students of all ages could come to enjoy the practice of yoga along with other wonderful programs. Nancy's love of children and yoga were the impetus for creating her innovative and creative kids' program, formerly called Little Yogis, which she developed 7 years ago. Nancy has a BA in Early Childhood Education from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and post graduate work in Moral Development from Harvard University and Developmental Psychology from Columbia University. Nancy taught in the pre-schools at Manhattan Day School and Magen David in Brooklyn, NY.
Nancy has been practicing yoga for 12 years and has been creating and implementing innovative yoga-based programs for children for the past 10 years. . Nancy received her certification with YogaKids (Level 1) and Radiant Child Yoga Teacher Training programs. Along with the Nesheemah studio classes, Nancy has brought yoga to children in 10 schools in Bergen County. In addition to teaching children, Nancy’s teacher training program has empowered educators with new ways to “reignite the joy of learning” in themselves and in their students.
Anayra's love of yoga began when she was an undergraduate student at
Seton Hall University where she double majored in Religious Studies and
English. After taking a Zen and Yoga class Anayra knew that yoga was
something that she would pursue. Anayra went on to receive a master's degree
in English Literature and to also become certified in both yoga and pilates
instruction. She chose both yoga and pilates in order to integrate the
principles of both systems for optimum health and well being. Anayra is also
certified to teach Yogilates tm and she is a certified Thai Yoga Therapist.
Anayra has a true love of teaching. When she isn't teaching yoga and pilates, she is a high school English teacher in Jersey City. She has also developed yoga and pilates programs for at-risk teenagers. She is currently working on her second master's degree in education. Anayra is grateful to all her teachers, past, present and for all those still to come.
Michael S. Caldwell
A native of western Pennsylvania, Michael was introduced to yoga on the
blissful coast of Down-East Maine in the summer of 1993. Returning then
to his home in New York City, where he also works as a musician, he
happened upon what was then known as Yoga Zone and began studying
in earnest. Ten years later, after studying karate and achieving a
green belt within this discipline, and continuing yoga studies,
Michael became certified at Be Yoga and began teaching immediately.
He is affiliated with Yoga Alliance at the 500-hour level. Some of the
hallmarks of Michael’s teaching philosophy are: that we are journeying into and through the practice rather than competing with ourselves or with others; that mindfulness in breathing is the cushion within which the physical practice of asana can be safely experienced; that music can heal and guide us through our practice; that body, breath, mind, and spirit can indeed be drawn together, reunited, and expanded.
As Michael proceeds along his own yogic journey, he challenges himself to draw elements from yoga out into other arenas of his life’s pathway. He derives great joy in bringing real-life experiences to his students, and hopes that by opening even a small window into the vast and marvelous world of yoga, they will be inspired to begin their own journeys of discovery and bliss.
Penni Feiner
Penni brings to Nesheemah a beautiful love and respect for yoga. She says, "Yoga is my roadmap into my core. Through my practice I have touched places my mind had been afraid to go."
She is endearingly referred to as "the singing yogini", as she graciously shares her beautiful tunes and sacred sounds. Her classes are soulful and dynamic with juicy movement encouraging each student to touch her own personal inner song. With respect and gentle devotion she invites her students to explore their true essence and unfold to become vehicles for human growth and change.
Odelia Shargian
Dance has always been a part of Odelia's life, in one way or another. After experiencing a Danskinetics program, she knew she had found her path. With Shake Your Soul/Danskinetics, she discovered a way to combine her love of movement and yoga with her deep-seated belief in the healing power of music, dance and movement. She trained with Daniel Leven, founder of Shake Your Soul/Danskinetics, and received her certification in Shake Your Soul/Danskinetics, after extensive studies in experiential anatomy of movement, movement repertoire and extensive choreography training, movement improvisation skills, music appreciation, and rhythm training. Odelia is also a certified Structural Yoga teacher, a certified birth doula, a Reiki I practitioner, and a Peer Counselor.
