapist. She began by taking classes in Florida at the Humanities School of Massage. There she passed the State Board licence and worked in a rehabilitation clinic until moving north. She has since worked with two chiropractors, a wellness center, and doing chair massage for corporate events. Recently Julie has become involved in the muliti-sport community. She enjoys working with athletes and her own standing as a nationally-ranked athlete gives her a greater understanding of her clients needs.

She approaches massage as an individual caring process in which she is the facilitator for a person's own innate capacity for recovery and healing. She will assess her client's physical and emotional state through touch and talk, looking in particular for irregularities of motion and tension. "I want my clients to leave experiencing relaxation, looseness, centeredness, and a distinct feeling of being cared for." Her studies included Deep Tissue, Therapeutic Swedish Massage, Reflexology, Sports massage, Cranial Sacral and more.

Nancy Goss - M.A., Registered Polarity Educator, Registered Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist

Nancy Goss has been practicing Energy Healing for 11 years. She has a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. from the University of Delaware in Linguistics, specializing in Semantics and Language Acquisition. Leaving academia she found meaning in Polarity Therapy, which taught her that â€œLife is energy and energy is movement.â€(Dr. Randolph Stone, D.O., Founder of Polarity Therapy).

Using the techniques of Polarity Therapy and Craniosacral Therapy, Nancy helps people increase capacity for movement in their energy system and physical body, like clearing a stream of blockages to restore its vibrant flow. Restoring free movement in the life energy field and physical body improves a sense of well-being at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. Everyone can benefit from this work, whether it is to relax and reduce the effects of daily stress, find insight, get unstuck or create change in chronic conditions. It has also been shown to speed healing and reduce pain from medical procedures and injury and side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

She has completed a 780-hour Registered Polarity Practitioner Training as well as an additional 150-hour Energetic Listening Skills Certificate Program. To enhance the craniosacral skills she learned in the polarity training, she went on to complete a 700-hour Registered Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist Program. She has completed further studies in Polarity and Structural Dynamics, Polarity and The Nervous System, Body-centered Trauma Resolution, and Positive Psychology (Learned optimism and Character Strengths and Virtures) as well as the Anatomy of the 5 Senses and how they change with age. Working with clients and through personal experience, she has learned much about how food and mold allergies affect the body and nervous system.

In her free time, Nancy loves to hike, climb, dance, run, travel, read, explore, and learn.

Marlene Henkin - Mind Body Energy Therapist, Usui Reiki Master

Marlene has 20 years experience in corporate management and executive roles and a Master's degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently works as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Health, PA Department of Health. Marlene has been practicing integrative healing since 1995.

Marlene is a Master of Usui Reiki, Karuna Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy. She has certifications in Reflexology, Polarity Therapy, Basic Acupressure, One Brain, Touch for Health and Tachyon Energy Therapy.

She is also a practitioner of Color Therapy and Swedish Massage. In August 2007, she obtained her PA state licensed 600 hour Diploma program in Integrative Body/Mind Therapies. Marlene also teaches Reiki Level 1 and Level II Trainings at RYAH Yoga and Health.

Marlene is passionate about integrating complementary health care into a comprehensive health and wellness program within the traditional practice of medicine, and bringing alternative stress reduction techniques into the workplace. She also helps others in understanding the interrelationship between the body's inner healing abilities and the mind.

To learn more about Marlene and energy therapies, visit www.henkinenergytherapy.com