Rosemary Mendes ERYT 500

Rosemary first experience with yoga came at age 4 , upward dog, downward dog, and wheel were her first poses. As the years passed, life brought stiffness, stress, insomnia, depression, and hormonal difficulties. Not willing to accept the medical professionals' solutions, her search for alternative relief began!
In 2000, she walked into a yoga class in a dimly lit theater. Debbie Wolski, the instructor, led the class with such effortless ease, resulting in immediate calmness and an improved sense of well-being for Rosemary. Immediately, the light came back on for Rosemary. The course of her life was changed in a new and unexpected direction. Debbie was preparing to begin a teacher training, which, Rosemary joined. She devoted the next 6 months to Yoga training, receiving her first certification in Hatha Flow and her journey into Yoga was launched.
Dr. Ping Lou was her next mentor, as she studied Ashtanga Yoga. She entered her second teacher training. The next three years were filled with workshops and more study, eventually gravitating to Iyengar Yoga, another mentor, Leslie Howard, and yet another teacher training program. Rosemary aka Meso, brings an open heart, comic relief and an eclectic blend of Yoga styles to the mat. Attending her classes, you’re guaranteed to find your “humerus bone .“

Dennis Hill B.S.

Dennis Hill has taught meditation and yoga philosophy (Samkhya, Advaita, Vedanta, Shaivite) for 20 years. Education in the sciences has brought a measure of empiricism to the appreciation and teaching of yoga philosophy and the discipline of meditation practice. He received extensive training by Buddhist, Sufi and Siddha masters in India and the United States.

Publications:
The Inner Yoga of Happiness: Essays on meditation and yoga philosophy.
Yoga Sutras: The Means to Liberation. Translation from the Sanskrit, and sutra commentaries.
Sanskrit - English Lexicon: Encylopedic dictionary of Sanskrit terminology.
Abridgement of Valmiki's Yoga Vasistha: Vedic era compendium of Yoga Philosophy.
Hastamalakiyam: Essence of Vedanta in Twelve Verses. Introduction and commentary.

These books are available from the author or the Village Yoga Center Retail Store.

Sharrie Newmann ERYT 200

Sharrie has been practicing Yoga for 9 years and teaching for 5. She finds with her gentle nature and friendly personality, that she excels teaching restorative classes. Although she prefers these classes she is skilled in other types as well. Her style can often be described as eclectic, because she likes to incorporate Hatha , Vinyasa and Iyengar styles into one unique class. Making it a very fun and stress relieving experience. She is also a big hit with the kids and teaches many of the Children Yoga classes in the area.

Dorothy Sturtevant ERYT 500

Dorothy, I have always known that I was born to move. From my earliest days of playing all sports (favorites were ping pong & softball), to my teen years with trampoline, gymnastics, dance and tennis. My adult years include volleyball, marathon running, ping pong, more dance and a new love, yoga. I continue to move and joyfully so. In my last year of high school I knew I wanted to teach. I wasn’t sure however if it would be P.E., choir, dance, or drama because I loved them all and I still do. As a life long educator I have taught choir, drama, and P.E., but mostly dance and yoga. I spent many years teaching at the high school and community college level, with summers teaching at the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts in southern California. I have a Masters Degree in Education Administration and spent 12 years as a high school administrator/dance teacher. My husband and I currently live in beautiful Sonora. I teach yoga at Columbia Community College and the Village Yoga Center. Through the suggestion of my dear friend and mentor, Debbie Wolski, I became a teacher trainer in 2008. I have my own school of yoga. At “The Gift of Yoga“, in Sonora I teach students who wish to become 200-hour certified yoga teachers with Yoga Alliance. In this past decade yoga has enhanced my life in ways in which I could never imagined. My sincere gratitude goes to my teachers, Debbie Wolski, Dennis Hill and my most devoted yoga student, My husband Mike.

Anakira Gabriella-Graça ERYT 200

Anakira Gabriella-Graça has been practicing yoga for a few years, but saw the real transformation take place in her life at Village Yoga Center summer 2008. She began to witness the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual changes that accompany the comprehensive yoga lifestyle promoted at the center. Anakira became inspired to create her own class in 2009 integrating the philosophical teachings of yoga more intensely with the asanas. She launched this new class in June and looks forward to sharing the transforming power of yoga with her students!