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A National Yoga
Alliance Registered
School




     
    Faculty

Rudrani Farbman Brown
Jackie Prete
Tracy Toon Spencer
Marjorie Nass
Susan Kotcher
Michael Fergot
Tyrone Holmes
Danielle Lee
Alice Hogan
Jana Castellano
Julia Pearring

 Rudrani Farbman Brown
"Rudrani's classes, trainings and programs are grounded in the deep wisdom gained from a lifetime of immersing in the teachings and in the Shakti. You can feel the depth of her own self-inquiry and her years of teaching experience."

Rudrani began her study of Yoga in 1966 and founded the World Yoga Center in 1972 with a vision of spreading the greatness and luminosity of Yoga in the West. Originally certified as an Integral Yoga teacher in the late 60's, she served on the Integral Yoga Institute's National Board and as a staff lecturer, counselor and Hatha Yoga instructor. In 1974 she began a joyous life-long study of Siddha Yoga, having met her teacher, Muktananda Paramahamsa. Part of his original core of teachers, she ran a Siddha meditation center in NYC and led programs and meditation intensives throughout the U.S. She traveled with Swami Muktananda as a speaker/teacher for many years and lived for three years in his Ashram in India engaged in spiritual practices and the study of Yoga scriptures and philosophy.

On the west coast during the eighties, Rudrani was a meditation and yoga teacher in residence in the Santa Monica and Oakland S.Y. ashrams. She was also on faculty at the JFK Graduate School of Consciousness Studies and the California Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and gave Yoga programs throughout the Bay Area.

Rudrani directs the World Yoga Center, leading the teacher trainings, meditation courses and Satsangs. She has been a teacher of meditation, philosophy and transformational practices for 38 years. Rudrani is trained in several styles of Hatha yoga, and is an Anusara Inspired yoga teacher who began her study with John Friend in 1994. A charismatic teacher, her hatha classes are woven with Yoga teachings and are known for their clarity of instruction, and depth. An innovative counselor, Rudrani also maintains a private counseling practice since 1986 and heads the WYC Mentoring Program.

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Jackie Prete

It is Jackie's greatest joy to introduce students and teachers to the path and teachings of Anusara yoga and the philosophy of Shiva/Shatkti Tantra that is at the root of this tradition. Since 2001 she has taught Anusara Yoga based Teacher Training Programs, workshops, retreats, and Immersions in NYC, the Catskills, Japan, London, Costa Rica and Mexico. She is honored to be invited by John to serve on the Certification Committee of Anusara Yoga. Jackie's passion for therapeutics led her to getting a massage license in 1996. She combines her knowledge of Anusara therapeutics with her experience as a body worker to help her students with their therapeutics issues. She is looking forward to bringing her therapeutics training and teaching mentoring programs to the US soon.

Jackie has been teaching Hatha Yoga in NYC since 1991. Her style of teaching evolved from Power Vinyasa Flow that was deeply influenced by Iyengar Yoga, having received her first two certifications from the White Lotus Foundation and Om Yoga Center. Jackie and Rudrani Farbman Brown bring their special karmic connection to their shared programs- co-teaching teacher training, retreats and immersions in the New York area. Jackie currently sees 200 students every week in her NYC classes at the World Yoga Center, Pure Yoga and Equinox Fitness clubs.

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Tracy Toon Spencer
Tracy Toon Spencer has been studying and practicing many types of yoga for the past 15 years. Dedicated to the study of Anusara Yoga for the past three years, she has completed many workshops as well as the 200 hour level of teacher training with Amy Ippoliti, a certified Anusara teacher. She has been teaching in wellness centers and yoga studios since 2003. Besides teaching yoga, Tracy also models with the Ford agency and owns her own career and life coaching business, helping others to deepen their connection in every aspect of life. Yoga students of all levels describe her teaching style as enthusiastic, fun and challenging. Tracy helps students to deepen their understanding of Tantric philosophy and asana.

Tracy Toon Spencer, CPCC, RYT
Certified Professional Coach and Yoga Instructor
Connecting You and Your Life
(212) 375-1688
www.fertilelife.org

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Marjorie Nass
Marjorie is a Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, who discovered Anusara yoga's life affirming philosophy, universal principals and supportive community when she sought stress relief after a decade working in corporate environments. Her life dramatically shifted for the better as she explored and intensified her yoga practice. The path of teaching followed to offer others the gift of yoga, and she created therapeutics classes at the world Yoga Center in 2006 in order to address the needs in the community.  She offers gratitude to her teachers John Friend and Amy Ippoliti for their encouragement and support.

http://www.marjorienass.com



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Susan Kotcher
Certified by the World Yoga Center, Susan Kotcher teaches Hatha yoga, inspired by the grace of Anusara yoga, imbuing rigorous asana practice with celebration of the luminous consciousness that is our core. Susan sees that yoga encourages us to practice even while "off the mat" in our daily lives, co-creating a powerful force within our city of 8 million people for a more compassionate world. Susan began a daily meditation practice 15 years ago, studying Tantra and Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. In 1997, she discovered the beauty of Hatha yoga at the World Yoga Center and began her studies with Rudrani Farbman Brown. Susan's practice continues to be shaped by the World Yoga Center, and she is blessed to teach at the school. She thanks Rudrani Farbman Brown, John Friend, Robert Thurman, Thich Nhat Hanh, the sangha and fellow yoga students, and her life partner, Steven, for their generous inspiration.

Susan holds a BA from Barnard and an MA from Columbia University, both in Political Science. She works as a Vice President with the International Rescue Committee, which rescues refugees around the world. Susan also teaches yoga and meditation in non-profit settings and privately.


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Michael Fergot
Michael happily joins the faculty at the World Yoga Center and is unabashedly in love with the dynamic dance of Shakti and Shiva. He began studying yoga in 1982, but it wasn't until being introduced to Anusara Yoga by Jackie Prete that he feels he really met Yoga. He views each day, class and breath as an opportunity to deepen his connection to that divine mystery called Grace. While each practice is guided by the scientific principles of biomechanics, these principles are employed to elevate and celebrate the human heart. That the human heart can aspire and magically unite with the divine is the greatest gift. Michael's classes balance vigorous action and the life-affirming qualities of heart. He has been a student of the body and mind for over 25 years ranging from martial to the performing arts, philosophy and sciences. He has been a dancer for 15 years and holds certification in both Sports Medicine and Medical Exercise. As an Anusara Yoga affiliate he is working towards certification. Michael is known for his sweetness and gentle approach.


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Tyrone Holmes
Tyrone fell in love with Yoga several years ago and has never looked back.  He was introduced to Yoga by a co-worker.  Like many, he at first came to Yoga for the physical aspect but quickly realized that there was much more.  It is the formless essence, the indescribable beauty, the poetry of Yoga and wonderful teachers that inspired him to continue.

Throughout his study he has been blessed with amazing Anusara Yoga teachers to whom he extends much love and gratitude.  On the journey towards becoming a teacher he was equally blessed to complete his teacher training at the World Yoga Center where his teachers, Jackie Prete and Rudrani Farbman Brown, transformed his practice. Through the spirit of both his teachers, he embraced the wisdom of Anusara alignment and the beauty of Yoga that takes us  beyond the form.   

Tyrone enjoys the diversity, energy, and pulse of city life.  His classes offer students from all walks of life an opportunity to explore and share the unifying powers of the practice.  He enjoys bringing the energizing physical practice and the breath together to create that subtle space for students to travel inward and dance with the luminous energy within.

 “Unity is the very breath of existence without which one suffocates. The journey continues to shape and transform me from within.”

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Danielle Lee

Danielle Lee offers a holistic approach to wellness and artful living, which weaves together disciplines of yoga, meditation, nutrition and health supportive cooking.  Her yoga teaching integrates the insights of various traditions into a vital practice that cultivates strength, grace and awareness.  Her classes draw on the heartfelt spirit and precise alignment principles of Anusara, the creativity of Vinyasa, and the quiet power of Yin and Restoratives to help students experience the stillness in movement and the flow in stillness.  Also a private chef specializing in the detoxifying and healing aspects of food, Danielle regularly leads seasonal cleanse and attunement workshops and retreats.  Her endeavor is to help her students recognize their life gift and savor the journey.   Danielle is grateful to all of her teachers and students who continue to inspire her.  Visit Dlmoveablefeast.com to learn more about Danielle’s offerings.

 



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Alice Hogan
Certified by the World Yoga Center, Alice joyfully embraces the beauty of Anusara Yoga.  In her gentle Restorative classes she uses Anusara's principles to align and make space in the body, and the breath to calm the thought waves of the mind.  Alice is drawn to Yoga as the world's most ancient wisdom tradition and embraces meditation as its core, most illuminating and luminous practice.  As a teacher, Alice shares her love of Yoga philosophy, the wisdom of the Siddhas, and the heart-opening poetry of Hafiz, Rumi and Kabir with her students.  Through the Restorative practice, she aims to help students connect with the peacefulness at the core of their being while gently "restoring" their physical bodies.

Alice is grateful to her teachers, Jackie Prete and Rudrani Farbman-Brown, for her very thorough training as a Yoga Teacher.  Recently inspired by practicing with an expanded group of talented senior Anusara teachers, Alice is grateful to live in a city that has such a vital Anusara presence.  She is also grateful to be part of New York's very vibrant Siddha Yoga community.

 As part of  her continuing education as a Yoga Teacher Alice studies Anatomy and Therapeutics with Ellen Saltonstall and will complete a professional training in Yoga Nidra in 2009.  Yoga Nidra is an esoteric meditation practice that has the potential to help many including those who are physically challenged.



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Jana Castellano
A former professional ballet dancer turned equestrian, Jana was introduced to Rudrani through a mutual friend and became irresistibly drawn towards the practices of Yoga within the World Yoga Center student community. In May 2008, she completed WYC¹s Teacher Training course and is now a freelance yoga teacher in both the New York City and Pocono Pennsylvania areas.

Living first hand the transformative power of the practices, Jana¹s heart is filled with profound gratitude for the blessings that she has received from her involvement with the World Yoga Center. Drawing on her deep love for the practices, and her morning-person nature, her Early Bird Yoga classes are a light-filled start to a work day, mixing invigorating asanas with a playful exploration of the Heart.
 
Jana offers her love and respect to her mentors, Rudrani Farbman Brown and Jackie Prete under whose guidance and encouragement she continues her life journey.  She is deeply grateful to all of her colleagues, and especially to her students, who, through their own effort and dedication to Yoga are her greatest inspiration!


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Julia Pearring
After taking her first yoga class seven years ago, Julia immediately set the intention of lifelong studentship. She felt a deep knowing and recognition of the joy that underlies the heart- opening practice of Anusara Yoga and holds herself to the rigors of cultivating awakenment in mind and body. Julia offers students an arena in which to play with the precise method and transformative powers of the Alignment Principles. Her classes immerse students in an ever expanding freedom that comes from moving intentionally from our core. By accompanying an integrated, challenging class with the subtle opening to possibility, Julia's class is a place to take your practice to the next level.

Assistant Director to the WYC, trained by the school in 2007, Julia is delighted and honored to be teaching and serving the school's community. The WYC has become a vital thread in her life, a place she holds very close to her heart.
 
She is forever grateful to her teachers and her students, who continue to sweetly point her to the inner wisdom that brings Yoga from the mat into everyday life.



   
     

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A National Yoga Alliance Registered School