Betsy Ceva, E-RYT 500
Asana Technique, Theory & Methodology, Chanting, Meditation, and Yoga Philosophy Betsy Ceva specializes in Yoga for Kids, Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Hatha Yoga for beginning through advanced level students. Her experience as a professional dancer, choreographer and dance instructor since 1970 has helped shape her unique style of yoga. Betsy's classes challenge her students to go deep, to investigate the body and mind, and the spirit expressing itself. Her classes have been described as magic, with expertly crafted sequencing that builds from the first pose to the ultimate letting go.
In 1984, while living and dancing in San Francisco, Betsy met her Guru, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati and began a study of mantra, meditation and yoga philosophy. Through his influence she created the concept of Moving Mantras ~ Merging Movement & Meditation using movement, breath, repetition, and intention to explore the essential question, "Who am I?" Betsy has taught Hatha Yoga, meditation and mantra chanting to all levels since 1992 and directs Birchwood Center's 200 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings. Betsy also offers Moving Mantras Workshops and is choreographer and director of the Moving Mantras Performance Group, Birchwood Center's resident yoga-dance company.
Charlene Bradin, E-RYT 200
Asana Technique, Theory & Methodology, Anatomy of the Chakras & the Business of Yoga
In addition to heading up Birchwood Center’s The Wonder of Touch Massage Therapy, Charlene Bradin is a Certified Yoga Instructor who has studied with Jeffery Midgow, Paula Heitzner, Betsy Ceva, and others. She has taught hatha yoga to beginners and advanced beginners at Birchwood Center since 1998. With Betsy Ceva, Charlene co-directs the Birchwood Center Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Julie Lifton, RYT 200 In the 11 years that Julie Lifton has been teaching at Birchwood Center she has taught Beginners, Mixed Level, Level II, Gentle and Restorative Yoga. She has also taught many workshops at Birchwood including Prana Yoga, Meditation, Partners Yoga, and her own, “Yoga Archetypes for Healing and Well Being.“ She continues to expand her education in the physical, philosophical and meditative aspects of yoga at various workshops and classes. Julie is certified to teach Prana (Hatha), Restorative yoga and Pranayama. She also teaches both Stress Management and Yoga at Bronx Community College which has further deepened her awareness and appreciation of the gifts of yoga. Julie continues to be inspired by her students and enriched by conveying this ancient knowledge. She is honored to be passing on the tradition of teaching yoga and thereby offer this joy to others.
Jemma Lampkin, E-RYT 200 After dancing for many years, Jemma Lampkin began studying yoga with Betsy Ceva in 1999 and received a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Birchwood Center in 2005. Originally attracted to the non-competitive nature of yoga, Jemma’s background in movement and in psychology later led her to the study of how yoga can help those suffering from emotional, psychiatric, and chemical disorders. Since her certification, Jemma has continued studying yoga with Betsy Ceva, Raji Thron, Dharma Mittra, and with various teachers in NYC. Jemma’s classes are sweaty and strengthening, and they focus on incorporating precision into a challenging, breath-based Vinyasa flow.
Lynne Aubrey, RYT 500 Lynne Aubrey, a 500 hour certified yoga instructor, teaches beginner Yoga Foundation and advanced Ashtanga based Vinyasa Yoga. Lynne's life experience in dance, yoga, and movement and her dedication to her own daily practice gives her an authentic and powerful understanding of Yoga. Lynne has been teaching since 2001. Her training includes 40 hours of adjustment and alignment with David Life of Jivamukti Yoga; a 40 hour teacher training certification, "Embodying the Flow" the art of teaching Vinyasa flow Yoga with Shiva Rea; 100 hour certification with Doug Swenson in "Sadhana Yoga Chi" a vinyasa style of Yoga deeply rooted in Ashtanga, and an intensive two weeks at the Purple Valley Ashtanga Yoga center in Goa India. Lynne completed the 40 hour "Relax and Renew" Restorative Yoga course with Judith Lassiter and had the privilege of practicing Ashtanga Yoga 1st and 2nd series with the late Guruji Sri Patabhi Jois on several of his last visits to New York.
Guest Teachers
Gina Martin
Anatomy & Physiology
Gina Martin is a Shiatsu Sensei and Licensed Massage Therapist
who specializes in eastern bodywork and herbal medicine. Gina is
a Certified Instructor of Five Element Shiatsu with the American
Organization of Body Work Therapies of Asia (AOBIA), and has
been an anatomy and physiology instructor at the Swedish
Institute College of Massage Therapy since 1987.
Vidyalankara
Sanskrit Studies, Chanting Vidyalankara studied Meditation, Yoga-Vedanta philosophy and Sanskrit directly
with Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, and served at Ananda Ashram for 22 years in the
areas of Management, Finances, Guest Services and Work Study. She is currently a
co-director of the School of Hatha Yoga, and has trained with Paula Heitzner, Raji
Thron, Sandra Kozak, Dharma Mitra and others. Vidya has also trained at the
Kaivalyadhama Institute in India where she attended the Teacher Training
Certificate program. Vidya has studied Pranayama directly with Om Prakash Tiwari,
a Master Pranayama teacher.
Al Bingham
Al Bingham is the Director of Your Body, Your Life, Your Yoga. In addition to training Yoga teachers in 200-, 300- and 500-hour level programs, Al created My Yoga Project, an independent study program for 500-level graduates interested in developing and launching innovative, Yoga-specific educational materials, training programs, teaching spaces and/or media projects. Al has co-authored two books on Yoga for Random House, created Yoga DVDs, developed customizable Yoga practices for MP3 players, and launched Yoga programs in corporate, fitness, medical and religious settings.
Betsy Ceva, E-RYT 500
