The Yoga Place - Bennington, VT
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The Yoga Place, Bennington Vermont

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Jane Schaeffer, MA, RYT, is the originator of The Yoga Place. She is a Licensed Psychologist-Master and a Registered Professional Level Yoga Teacher with a 500-hour certification. She was a group, family and individual psychotherapist for many years. Along with teaching yoga for over 30 years, she has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation for over 20 years as well as beginner meditation. She is currently a meditation student of Dr. Roshi Joan Jiku Halifax. Most recently Jane has been training with Amrit Desai at the Amrit Institute in Ocala Springs, Florida. Jane, also an anthropologist, has traveled throughout Asia and brings an artful love of movement and balance to her teaching. 
Jane first encountered yoga as a college student and resumed her practice after the birth of her daughter, feeling a need to reclaim ownership of her body. "Yoga brings me home to myself. I tend to be a bit of a "talking head" type A personality. When I am connected to life through my body, I like myself and I like my life. It is a great privilege to teach and learn so deeply from the many students of the Yoga Place."

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Katherine King, MA, RYT (registered yoga teacher) is a LMHC (licensed mental health counselor).

Introduced to yoga in childhood, Katharine has practiced on and off over 20 years, becoming increasinly dedicated over the past 8 years.  Working as a psychotherapist and watching her personal practice evolve, she has experienced personally the profound, healing available through yoga.  Katherine hopes to invite any and everyone to her classes and is interested in developing yoga for any need.  She currently offers a gentle Kripalu focus with the intention of allowing each participant's body to guide movement.

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Daisy Levy  is certified by The Pilates Center of Boulder, Colorado in mat and equipment Pilates, and has taught individual and group classes in Colorado, New York, Boston, and Michigan.  She came to Pilates as a dancer and later used the method to rehabilitate first a shoulder operation, and later a knee repair.  Daisy’s experience with movement and healing continues to shape her practice as a teacher.  In the 15 years she’s been teaching Pilates, she has worked with people trying to improve their performance in sport, as well as those who are trying to recover from injury or chronic pain.  She emphasizes informed movement, using imagery, breath, hands-on manipulation, support/release and play to fully inhabit a healthy and strong body.  Above all, Daisy believes in the power of the human body, and that all of us have the potential to be strong, flexible, joyous movers.
In her other job Daisy is Daisy Levy, PhD, Assistant Professor of English and Coordinator, Composition Program at Southern Vermont College.  We adore her.

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Suzy Pence, Awesome Flow Yoga
Suzy Pence, RYT and DVM
Originally from New Hampshire, Dr. Suzy joined WMAH in 2008. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Suzy lived in Alaska and was the research technician at the Large Animal Research Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where she managed herds of Caribou, Muskoxen and Reindeer.  Her compassion and medical expertise are invaluable.  She leads our oncology program and bereavement services. When not at the clinic, Dr. Suzy can be found enjoying year round outdoor activities, reading, traveling, and working at her second job as yoga teacher.  Just returned from advanced teacher training in India, we are excited to take her class!

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Tracy Purdy-Martin, Qigong, Mindfulness Stress Management, Mastermind Group
Tracy writes:  "For the last year, I was unable to continue my active lifestyle due to foot and knee problems.  I became sad and overwhelmed.  I felt hopeless and depressed.  As I was facing knee replacement surgery, I was introduced to Qigong for healing the body mind and soul.  As I started practicing Qigong, I found relief from pain.  I found hope for rejuvenation.  I decided to learn more to help myself and others.  Spring Forest Qigong Center in Minneapolis provides training and healing on many levels.  I believe that everyone can be healed through Qigong.  I believe that everyone can learn to heal themselves through the practice of Qigong.
A note:  Tracy Purdy-Martin is well known by many of us.  At one time she taught step-aerobics through the Wellness Center of the hospital.  She is currently  activities director at BPI.  She is an always well trained teacher with a good sense of humor and purpose.

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Ali Wassick
Beloved Ali Wassick, RYT 500+ teaches many yoga classes a week in various styles and for various groups:  Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Yoga for the Disabled, Vinyasa Flow.  We adore her.

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Charles Waters
"I came to yoga as a young man in the mid 1970's and enjoyed practice for a few years but then fell out of my practice.  Twenty years later, after a life of athletic injuries and all the bumps and bruises that go along with life, I was suffering from severe back and knee pain.  So I decided to come back to my yoga practice.  Seventeen years ago I decided to combine my love of teaching with my love of yoga.  To that end, I completed yoga teacher training at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and then two years later Ashtanga teacher training with David Swenson in 2001.
In addition to my teacher training in Kripalu and Ashtanga Yoga I trained and practiced Iyengar Yoga wit Julianna Centner for many years.  I have taught Vinyasa Style Yogga for the last seven years.  For the last four years I have trained, practiced and taught Viniyoga Therapy for Back Pain.
As I have gotten older I have appreciated the many benefits of Gentle Yoga.  Gentle full range of motion movements help to keep my body strong, flexible and my mind focused.
When not teaching or practicing yoga, I enjoy teaching economics and math at MCLA, other forms of exercise, riding my motorcycles and spending time with my sweetheart, Danielle."

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Our guest teaching staff includes:
  • Peter Rizzo, Master Teacher, Brattleboro.  Peter Rizzo, owner and originator of Bhava Yoga in Brattleboro, VT comes to The Yoga Place in Bennington once a month.  On Third Saturdays of each month Peter holds a 21/2 hour master class for anyone interested in deepening or furthering their yoga practice.  "Peter leads one of the most challenging and tender hearted yoga classes I have ever taken.  It is no BS but you will leave wrung out, worked out, stretched out and loved.  Not for the complacent."  Ellen.
  • Jennie Cohen (Therapy Balls)  has presented workshops internationally, in Paris, China, Dubai and elsewhere.  She says:
    "Let's face it:  modern life sits us in front of computers all day, slumps us in front of the TV at night, and puts a host of stresses on the body that create aches and pains.  This workshop will give you tools to work out the kinks on your own at home--no need to suffer further or even to pay a body worker!

Find Us at

The Yoga Place
532 Main St. 

Bennington, VT 05346
Tel. (802) 447-0393

What Our Clients Are Saying

"I love that I feel more empowered in Jane's nurturing environment and less worried about how I fit it.   Jane makes everyone feel welcome!"

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Tel. (802) 447-0393

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