Meet the 2014 Yoga Outreach teachers

Each year there are six or seven co-teachers at Yoga Outreach Columbus. Let's look at this year's group. Each of these teachers has experienced Yoga Outreach Columbus in the past. We'll post a photo of that teacher at Yoga Outreach with a short bio.

Anne Comarda first discovered yoga in 1999. After exploring several styles of yoga, Anne discovered Anusara Yoga with Todd Norian in 2005 and was transformed. She is a certified Todd Norian Anusara Teacher (2006). Anne encourages her students to cultivate mindfulness through attention to breath and alignment. She welcomes the opportunity to work with all levels of students. While encouraging students to embrace their yoga journey, Anne compassionately offers modifications as well as opportunities to go further in the physical practice.

Gina Derry discovered yoga while searching for healing from severe scoliosis, depression and addiction. Yoga opened up her personal power through the perseverance of study, nutrition and mindfulness. Gina studied in India at Yoga Vidya Gurukul Ashram where she deepened her understanding of yoga therapy which allows for healing of the body and the mind. Gina is energetic and brings life and laughter to her classes. She is passionate about helping her clients experience the same transformation that she has graciously received. Gina believes that yoga can your life if you allow it!

 

Babajide Ogunmola describes himself as formerly inflexible and prone to injuries. He discovered yoga through an instructor at the gym. His kind and patient yoga instructor felt that he would benefit from the gifts that yoga presents. At the end of his first class, he experienced a sense of peace that was transformative and was hooked. Babajide became certified as a yoga instructor at Shiva Shakti Synthesis. He has been mentored by Amber Gabriel and Connie Philips who taught him strength, control, confidence, alignment, breath, flight and freedom. Babajide shares yoga with his yoga students because he wants everyone to have the same gifts of transformation.

Abby Dorn, RYT, received her 500 hour teacher training certification from Yoga Zone/BeYoga with Alan Finger in New York City in 2002, and she has been joyfully teaching ever since. Abby taught in Brooklyn, NY for 8 years, running her own yoga center for 3 of those years, and moved to Columbus in 2008. She currently teaches a wide range of populations including beginners to experienced yogis, pregnant women, babies and children, and people with cancer. She believes that there is a yoga practice for everyone and that the yoga should be adapted for the individual, not the other way around. Abby sees yoga as a practice of active gratitude for the life we are given, as a time to honor and nurture our bodies and to celebrate our vitality, and as a time to connect to ourselves and each other through heart opening and mindful attention to the breath. She is eternally grateful to all of her teachers (especially her students!) who share their yoga and help to guide her on the journey. Abby has sung at the conclusion of each yoga Outreach class we have offered. We are so grateful to her.

Julia Sims Haas began her yoga journey while going through a stressful time in college. She found that yoga not only relieved stress and helped heal a back injury, but affected her in deeper ways as well. After experiencing the benefits of yoga inside and out, Julia wanted to share this beautiful practice with others. Julia became a certified yoga teacher in 2003. She continued her studies receiving a 200-hour Hatha yoga certification and 500-hour certification. Julia’s teaching reflects a sincere concern for each and is expressed by her emphasis on promoting self-love and compassion while encourage her yoga students to challenge themselves.

Loretta Zedella has been practicing yoga since 1985 and is inspired daily by yoga’s life-transforming abilities. Loretta has been teaching since 2002, and is respected by students throughout Central Ohio for her practical yet light-hearted teaching methods. Loretta has studied with countless yoga teachers and has immersed herself in developing a deep understanding of body alignment and movement. She is convinced of the healing qualities of this tension-releasing practice which often involves small therapy balls and foam rollers. Loretta is the founder of Yoga Outreach Columbus, a charitable organization dedicated to uniting the local yoga community with yearly gathering and benefiting local and international community assistance groups since 2011. She believes we can all savor contentment in our lives. Loretta hopes that through living yogic/respect-fueled principles we can each Reveal ease of body, reveal peace of mind. She also assists her plant based chef husband, Mark. In this role she is the Duchess to The Duke of Fork. This duo likes to travel and spread the word about healthy living. Together they offer a workshop entitled Yoga Mat to Placemat. Move Well. Eat well. Be well. www.LorettaYoga.com 

Thank you for reading the 2014 Yoga Outreach Columbus teacher bios. We each look forward to meeting/seeing/ teaching you on Sunday April 6. Namaste, Yogis.