The Teachers

All of our teachers are certified, and most of them are registered with the Yoga Alliance (RYT), a national organization that provides support to and maintains minimum standards for the education of yoga teachers. In order to qualify to be registered with the Yoga Alliance, a teacher must have a minimum of 200 hours of study, including teaching, special modifications in yoga postures for special needs, anatomy, philosophy and history of yoga.

Janis Bowersox founded Yoga For Everybody in 1999. Her love of yoga, and gratitude for the benefits that yoga has brought into her life, brought to her a vision to provide a better space for teachers and students in Fairfield. A Fairfield resident for 23 years, she has been practicing Yoga for 10 years. Her love of Yoga and desire to communicate that love to others has led her to create Yoga For Everybody. Her dream is to honor Yoga teachers by providing an excellent yoga space to teach in, and encourage everyone who has an interest to try yoga.
Janis became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) after completing a 200 hour yoga teacher training program in Tuckahoe, New York at Yoga Haven. She is busy behind the scenes running Yoga for Everybody with the help of many good people.

Marleen Salko has studied and taught in the health and fitness field for over 22 years. She is certified in Advanced Kripalu Yoga from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.

Marleen was the founder and owner of Marleen's Yoga Center in Southport and Westport, which merged with Yoga for Everybody in May 2005. Marleen teaches a weekly Gentle Yoga class on Wednesdays at 7:30pm.

Carolyn Fahey R.N., R.Y.T., H.H.C. is an Anusara-inspired yoga teacher and certified Hatha Yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance. Her passion for living a happy, healthy, meaningful life infuses her teaching with compassion and joy. As a teacher, she guides her students towards healing, transformation and freedom. Carolyn teaches Level 2 on Mondays at 5:45,Level 1 & 2 Thursdays at 4 p.m. and in the summer she teaches yoga on the beach on Saturday mornings at 7:00.

Evelyne Serais, R.Y.T., is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher, with 500 hour Certified advanced teacher training from the Amrit yoga institute. She is also a certifed Traditional Thai Yoga bodyworker.
She teaches Yoga Nidra workshops each month (next one is December 2) as well as a weekly Yoga Nidra Class on Mondays at noon. She teaches the Saturday morning Level 1&2 Class at 9:15 a.m. and the Thursday morning Level 1&2 Class at 9:15 a.m. In the Summer, she teaches yoga on the beach on Sunday mornings.

Kathy Jamison is a certified Viniyoga teacher and massage therapist. A lifelong interest in wellness through nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and spirituality naturally drew Kathy to yoga. A graduate of the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI) founded by Gary Kraftsow, she is certified as both a Viniyoga teacher and therapist. Kathy holds a position on the AVI teacher/therapist training staff where she has contributed to the development of curriculum materials, and currently serves as a member of the AVI Advisory Board. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 500 hr level and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Also using her knowledge as a licensed massage therapist, Kathy brings a blend of yoga therapy and bodywork to her group classes and private sessions. She teaches an extra gentle yoga class on Wednesdays at 11 a.m., and a Gentle Yoga Class Tuesdays at 5:45 p.m. In the Fall, Kathy will teach a special series, Yoga for a Better Back.

Erica Tetro-Langer has been practicing yoga for 16 years. She is a certified Kripalu yoga teacher and is also certified in Pre-Natal yoga. Erica has a strong faith and appreciation for the wellness and healing ability of yoga. Erica loves to share yoga off the mat with her family aspiring to bring mindfullness into the everyday rituals of life.
The Intro. to yoga class is an inspiration to teach as it offers Erica the invitation to reconnect with her beginners mind and to share the joys of yoga with new students.
Erica teaches Level 1 & 2 Yoga on Sunday mornings at 9am and Intro to Yoga on Monday nights at 7:30pm.

Kerri Gawreluk started her journey with yoga 10 years ago and knew from her very first class that she wanted to pursue teaching. This desire led her to the Be Yoga/Yoga Works studios in NYC where, under the guidance of Yoga Master Alan Finger, she received her certification in the ISHTA tradition, an integrated system of Hatha yoga, Tantric philosophy, and Ayurvedic wellness which encourages students to create unique yoga practices to fit their own individual needs. In all of her classes, Kerri encourages her students to practice with compassion for and a sense of humor towards their own individual intentions as well as to “drink in” the intentions of their fellow practitioners, thereby creating a safe, accepting, playful space for everyone. Kerri believes that if every person set aside 15 minutes each day for yoga, the world would be a much more peaceful place... and she has made it her mission to spread that belief one student at a time! Kerri Gawreluk teaches Vinyasa flow yoga on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. and Pre-natal yoga on Thursdays at 5:45 p.m. She also teaches Mommy and Me class on Thursdays at 11 a.m. when that class is meeting. She has also taught the Teen Groove Yoga class.

Jackie LeMeur has been a student of yoga for 13 years and a certified yoga teacher for 9 years. Jackie’s classes are inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and study of various hatha yoga styles including her current study in the Anusara style. Focusing on breath, intention, and alignment, Jackie’s classes are challenging and inspiring. Jackie teaches Level 1 yoga Mondays at 9:15 a.m., Vinyasa Flow Yoga Mondays at 7:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 11 a.m.

Joy LeVine Abrams, MS, RYT, is a certified Kripalu Yoga instructor and has been teaching yoga for 9 years. She has also completed advanced training to become a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. Joy is co-creator of THE FLEXIBLE PAINTER, an art and yoga retreat in Madison, CT and Tuscany. Joy's interest in the body/mind connection began with her M.S. in Biology and Nutrition in 1983. Joy feels her most profound learning came from her nine years of hospice work as Director of Volunteers. Joy teaches Gentle yoga on Tuesdays at 9:15 a.m. and Fridays at 9:15 a.m. She is offering an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program on Friday evenings beginning in September at 7:00-9:30 pm with the first and last classes extended until 10:00pm. She is a Graduate of UMass MBSR Program and the Practicum for those who wish to teach. Her email address is joyoga1@optonline.net

Julia Hepfer studied yoga intensively with Shri Yogi Hari of the Sivananda lineage, receiving her Yoga Shiromani Certificate (teacher of Yoga). Julia first studied yoga at Fairfield High School where yoga was offered through the physical education program, and was taught by a certified Kripalu yoga teacher, Joanne Eckstrom. She especially enjoys teaching poses to her two daughters. Julia teaches Core Yoga on Wednesdays at 5:45.

Lauren Lanham has been a student of yoga for the past 12 years. On this yogic journey she has had many wonderful teachers and experiences. She believes yoga to be an integral part of one's physical, mental and spiritual life. Lauren has tremendous enthusiasm for and love of yoga that she imparts to her students. She is also continually learning life's lessons from her loving husband and two amazing children. Certified by the White Lotus Foundation, her teaching is an eclectic mix including Iyengar and Ashtanga styles. Lauren substitute teaches classes and will be teaching a workshop on July 13.

Michelle Brunet, RYT After many years of practice Michelle’s desire to share her love and passion for yoga lead her to Kripalu to become a teacher. Although her roots are clearly Kripalu she infuses her classes with an energy and style all her own. Whether gentle, moderate or vigorous her practices have a heart-centered flow with an awareness on breath & movement. She encourages each student to connect with their “intuition” so they are able to find whatever they need during practice. Michelle’s hope is that students are able to take the benefits of yoga off their mat and into their daily lives. Michelle teaches Level 1 yoga on Mondays at 3:30 (starts up again in the fall) and Level 1&2 yoga on Wednesday mornings at 9:15, and restorative yoga classes and workshops each month. A weekly Restorative Yoga Class will be offered on Fridays from 4:00-5:30 in the fall.

Robert Ortner, RYT-500 Robert's approach to the art of yoga begins with the phrase "We are our own best teachers". One does not just do yoga, one becomes yoga: it is a lifelong journey that anyone can make.

Robert is a Certified Yoga Teacher at both the 200 & 500 levels with Don and Amba Stapleton from the Nosara Institute.

Robert has worked with and coached many individuals with a wide range of health issues which, in turn, has led to a pursuit of different yoga therapies and a strong belief in stress relief, breath work, meditation, and energy healing. Robert teaches the Tuesday night at 7:30 pm level 1&2. He will be offering a second Men's Yoga Series in the fall.

Nora Gluck has been practicing yoga for twenty years and received her certification in Amrit Yoga with Amrit Desai, founder of The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Kripalu remains her spiritual home and she has taken numerous personal growth and yoga workshops there. A psychotherapist for over thirty years, Nora brings a deep psychospiritual perspective to her teaching and believes that yoga is a powerful tool for personal growth and transformation as well an opportunity to create connection and community. Nora teaches a Gentle yoga class on Saturdays at 11:00, and a Level 1 class on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., as well as workshops on yoga for anxiety and depression.

Rachel Mazzarelli is a certified Kripalu Yoga teacher, holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Nutrition and is a certified Wellness Coach. Enamored by the human body, nutrition and yoga provide Rachel with endless learning and fascinating concepts to share with students/clients. Rachel is passionate about teaching as well as her own spiritual growth and therefore continually attends seminars and classes in both fields. Currently she is studying and practicing Anusara-inspired yoga. Yoga, meditation, prayer, conscious living, fresh air, laughter and smiling are an integral parts of her life. She has taught the 5 Tibetan Rites program and offers the Detox program.

Become a yoga teacher!! Yoga for Everybody is offering a 200 hour, Yoga Alliance registered Yoga Teacher Training Program -- it begins in September 2008 and graduates in September 2009.