Yoga Instructors

Debbie is a graduate of Broome Community College with a degree in Business and Travel & Tourism.  Her background includes 18 years as a travel agency manager which gave her the opportunity to travel around the world.  Traveling to foreign countries has enriched her appreciation of the people, communities and diversity of the world.  Debbie’s career in travel ended when the company she was working for decided to close their store in the Binghamton area.  During this transition in her life, she began her Yoga practice. 

As a former gymnast, Debbie found Yoga to be a satisfying alternative to the physical demands of gymnastics.  Throughout her journey she has always appreciated the fact that people of all ages and size can practice Yoga.  Yoga can be practiced for a lifetime. 

Recently Debbie completed teacher training through ChildLight Yoga to become certified as a kids Yoga instructor.  The passion to teach Yoga to children came from “playing” Yoga with her young nieces and nephews.  There are many benefits that Yoga can offer to children including, flexibility, social skills, muscle toning and mindfulness.  Sharing these benefits with kids is important to Debbie as they journey through the challenges of their own lives.  Debbie plans to continue her Yoga education in 2012 to complete her certification as a Register Yoga Teacher.  

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Dave started regular yoga self practices in 1998 as part of his training to run 5K races.  Running short races turned to running marathons which then turned to triathlons.  In 2002, he started attending Yoga practices in the Ithaca area as part of his triathlon training.  After finishing the Lake Placid Ironman in 2004 he became more focused on yoga. This was a turning point in his life and he found himself attending yoga classes many times a week at various locations in the Triple Cities.

His affection for Yoga deepened as he started training to become a Yoga teacher.  In February 2011, he completed his 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training.  His training is through YogaFit which trains instructors to teach an active, flowing, Vinyasa style of yoga.

He inspires to share his enthusiasm for yoga with focus on body awareness, engagement and alignment.

Currently Dave is teaching 7:00 AM yoga classes on Mondays and Wednesdays.  This class is for students new to yoga and also for intermediate to advanced students that desire to work on basic to intermediate poses and pose sequences.

There will be focus on alignment, body awareness and breath with movement. In addition, some poses will be held for several breaths to explore pose options that allow each person to find their individual expression of a pose.  With continued practice, students will improve strength, flexibility, and body awareness.  Dave’s goal is to have students leaving class feeling balanced, energized and ready to take on the day.

Vartika Dubey is president and co-founder of Kaivalyadhama, USA and daughter of Om Prakash Tiwari MA, one of only a few authentic and true Pranayama & Hatha Yoga masters in the world alive today.

Dr. Dubey was born into a lineage of Yoga masters. She grew up hearing about Yamas and Niyamas, playing, "Who Does the Best Asana" and learning to chant the Vedas at the Age of 9. Intrigued by the simplicity and scientific approach of the Kaivalyadhama Research Institute, where she was raised, she decided that this would be her path. She learned to appreciate the infinite intelligence found in the finite structure during her doctoral research in Chemistry. Vartika then received her Diploma in Yoga Education attending the intensive nine-month Yoga Teacher Training Course at Kaivalyadhama, India.

With her own family now, she has resided and taught Yoga in the US for 21 years. She teaches Yoga in schools, hospitals, recreation centers, Yoga studios and privately. Well versed in the scientific foundation of Yoga she lectures and gives workshops as well.

She waited for a long 10 years to get approval from her father, OP Tiwari to teach Pranayama. She considers this as her priceless achievement.

Vartika also teaches private yoga sessions. Click here fore more information! Her fee is $50.00 per hour. These are by appointment only and must be reserved with Vartika. 

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Katie began her journey in the alternative medical field with a deep interest in mind/body medicine.  Katie received her Bachelors of Professional Studies in Life Sciences from New York Chiropractic College.  She graduated with Honors with a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from Finger Lakes School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She is a New York State Licensed Acupuncturist and a Nationally Board Certified Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (Dipl.O.M.) from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Katie is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with Yoga Alliance.  She was introduced to yoga in her teens and has continued to explore and deepen her practice.  She completed her 200 hour Ashtanga based yoga teacher training at Anala Yoga Center in Florida.  She uses her extensive knowledge of the body to lead students on their path of yoga.  Katie provides a comfortable and supportive environment and seeks to give her students an authentic Yoga experience.  Her classes guide students through a vinyasa flow style of yoga which includes movement and breath, attention to alignment, and poses for all levels.

Rick has been an active student and teacher of the healing arts for 18 years. He began his practice of yoga seven years ago, studying Svaroopa yoga locally with Yvette Bulger. He has since practiced Hatha yoga with Edmond Cotton and has received his Level 1 certification from YogaFit, which teaches an active, flowing style of yoga in the Vinyasa tradition.

Rick enjoys yoga for its physical, mental and emotional benefits. He finds yoga both compliments and supports his other favorite activities, which include tennis, gardening and ballroom dancing.

Allison began practicing yoga in 1997 with her first yoga teacher, Janet Wilson.  Soon after she studied at the Himalayan Institute where she learned the foundations of hatha yoga.  She began practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 2003 with Lea Perfetti, and has since studied with other certified Ashtanga yoga teachers including Tarik van Prehn, Annie Pace, John Campbell, and Tim Miller.  She recently completed Tim Miller's 40-hour Ashtanga yoga teacher training and hopes to share this transformative practice with others. 

Allison has also studied trauma - sensitive yoga (working with individuals who have suffered traumatic experiences), and received a teaching certificate in 2008.  She has found yoga is helpful in many ways, including stress reduction, improved physical  and mental health, clarity of mind, self-awareness, and receptivity to truth.

• Dietitian
• 200-hour Certified ILY Teacher
• RYT-200 (Graduate 8/13/11)
• NETA Yoga Certified

I started yoga 6 years ago to become more physically active.  I fell in love with yoga and was “hooked.”  I realized at this point that there are so many other benefits to yoga besides just the physical aspects.  I wanted to learn more so I could share this information with other people.  I completed my NETA Yoga Certification in 2009, am now a certified Infinite Light Yoga Teacher and will graduate with my 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification on August 13, 2011 after eight enjoyable months of training, learning and building on my knowledge of yoga. 

I teach Hatha Yoga with a Kripalu based background.  In my yoga classes you will find that I cater to all levels from beginners who have never practiced to advanced students.  My classes will help balance your body, mind, and spirit.  It will allow your mind to settle, your body to become stronger and more flexible and your spirit to be free.  

You will find my classes will sculpt your body and tone the muscles of your mind while you learn the poses, background and philosophies of yoga.  You will receive detailed explanations of each move and extensive tips on proper form for your body while being able to modify each posture in a safe way to your level of intensity and ability.  Each carefully-sequenced move naturally builds on the previous one.  You will be lead through easy-to-do exercises that are designed to loosen areas in your body where muscle tension resides.

Each class begins with breath centering, moves into yoga postures and asanas, and ends with relaxation so you will begin to not only notice the benefits of yoga on your physical body, but on your mental well being as also.  Come experience the lightness, energy and power that has attracted so many people for thousands of years to yoga!!!

Tracy Rickard has been involved in the healing arts and bodywork for many years. Tracy has been practicing massage for 6 years, receiving her training from Finger Lakes School of Massage.

In 2007 she found a new fascination in Nutrition. She decided to attend the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She is certified as a Holistic Health Coach working with clients on diet and lifestyle concerns.

Finally she added Yoga, by becoming a Certified Yoga Teacher at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Blending all three professions has been wonderful for Tracy. Her yoga classes are Kripalu based allowing individuals to have a personal experience by allowing them to breathe, relax, feel, and allow each student to open up to the power of yoga.