The Yoga Place

The Yoga Place,
Bennington, VT
(802) 447-0101

our teachers

Our teachers are all certified professionals.

Our teaching staff is:

Jane Schaeffer, MA, RYT_500, teacher/owner/manager.
Donna Menneto, CPI.
Donna Myers, MA in progress, RYT and Thai Massage Therapy.
Carol Steinmetz, RN, RYT.
Ali Wassick, RYT, Thai Massage Therapy.
Tracey Forest, RYT, college professor, co-founder Spirit Hollow.
Ari Gradus, RYT, artist.

Our guest teaching staff includes:

Peter Rizzo, Master Teacher, Brattleboro.

Jane Schaeffer w granddaughter 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 8 years, she has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation for over 10 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."

Tracey Forest is a CYT at the 200-hour level in Prana Vinyasa Yoga, having studied with visionary teacher Shiva Rea. Prana Flow is a full spectrum approach to embodying the flow of yoga. With six years of teaching experience, Tracey teaches at The Yoga Place, Breathing Room Yoga, Southern Vermont College and Spirit Hollow. Additionally, she is co-founding Director of Spirit Hollow and a singer-songwriter who performs with her kirtan band DEVI around the region. www.spirithollow.org

Ari Gradus is a professional artist who has been practicing yoga for many years. He trained at Solar Yoga studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He divides his time between Hoosick Falls and New York City, where he has been teaching a yoga class for beginners for the past twelve years. As a trained yoga instructor, Ari has a special interest in bringing this wonderful discipline to as many people as possible. He wants them to understand that instead of being a mere luxury, yoga serves to greatly improve both physical and mental health, and is truly for everyone. With this in mind, Ari would especially like to encourage men who have never done yoga before to to come and give it a try in a men's only class. The environment will be relaxed, supportive, non-competitive, and fun too.

Donna Menneto is a Certified Pilates Instructor. She received her certification in classical Pilates from Power Pilates of New York. Ms. Menneto studied Pilates under the tutelage of Master Pilates Instructor and physical therapist, Lisa Hoffmaster. Ms. Menneto combines physical therapy expertise and Pilates seven principals of exercise, centering, concentration, control, precision/flow, rhythm and breath to give a beneficial and challenging workout. This class will leave you feeling refreshed, centered and revitalized.

One of Donna Myers' yoga classes Donna Myers was introduced to yoga by Clive Sheridan while living in Hamburg, Germany and working as dance captain for the musical "Cats." After many years in Europe Donna returns to the US with her family and is eager to share her interests and experience with the yoga community in Bennington. Donna is a certified yoga instructor and holds a BS in ballet pedagogy from Indiana University. Her background in working with the body as a dancer and performer combined with her interest in holistic health has fueled her passion to explore yoga as a path for spiritual growth.
Donna has decided to dive into a new project and this past fall enrolled full time in a Master's Degree Program at Antioch New-England in Keene, NH. We already know she is brilliant and love her classes. Besides being a full time homemaker and mom, she also works doing Thai Massage Therapy and offers private yoga lessons.

Carol Steinmetz is trained in Anusara-style yoga, spending over 400 hours with Todd Norian in 2003 and has been teaching in Berlin, NY, Williamstown, MA and at The Yoga Place. She also practices Integrative Manual Therapy, a form of bodywork for healing.
Carol's 30 years in nursing compliment her yoga teaching, providing a firm foundation in anatomy and body mechanics. She has a deep understanding and knowledge of the learning process formed when she was coordinator of education at a local hospital. She is currently in continuing study at the Center for Integrative Manual Therapy in Bloomfield, CT.

Ali Wassick was introduced to yoga during her teen years, and completed her teacher training in 2006 at Yoga Vermont in Burlington. Yoga has been a unique journey of spiritual growth and transformation for her. "Yoga connects us with every aspect of our life, helping us to appreciate life and live fully in the present moment. What we find on the mat supports growth and transformation in our everyday lives." Ali's teaching style is inspired by Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Anusara and Restorative Yoga. She hopes to teach her students to breathe, relax, be happy and appreciate all life has to offer. Ali recently returned from Thailand where she studied Anusara Yoga and Thai-Yoga Bodywork. She is a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance and certified as a Thai-Yoga Bodyworker. She is grateful for her amazing teachers and she feels that yoga will forever be a part of her journey through life.

Guest Instructors

Peter Rizzo is a master teacher, teaching in New York City and Brattleboro, Vermont. I heard about him from several of the Yoga Place teachers who were taking the time to travel to Brattleboro to take classes with Peter and eventually to train with him. We remain intrigued happy to be able to welcome Peter once a month to The Yoga Place.

MASTERCLASS/WORKSHOP WITH PETER:
THIRD Saturdays
1030A-1PM.
BY DONATION OR $30.
For more information:
Call Jane at 447-0393 or visit Peter's website: www.bhavayoga.com
What is a "Master Class"? An opportunity to work with someone who has studied yoga deeply and has been teaching effectively for a long time. Do not pass up this opportunity!

		The Yoga Place, Bennington, VT (802) 447-0101
	our teachers Our teachers are all certified professionals. Our teaching staff is: Jane Schaeffer, MA, RYT_500, teacher/owner/manager. Donna Menneto, CPI. Donna Myers, MA in progress, RYT and Thai Massage Therapy. Carol Steinmetz, RN, RYT. Ali Wassick, RYT, Thai Massage Therapy. Tracey Forest, RYT, college professor, co-founder Spirit Hollow. Ari Gradus, RYT, artist. Our guest teaching staff includes: Peter Rizzo, Master Teacher, Brattleboro. 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 8 years, she has taught Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Relaxation for over 10 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." Tracey Forest is a CYT at the 200-hour level in Prana Vinyasa Yoga, having studied with visionary teacher Shiva Rea. Prana Flow is a full spectrum approach to embodying the flow of yoga. With six years of teaching experience, Tracey teaches at The Yoga Place, Breathing Room Yoga, Southern Vermont College and Spirit Hollow. Additionally, she is co-founding Director of Spirit Hollow and a singer-songwriter who performs with her kirtan band DEVI around the region. www.spirithollow.org Ari Gradus is a professional artist who has been practicing yoga for many years. He trained at Solar Yoga studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He divides his time between Hoosick Falls and New York City, where he has been teaching a yoga class for beginners for the past twelve years. As a trained yoga instructor, Ari has a special interest in bringing this wonderful discipline to as many people as possible. He wants them to understand that instead of being a mere luxury, yoga serves to greatly improve both physical and mental health, and is truly for everyone. With this in mind, Ari would especially like to encourage men who have never done yoga before to to come and give it a try in a men's only class. The environment will be relaxed, supportive, non-competitive, and fun too. Donna Menneto is a Certified Pilates Instructor. She received her certification in classical Pilates from Power Pilates of New York. Ms. Menneto studied Pilates under the tutelage of Master Pilates Instructor and physical therapist, Lisa Hoffmaster. Ms. Menneto combines physical therapy expertise and Pilates seven principals of exercise, centering, concentration, control, precision/flow, rhythm and breath to give a beneficial and challenging workout. This class will leave you feeling refreshed, centered and revitalized. Donna Myers was introduced to yoga by Clive Sheridan while living in Hamburg, Germany and working as dance captain for the musical "Cats." After many years in Europe Donna returns to the US with her family and is eager to share her interests and experience with the yoga community in Bennington. Donna is a certified yoga instructor and holds a BS in ballet pedagogy from Indiana University. Her background in working with the body as a dancer and performer combined with her interest in holistic health has fueled her passion to explore yoga as a path for spiritual growth. Donna has decided to dive into a new project and this past fall enrolled full time in a Master's Degree Program at Antioch New-England in Keene, NH. We already know she is brilliant and love her classes. Besides being a full time homemaker and mom, she also works doing Thai Massage Therapy and offers private yoga lessons. Carol Steinmetz is trained in Anusara-style yoga, spending over 400 hours with Todd Norian in 2003 and has been teaching in Berlin, NY, Williamstown, MA and at The Yoga Place. She also practices Integrative Manual Therapy, a form of bodywork for healing. Carol's 30 years in nursing compliment her yoga teaching, providing a firm foundation in anatomy and body mechanics. She has a deep understanding and knowledge of the learning process formed when she was coordinator of education at a local hospital. She is currently in continuing study at the Center for Integrative Manual Therapy in Bloomfield, CT. Ali Wassick was introduced to yoga during her teen years, and completed her teacher training in 2006 at Yoga Vermont in Burlington. Yoga has been a unique journey of spiritual growth and transformation for her. "Yoga connects us with every aspect of our life, helping us to appreciate life and live fully in the present moment. What we find on the mat supports growth and transformation in our everyday lives." Ali's teaching style is inspired by Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Anusara and Restorative Yoga. She hopes to teach her students to breathe, relax, be happy and appreciate all life has to offer. Ali recently returned from Thailand where she studied Anusara Yoga and Thai-Yoga Bodywork. She is a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance and certified as a Thai-Yoga Bodyworker. She is grateful for her amazing teachers and she feels that yoga will forever be a part of her journey through life. Guest Instructors Peter Rizzo is a master teacher, teaching in New York City and Brattleboro, Vermont. I heard about him from several of the Yoga Place teachers who were taking the time to travel to Brattleboro to take classes with Peter and eventually to train with him. We remain intrigued happy to be able to welcome Peter once a month to The Yoga Place. MASTERCLASS/WORKSHOP WITH PETER: THIRD Saturdays 1030A-1PM. BY DONATION OR $30. For more information: Call Jane at 447-0393 or visit Peter's website: www.bhavayoga.com What is a "Master Class"? An opportunity to work with someone who has studied yoga deeply and has been teaching effectively for a long time. Do not pass up this opportunity!

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