INSTRUCTORS

Betsey Downing, Ph.D., E-RYT-500, has been a yoga practitioner since 1972 and a meditator since 1974. She is one of Anusara Yoga's earliest certified teachers, and has studied with John Friend as her primary teacher since 1994. Her early influences were Sivananda yoga, Joel Kramer, and then Iyengar yoga for many years. Betsey leads workshops and teacher trainings nationally, including teaching at the Omega Conferences in Miami and New York. She holds a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology from the University of Virginia, and is listed in the World's Who's Who of Women. Betsey's teaching is vibrant with her passion for yoga and special expertise in progressive teaching. Her goal is to create an opportunity for students to connect with their power and wisdom ... and to touch the sacred.
Aireal Young has been practicing yoga for 9 years, and teaching for over 5. She studied with Ganga White and Tracy Rich at the White Lotus Foundation, and has certification in Ashtanga yoga. Aireal is currently in the GOH Teacher Training Program for Anusara yoga. In addition she offers instruction in strength training and conditioning sessions to a variety of individuals, is a massage therapist, and also a certified NIA instructor. Aireal lives in Sarasota with her two children and a menagerie of animals. She loves dancing, horseback riding, playing frisbee and doing arts and crafts with her children.	Cynthia Turner, RYT-200, an Anusara-inspired instructor, began teaching yoga, aerobics and personal training in 1998 at Sarasota health clubs. She studied many yoga styles, but wanted a style that expressed her life philosophy. On a recommendation, she attended a workshop by Betsey Downing and the rest is history. Cynthia completed the YTT Program at Garden of the Heart, and has studied with John Friend and other senior Anusara teachers. Cynthia has two bright, talented teenagers and two mischievous dogs. Click Here to read more about Cynthia.	Donna Wylly RYT-200 found yoga after almost thirty years in the design/building world. Attracted to the heart-opening qualities of Anusara yoga, she took to it right away, and even suggested Yoga for Golfers to her avid golfer husband, who now sometimes practices yoga more than playing golf! She studies with and is inspired by Betsey Downing and Jaye Martin, and has completed the GOH Teacher Training Program. In addition Donna has studied with John Friend, Suzy Hurley, Sianna Sherman, and Desiree Rumbaugh. Donna and her husband love foreign travel, visiting museums and gardens, and walking with their dog Sydney. Click Here to read more about Donna.
Jaye Martin RYT-200 began yoga in 1998 and is now a certified Anusara teacher. He has studied Anusara yoga with John Friend and Betsey Downing, and Ashtanga yoga with David Swenson and Vickie Sorenson. Jaye danced professionally for over 10 years with the Joffrey Ballet in New York and with the Sarasota Ballet for six seasons. He holds a BA in music and plays the clarinet with the Venice Symphony and the Sarasota Concert Band. Jaye is also an avid gardener and landscape designer. Click Here to read more about Jaye.	Kimberly Braun, M.A. has been devoted to meditation from the age of 5, with over ten years spent as a monastic nun in North Dakota and Texas. She completed a Masters in theology in 2001 in Washington D.C., concentrating on the adult spiritual journey. Kimberly is also a Reiki Master. Her simplicity and joy, coupled with natural ability, help others to thoughtfully probe the deep questions about life, connect to their essence, and then…live out the answer in greater freedom! Kimberly also loves to cook, dance, exercise, and enjoy nature in all its beauty. Click Here to read more about Kimberly.	Nancy Zampella, E-RYT 200, began studying yoga in 1992. While living in New York City, she completed an Anusara Teacher Training program led by Amy Ippoliti & Molly Fox, and is now an Anusara affiliated instructor. After successfully employing the Anusara principles of alignment to help cure her carpal tunnel syndrome, Nancy became inspired to help others discover their unrealized power. Nancy is a freelance writer, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Holistic Nutrition. She lives with her husband Mark and Milo, their cat. Click Here to read more about Nancy.
Randall Buskirk RYT-200 grew up in Kentucky, where he took a T'ai Chi class at the age of 14. He forgot most of what he'd learned except for the phrase "embrace the tiger and return to the mountain," not really knowing what it meant. When he discovered yoga in 2003, he felt as if he were again back on the mountain. Randall has taken workshops with John Friend, Todd Norian and Ann Green, Sianna Sherman, Desiree Rumbaugh, and Douglas Brooks. Randall has completed the GOH Teacher Training Program. Despite a degree in English, he still enjoys reading, and despite no trace of a southern accent, still hopes to write a hit country song someday. Click Here to read more about Randall.	Rita Knorr, RYT-200, is a certified Anusara yoga teacher, and taught for many years in Chicago before recently moving to Florida. She has studied with John Friend for over 10 years. Rita leads workshops and teacher trainings, and in 2001 she was invited to teach yoga at the ashram of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda in India. She lives in St. Petersburg where she loves to transport herself by bicycle and sailboat. Click Here to read more about Rita.	Val Shanaberger RYT-200 began practicing yoga in 2000 while teaching in the health and fitness industry, and began teaching yoga in 2003. Finding Garden of the Heart Yoga Center in 2005 introduced Anusara yoga which gave better clarity, a firmer foundation, and the desire to teach with more substance. She has completed the GOH Teacher Training Program. Bedsides teaching yoga, Val also works with older adults teaching muscular strength and range of movement through the Silver Sneakers® program. Val lives in Sarasota with her husband of 25-plus years, son, daughter, cats, dog, fish & a parrot she’s had since age 7.
Vesna Petrovich, RYT-200, turned to yoga to relieve stress while pursuing a teaching career. After studying different styles of yoga, she chose Anusara for its therapeutic and heart qualities. Vesna studies with Betsey Downing, John Friend, and many other wonderful teachers. In addition to yoga, Vesna runs a language school, FrenchClasses.net. A native speaker of French (and Serbian), she holds an M.A. from the Sorbonne and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She loves to share her passion for learning and teaching, and enjoys bringing yoga to a wider community of all ages. Click Here to read more about Vesna.