Owner of Alluem Yoga, Gina is an energetic, certified yoga instructor. Her practice embodies a combination of power, ashtanga, bikram and vinyasa flow-yoga. She has tapped into her 15 years of dance training, aerobic instruction and physically active lifestyle to create her own unique yoga style. This wife and mother of three children has incorporated yoga into her daily living and gets pleasure in educating others about the mental, physical and spiritual benefits of yoga. You will love the energy and spirit that Gina brings to her class. Not just because of who she is but because of who she wants the rest of us to be. She believes that only by giving we gain what truly matters. Gina is grateful for stepping into her first meaningful yoga class taught by Mary Roth. She then went on to get her training in Soul Sweat Asana Practice from Wendy Gross-Pinto at The Yoga and Healing Center in Scotch Plains and is certified through the National Yoga Alliance. Gina is forever grateful to her teachers for sharing their voice and knowledge of yoga and for being part of creating a life she loves.
Gina has participated in workshops with renowned yoga instructors such as Baron Baptiste and Seane Corn. In 2010 Gina participated in a week long intensive with Off the Mat Into the World. OTM uses the power of yoga to inspire conscious, sustainable activism and to ignite grass roots social change. She is inspired and continues to learn from Seane Corn, an internationally celebrated yoga teacher and creator of OTM.
Gina is the founder and owner of Alluem Yoga, where she teaches and oversees the operations of the school. She is a Cranford resident. Gina’s intention is to create a fun, supportive and nurturing environment for all yoga students.
Leigh Rousseau
Leigh found yoga in 2006 and since walking through the doors of her first yoga studio, has embraced the yogic way of life. She is a certified professional educator with 9 years experience in the New Jersey public school system. After leaving the classroom, Leigh embraced her yoga mat and completed her first yoga teacher training with Wendy Gross-Pinto. She became a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance (RYT) in 2008.
She then continued her study of yoga by training with Judith Haanson Lasater in 2009 and is a certified Relax and Renew Instructor. Her practice and teaching style is strongly rooted in classical yoga and spirituality and she enjoys teaching a vinyasa flow- style class. Leigh loves being a yoga instructor and encourages her students to use their breath to unite their body, mind and souls one breath at a time! Her passion for learning and incorporating yoga into all aspects of her life, including being a wife and mother of three, creates an inexhaustible enthusiasm to teach from the heart. Leigh would like to thank all of her teachers past, present and future!
Eileen Michie
Eileen's yoga practice which began five years ago transformed her life both emotionally & spiritually. Inspired by the teachings of Mary Roth, Eileen decided to continue her journey and become a yoga teacher. Subsequently, she became certified in Soul Sweat Asana Yoga under the direction of Wendy Gross-Pinto. Upon receiving her certification in 2008, Eileen had an opportunity to teach Chair Yoga to Senior Citizens at the Westfield Senior Housing Center. She discovered the rewards and benefits of teaching yoga to older people. Eileen has made a commitment to continue to teach older people in a nurturing and healing environment. Eileen’s yoga practice has provided her with mental and spiritual clarity and provided her with a balanced lifestyle as a teacher, wife, and mother of two beautiful girls.
Karen Gilmour - Children's Yoga Teacher
Upon discovering yoga in 2004, Karen watched her true self shine through every time she practiced. After experiencing the many benefits of yoga first hand, she knew bringing these benefits to children could help shape their awareness, self-esteem, and confidence now and in their future. The most beautiful thing is watching a child come into a better understanding of self - mind, body, and soul.
Karen completed her teacher training with Little Flower Yoga in NYC. She is certified in Children's Yoga and trained to teach grades K-12. She did her student teaching through the Harlem Children's Zone bringing yoga to children who may have never gotten the chance to experience the beauty of the practice. She has continued to further her knowledge of the practice through attending many developmental workshops with Little Flower Yoga and YogaKids, as well as workshops for development of the self, including the week long intensive with Off the Mat Into the World.
When Karen is not practicing yoga, she is most likely working on illustrating her next children's book. She has currently illustrated 4 children self help books focusing on health, emotions, imagination, and self-esteem.
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Tricia Pizzi
Tricia began her practice of yoga in 2002. As a multi-sport athlete, yoga originally began for her as a great way to create a stronger and more flexible body, but has since developed into a lifestyle. She has received her certification from Yoga Works NYC in a style that combines aspects of Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Vinyasa flow in 2009. She also received her Prenatal Yoga certification at Yoga Works NYC and teen and kids certification with Little Flower Yoga.
Surfiing and yoga are Tricia's true passions and compliment each other perfectly; to her, surfing is yoga on water. Her ideal day would include and early morning yoga practice followed by some sick morning and evening surf sessions, topped off with some ice cream from the Beach Plum at Bradley Beach, NJ.
Tricia has also been a tenured faculty member at Westfield High School for the past 10 years where she teaches US History and AP Government and Politics (still trying to figure out a way to have the practice of Yoga be an approved elective in high schools!). She spends much of her time with her husband, Adam, and their adorable, yet rambunctious dog named Ralph Macchio.
They also have launched a teen service adventure company where they will be taking kids to volunteer, practice yoga, surf or ski around this amazing planet! Check them out at www.dropinadventures.net
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Brittany Irwin
Brittany found her inner voice
during her first Ashtanga class in 2009, and has since been deeply immersed
in the practice and philosophy. It's healing qualities and meditative
approach have had a tremendous affect on her mind and body, and she is
simply elated to have the opportunity to guide others through this beautifully
therapeutic practice. A 200 hr RYT, Brittany also completed David Swenson's Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training in 2011, and will soon further her journey and travel to India to practice at KPJAYI, The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute. Brittany also studies under teachers such as Amy Santos, Greg Tebb, Brian Kest, Ana Forest and Sharath Jois, all of whom she owes endless gratitude for
deepening her practice and inspiring her practice.
Brittany also owes endless gratitude to husband for introducing her to yoga, and to
the amazing women of Alluem for being an inspiration from the very beginning.
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Mindy Cullen
Mindy Cullen first discovered yoga in 2004.After years of dancing, sports, running, and a multitude of gym classes, she stepped
into an Ashtanga-based yoga class and discovered her true passion.She has practiced and studied in many styles
of yoga:
Bikram, Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa, and Soul Sweat.She acquired her 200-hour yoga certification
through Wendy Gross-Pinto’s Soul Sweat Asana training.Her training gave her more than just a knowledge
of postures and breathing techniques.It
gave her a better understanding of the mind, body, and spirit connection that
is formed on the mat and brought into her daily life.She compliments her physically meditative and
spiritual flow with her previous experience as a dancer and choreographer on
Virginia Tech’s nationally ranked dance team. She is grateful to all of her
teachers for their inspirational and powerful instruction, Wendy Gross Pinto,
Kim Kiamie, Ellen Kaplow, and Gina
Pachkowski. As a certified yoga
instructor and a member of Yoga Alliance, Mindy looks to motivate and lead
others to discover their true potential on the yoga mat as well as in their
lives.Her husband, and two amazing
children, motivate and teach her every day to be present and more connected to
life’s true purpose.
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Clarissa Alliano For Clarissa, yoga is life. She has been a devoted yogi for many years and since her training in 1998 at the Integral Yoga Institute in Yogaville, VA, she has been able to share her love of this ancient practice with students of all ages in New Jersey, New York and California. Clarissa integrates pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra, chanting and yogic philosophy into her teachings so that her students can benefit fully - body, mind and spirit. She gives love and thanks to the studios and ashrams in which she has been able to hold space, as well as to the many students who have touched her life as she continues to move along this ever transforming path.
Cindy Fechter
Cindy's passion for yoga began nine years ago when she took her first yoga class. Since that time Cindy has developed a strong connection to Anusara yoga, founded by John Friend. Cindy resonates deeply with Anusara's Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness and believes that Anusara's Universal Principles of Alignment are powerful guidelines for the healing and progression of mind, body and spirit. In 2004, Cindy completed a 200-hour teacher training in Anusara yoga and has since spent hundreds of hours studying with John Friend and various certified Anusara Yoga Teachers. Cindy incorporates yoga into all aspects of life, including a full-time schedule as a pediatric physical therapist and as a mom to three beautiful sons. Cindy enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and love for yoga with others.
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Kim Ellner Kim embraced yoga during her first class twelve years ago. From that moment forward, yoga became an integral part of her life. She has passionately immersed herself in practice and study and in cultivating a yogic lifestyle for her family. Having experienced the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, she wanted to share those transformational gifts of practice with others. Kim tailors the yoga class to each student; guiding, challenging and motivating her student with compassion and humor.
Kim has a 200 hour certification in Kripalu Yoga, from the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health; one of the nation's most established centers for yoga and holistic health. She has studied extensively in Iyengar yoga. Kim, who has scoliosis, is certified in Yoga for Scoliosis from Elise Miller. Kim is also certified in Yoga for Osteoporosis, Circus Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Kim participated in Donna Karan's Urban Zen Initiative, a 2 week conference, and a Yoga Therapy Conference at the Kripalu Center, a 5 day conference. Both conferences were a collaborative between the yoga and medical communities. Kim participated in Seane Corn's Off the Mat Into The World (OTM) week long intensive. OTM's purpose is to empower the yoga community to achieve social change through sustainable activism. Kim has also studied with world renowned yoga instructors, such as Kofi Busia, Patricia Walden and Arun.
Kim is grateful to all of her teachers and students for their love, support and wisdom. She is extremely thankful to her husband, two children and her dog for teaching her about the power of love each and every day.
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Nicole Coons
After 15 years of her youth as a ballet and modern dancer, teacher and choreographer, Nicole discovered yoga in 1998. Instantly drawn to the physical challenge and concentration this yoga class required, Nicole shifted her focus to yoga and began to realize the many benefits beyond the physical aspects. Several years later, Nicole became a Certified Yoga Teacher in the YogaWorks style, which draws from 3 traditional lineages of yoga: Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga. She has also practiced with and has been inspired by a number of teachers including Elena Brower (Anusara), Alan Finger, Sara Platt and Ann Mosca (ISHTA Yoga), and a multitude of master teachers, with whom she has had the privilege to study over the years.
Nicole offers a student-focused group class and private instruction that are appropriate for each student's age, level and wellness goals. She guides her students to greater self-awareness, focus and health through precise instruction and alignment with breath, movement and flow in a class carefully themed to deepen the students' experience of yoga. Each Flow class is paced moderately to vigorously depending upon the level and needs of the students. Prenatal classes draw on both her formal training and recent personal experience with a yoga-filled pregnancy and, now, motherhood!
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Toni Reino
Toni fell in love with yoga in 2009 after a life changing event. It helped her realize her true self as well as a safe way to unwind. Yoga gave her a mind body connection that she has never experienced before. She immediately enrolled in a 200 hour Hatha Yoga training with Joanne Bruno, RYT. She graduated in 2010 with a deep understanding of yogic philosophy and anatomy. Over the summer of 2010, Toni studied at the Lippincott Center for Well Being with Rev. Trish Woods. During her time there, she gained knowledge in spiritual development, the Chakra System, different types of healing modalities and concentrative medicine. While studying there she also received her Reiki I Certification. In 2011, she continued her yoga education with the accredited Wendy Gross-Pinto at the Yoga and Healing Center obtaining a 200 hour Soul Sweat Certification.
Toni also has a love of bringing yoga into the lives of families and children, helping them gain confidence and giving them a safe and healthy way to de-stress. She has developed curriculums and has taught in a variety of centers and schools bringing yoga to children from ages 2 to teenagers, as well as children with special needs.
