Betsy Ceva, E-RYT 500
Asana Technique, Theory & Methodology, Chanting, Meditation, and Yoga Philosophy Betsy Ceva specializes in Yoga for Kids, Gentle Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Hatha Yoga for beginning through advanced level students. Her experience as a professional dancer, choreographer and dance instructor since 1970 has helped shape her unique style of yoga. Betsy's classes challenge her students to go deep, to investigate the body and mind, and the spirit expressing itself. Her classes have been described as magic, with expertly crafted sequencing that builds from the first pose to the ultimate letting go.
In 1984, while living and dancing in San Francisco, Betsy met her Guru, Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati and began a study of mantra, meditation and yoga philosophy. Through his influence she created the concept of Moving Mantras ~ Merging Movement & Meditation using movement, breath, repetition, and intention to explore the essential question, "Who am I?" Betsy has taught Hatha Yoga, meditation and mantra chanting to all levels since 1992 and directs Birchwood Center's 200 and 500 hour Yoga Teacher Trainings. Betsy also offers Moving Mantras Workshops and is choreographer and director of the Moving Mantras Performance Group, Birchwood Center's resident yoga-dance company.
Charlene Bradin, E-RYT 200
Asana Technique, Theory & Methodology, Anatomy of the Chakras & the Business of Yoga Charlene Bradin grew up in the world of retail and sales. Ready for a life change at the age of 30 she found massage therapy and enrolled in the Swedish Institute for Massage Therapy. A NYS Licensed Massage Therapist since 1991, Charlene has worked with numerous clients and witnessed the transforming, heart-opening and healing powers of massage. In 1993 she took her first yoga class and sensed another life change about to happen. She enrolled in a Prana Yoga Teacher Training with Jeffrey Migdow in 1997, not intending to teach, but only to deepen her practice and understanding of yoga. However, after becoming a certified instructor she felt a calling to bring this ancient practice to life for herself and others. In 1998 she and Betsy Ceva co-founded Birchwood Center for Yoga and Massage Therapy.
In addition to studying with Jeffrey Migdow Charlene has studied with Paula Heitzner, whom she considers her first true teacher, as well as Donna Farhi, Eric Schiffman, Shiva Rea, Tom Gillette, Stephen Cope, Anodea Judith, and Sharon Salzberg. But her most influential yoga teacher has been Betsy Ceva who has helped to enrich her life on and off the mat.
Charlene’s specializes in teaching beginners and feels that there are no greater teachers than the students themselves. Everyone who attends her classes is taught with love, compassion and non-judgment. And let’s not forget laughter, since she believes the serious practice of yoga also needs to be fun! Over the past 14 years, teaching, practicing massage therapy and directing Birchwood Center has been one of the greatest gifts of her life
Julie Lifton, RYT 200 In the 11 years that Julie Lifton has been teaching at Birchwood Center she has taught Beginners, Mixed Level, Level II, Gentle and Restorative Yoga. She has also taught many workshops at Birchwood including Prana Yoga, Meditation, Partners Yoga, and her own, “Yoga Archetypes for Healing and Well Being.“ She continues to expand her education in the physical, philosophical and meditative aspects of yoga at various workshops and classes. Julie is certified to teach Prana (Hatha), Restorative yoga and Pranayama. She also teaches both Stress Management and Yoga at Bronx Community College which has further deepened her awareness and appreciation of the gifts of yoga. Julie continues to be inspired by her students and enriched by conveying this ancient knowledge. She is honored to be passing on the tradition of teaching yoga and thereby offer this joy to others.
Jemma Lampkin, E-RYT 200 After dancing for many years, Jemma Lampkin began studying yoga with Betsy Ceva in 1999 and received a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Certification from Birchwood Center in 2005. Originally attracted to the non-competitive nature of yoga, Jemma’s background in movement and in psychology later led her to the study of how yoga can help those suffering from emotional, psychiatric, and chemical disorders. Since her certification, Jemma has continued studying yoga with Betsy Ceva, Raji Thron, Dharma Mittra, and with various teachers in NYC. Jemma’s classes are sweaty and strengthening, and they focus on incorporating precision into a challenging, breath-based Vinyasa flow.
Lynne Aubrey, RYT 500 Lynne Aubrey, a 500 hour certified yoga instructor, teaches beginner Yoga Foundation and advanced Ashtanga based Vinyasa Yoga. Lynne's life experience in dance, yoga, and movement and her dedication to her own daily practice gives her an authentic and powerful understanding of Yoga. Lynne has been teaching since 2001. Her training includes 40 hours of adjustment and alignment with David Life of Jivamukti Yoga; a 40 hour teacher training certification, "Embodying the Flow" the art of teaching Vinyasa flow Yoga with Shiva Rea; 100 hour certification with Doug Swenson in "Sadhana Yoga Chi" a vinyasa style of Yoga deeply rooted in Ashtanga, and an intensive two weeks at the Purple Valley Ashtanga Yoga center in Goa India. Lynne completed the 40 hour "Relax and Renew" Restorative Yoga course with Judith Lassiter and had the privilege of practicing Ashtanga Yoga 1st and 2nd series with the late Guruji Sri Patabhi Jois on several of his last visits to New York.
Guest Teachers
Gina Martin
Anatomy & Physiology
Gina Martin is a Shiatsu Sensei and Licensed Massage Therapist
who specializes in eastern bodywork and herbal medicine. Gina is
a Certified Instructor of Five Element Shiatsu with the American
Organization of Body Work Therapies of Asia (AOBIA), and has
been an anatomy and physiology instructor at the Swedish
Institute College of Massage Therapy since 1987.
Premashakti
Sanskrit Studies, Chanting Premashakti studied Meditation, Yoga-Vedanta philosophy and Sanskrit directly
with Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, and served at Ananda Ashram for 22 years in the
areas of Management, Finances, Guest Services and Work Study. She is currently a
co-director of the School of Hatha Yoga, and has trained with Paula Heitzner, Raji
Thron, Sandra Kozak, Dharma Mitra and others. Vidya has also trained at the
Kaivalyadhama Institute in India where she attended the Teacher Training
Certificate program. Vidya has studied Pranayama directly with Om Prakash Tiwari,
a Master Pranayama teacher.
Betsy Ceva, E-RYT 500
