Yoga in State College Teachers

	Doug Hayward has was introduced to Yoga thru a Philosophy course at Millersville University as an undergraduate in the early 70's. However, that exposure simply turned out to be a seed that didn't blossom until the mid 90's when he went to a Bikram class in West Reading Pennsylvania. Under the tutelage of Sarita Rocco, Doe Wails, Maryann Blefko, Joel Pier, JoAnn Morrell, Bikram, Jimmy Barkam, Eric Schiffman, Rama Berch and Bri Maya Tiwari he was introduced to the wonderful world of Asana and self discoverable meditation. His journey continued over a couple of years of practice till he became one of the first members of Yoga Alliance when their headquarters was in West Reading, PA. He went on from there on a trip to State College, PA to teach Yoga at a local Massage School and the Pennsylvania State University. Those opportunities continue to flourish to this day while at the same time he opened a small studio called Yoga in State College. Being an avid reader of antiquated Yoga Books, Doug helped to establish Yoga in State College as a portal of Yoga education for thousands of students thru the help of over 20 other teachers either living in the area or acquiring the knowledge of Yoga at the studio itself. He continues a tradition of Free Yoga Classes at Berks County's Heritage Center ~ every Sunday at 11:00 am from May to September.
	Jenn Henry-Dashem, RYT-200 ~Jenn began as a student of yoga at Yoga in State College in 2006. She received her training at the Lotus Seed School of Yoga in Portland, OR and went on to open a studio in Washington State. Moving back to Pennsylvania, she returns to where it all began. Jenn is continually inspired by the teachings of yoga on, and off the mat. Her creative sequencing and focus on breath bring an uplifting and light hearted vibe to her classes.
	Ebony began her yoga journey some years back while working at Websters Bookstore. Having always had an interest in learning the depths of being human and expressing that knowledge thru an open and caring realationship with others, Ebony sought out Yoga in State College thru an exchange program set up between Webster's and YISC based on booksales trade. Thru commitment, dedication and hard work Ebony challenged herself to take up and complete Teacher training to become as well versed as possible in the science of Yoga to be able to share the blessings of practice to others. She now challenges others to find the depths of determination deeply stored within to blossom "like a flower pedal blooming".
	Anna started her yoga practice five years ago and was certified through YogaFit a year ago for Level One training. Anna teaches in a Vinyasa Fitness style that focuses on connecting breath with movement. Using the benefits of breathing and working out to improve mental health, decrease stress, and promote confidence. As a student at Penn State, Anna encourages people of all ages and gender to practice yoga and offers a welcoming environment for everyone in her classes.
	Lynn dove into the adventure of yoga during her 10 years on the north shore of Kauai. In 2009 she received her Yoga Alliance certification from Yoga Hanalei, and has been teaching non-stop ever since. Over the course of thousands of teaching hours, Lynn has refined her personal teaching style into a holistic wellness system that combines detailed asana alignment, the wisdom of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, humor, compassion and a hefty dose of personalized attention. She views yoga as a tool for transformation on every level…including physical health, emotional balance, psychological stability, spiritual awakening and the ultimate yoga of relationships. With a deep respect for each aspirant’s personal journey, Lynn aims to help her students reach their highest level of health, happiness and harmony.
	Breathe. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Explore the sensation of being present in your own body. Repeat as necessary! Mark first experienced yoga asana and pranayama in 2015 during trauma recovery at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Following his retirement from the Army in 2016, Mark pursued his RYT 200 teaching certification. He continues to learn, expand his practice, and explore the integration of mind, body, and spirit through the linkage of breath awareness and mindful movement. Mark invites you to explore for yourself how yoga can calm the mind, soothe the body, and help process emotions. His instruction fosters an open, accepting environment, where all are welcome, and there is plenty of space to relax and breathe.
	Brendan loves sharing the power of movement and its ability to help people feel better. The way yoga challenges the body, nourishes the breath, and focuses the mind are just some of reasons Brendan is passionate about yoga. Practicing yoga is his preferred way to heal through movement and has been since he attended his first yoga class back in 2013 at Penn State University. Brendan continued to take classes in State College up until his graduation in 2014. After returning to his hometown of Philadelphia, PA, Brendan completed a Vinyasa Yoga Teaching Certification. More recently, Brendan’s interests in yoga have expanded into functional movement training – concentrating on strengthening the body and helping to sustain a lifelong practice of yoga. He believes the body should feel better after yoga class, with each movement and pose preparing people to move through life mindfully and without fear of injury. Feel a little better and join Brendan for a Vinyasa yoga class designed to build heat from the inside and help you stay “cool” during the week.
	Amy DeLosa began to discover yoga in 2008 and, it soon became evident that it would become an important part of her life. She switched her focus from a corporate job to following her passion for yoga. This practice opened the doorway to her self discovery, pursuit of heart based experiences and, loving life! In 2012, she completed her 200 hour teacher training with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Grass Valley, CA and, has taught primarily in California, Nevada, State College, & her home town of Julian, PA. Amy leads with a lighthearted approach that inspires students to move to the rhythm of their own body.

Yoga is a science of living, and those who practice it are known as Yogis or Yoginis. Yoga has nothing to do with any particular caste, religion, or nation, and is therefore universally applicable and useful. Yoga sets up no particular God, or gods; neither does it deny the existence of God. It is a system of physical and thought culture. One may be a Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian or atheist and still be a student of Yoga, since it neither criticizes any religion, nor does it support one particular religion. Some Yogis may not recognize supernatural powers or the duty of man to owe allegiance to them. Still they may reach self-realization through self-knowledge by the practice of Yoga, besides the attainment of miraculous powers, such as perfect control of the mind and body, including even the involuntary organs of the body. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, Yoga is "a system of philosophic meditation and asceticism designed to effect the reunion of the soul with the universal spirit." This is true of certain forms of Yoga which are inextricably mixed in Hindu metaphysics, and, in a sense, it is true of Hatha Yoga. However, the average student need not concern themself overmuch with this definition. It should be sufficient for them to know that Yoga is a system of mental and physical training with prescribed postures, breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation. Although yogic exercises may be compared to physical culture exercises, they differ from them in many ways. They are not intended for the development of large muscles, as in physical culture. Nor are they aimed at merely disciplining the body. Yoga disciplines the mind as well as the body. The exercises of Yoga stand unparalleled among all the systems of physical exercises, because of the benefits they have to offer, a fact which the West has but too tardily grasped. Now that the knowledge of the East is being systematized and presented along Western lines, the West has become more receptive than before, and has even attempted to adapt it to her own needs in physical culture, and in medicine, dieting and nutrition. It is my belief that this century~ will bring about a closer understanding between the East and the West. Yoga teaches in easy, simple steps the control of the mind, its thought, and the whole body itself, though self-study and self-knowledge. There is nothing mysterious about it, as in black or white magic, nor, as is popularly imagined, does its scope and significance lie in the swallowing of crushed glass or cyanide, lying on beds of nails, or walking on hot coals. Hatha Yoga is only a form of "personal hygiene" which maintains perfect health in a human being through physical, mental, moral and spiritual training. The Yoga system which has been practiced in India since at least the time of the Epics, that is, 1000 B.C. (the excavations in the Indus Valley show the science was known in 3000 B.C.), supersedes modern knowledge of hygiene in many ways. It affords to us longevity, resistance to disease, the growth of a beautiful body, and mental and spiritual sublimation. Yogi Gupta 1958

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