Jill Abelson, E-RYT500

Jill has taught basic Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Jivamukti Yoga for over 13 years.   Before coming to Jivamukti and finishing her 800-hour/advanced certification, she completed teacher trainings/advanced studies with Lex Gillan of The Yoga Institute (Houston), David Swenson, Bikram Choudhury, Shiva Rea, and Yoganand Michael Carroll of Kripalu Yoga. She is the author of EXTRA LOVE -- a Manual on hands-on assisting, based on her popular assist workshop series. 

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Jane Banheman, MS, E-RYT500
Jane is the owner of Well Equipped LLC, a fitness and wellness education consulting company. With 12 years experience as a manager in a variety of wellness and recreation settings, her qualifications include: MS in Exercise Physiology/Education and Yoga Alliance ERYT 500 and certifications from ACSM, NASM, NSCA, ACE, and Spinning. Jane has presented internationally since 2004 and currently calls Florida home with her husband and baby.

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Hari Kirtana-Das
The devotional philosophy of bhakti yoga eventually provided the foundation for Hari kirtana-das’ spiritual practice. He was formally initiated into the Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition of Krishna bhakti, with its emphasis on kirtan, mantra meditation and the study of spiritual philosophy, in 1978. Hkd completed his Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training with Sharon Gannon and David Life in 2009 and the Jivamukti Yoga Apprenticeship program with Maria Preuster in 2011, earning an 800-hour certification as a Jivamukti Yoga teacher. He currently teaches studio classes, provide private instruction, lead workshops, and serve as a guest instructor for numerous Yoga Teacher Training programs. http://www.hari-kirtana.com.

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Kristin Leal, E-RYT
After moving to new york city to pursue her dance career she was dragged to her first yoga class at the old jivamukti school. While she had no idea what anyone was talking about she immediately fell in love with the poetry of meditation in movement. She studied with her first teachers sharon gannon, david life, and katchie ananda for many years trying to discover and understand herself and this transformative practice she stumbled upon. She completed several teacher trainings with Adrienne Burke, Rodney Yee, And Betsey Downing Ph.D. She graduated from the Swedish Institute for Massage Therapy and became a licensed massage therapist and reiki practitioner. She has additional certifications in thai massage, neuromuscular and myofascial release.

She has been honored to lead many workshops and teacher trainings around the country and in 2005 Kristin created the Kaya Yoga 200 and 300 hour teacher trainings to share her passion for the miracle of the human body and the liberating potential of movement. She has been blessed to graduate over 100 students to date. She has also studied under yogiraj Aalan Finger. She is beyond thrilled to have been able to work alongside this yogi master helping him to further translate his teachings and create the Ishta Marma Point teacher training.

She is a co-author of the book The Yoga Fan. Kristin is currently working toward becoming a doctor of naturopathy and writing her second book, applying the ancient yoga philosophies to modern day relationships.

Kristin's classes are a challenging mix of strong anatomical alignment and powerful vinyasa flow all while maintaining a sense of humor and a connection to the divine within. Her classes are influenced by everything from quantum physics to her new love of the trapeze but most of all the beautiful teachings of all of her teachers and students who continue to inspire her every day. For more info visit kristinleal.com.

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Jenny Otto, E-RYT500

Nationally known Jenny Otto, E-RYT500, is Anusara Certified and a designated Senior Anusara Teacher Trainer who has been teaching and developing wellness/exercise programs for over 25 years. Jenny shares the depth of her knowledge and her love of yoga as she travels both nationally and internationally teaching workshops, residencies and yoga therapy teacher trainings.

Jenny's teaching is compassionate, inspirational and fun. Her clear and precise teaching style is authentic and is committed to awakening a deeper knowledge and understanding of the body, mind and spirit.

Jenny teaches Workshops and Teacher Trainings and leads Yoga retreats nationally. For more, visit bodybalanceyoga.com.

Gina Sager, MD, RYT
Gina Sager is a retired board-certified general surgeon, named one of baltimore's top docs in october 2000. She permanently left the practice of traditional western medicine in may 2002 to explore her long time interest in holistic healing. She has studied and practiced buddhism in the tibetan tradition, studied the ancient wisdom traditions including traditional chinese wisdom and 5 element theory at tai sophia institute, and has been a daily yoga practitioner since 1991.she has studied and practiced ayurveda for personal healing since 2000, and is currently enrolled in a professional ayurvedic nutrition training course with internationally known teacher and author, amadea morningstar she leads bi-annual mindfulness retreats at casa del sol in abiquiu, new mexico, and is increasingly incorporating mindful ayurvedic cooking into these retreats.

Gina has taught mindfulness classes, yoga and yoga nidra in Baltimore and Harford counties since 2004, and teaches weekly at hopewell cancer support in Brooklandville, MD. She works with Calvert's Gift Farm, a sparks based organic farm, to encourage the use of seasonal, local, organic produce for health and well-being.

In ayurveda, it is said that the best physician is one who teaches patients to care for themselves. In this spirit, Gina believes that her path is to share what she has learned on her transformative journey by offering others the opportunity to reconnect with their own deepest nature, and learn to care for themselves using these ancient, holistic practices. For more info visit ginasager.com.

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Ashley Turner, MA, MFTI
Ashley turner is an acclaimed yoga/meditation teacher and mind-body psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles, specializing in yoga psychology - an innovative synthesis of psychology, spirituality, yoga and modern science.

A frequent contributor to top tier media publications including self, women's health, yoga journal, natural health, fitness, among many others, Ashley's core intention is to help people live with more fearlessness and freedom -- resulting in confidence, efficacy and empowerment.

Ashley consults Hollywood creatives, leading companies, distinguished business leaders, couples and individuals. With a diverse palate and ability to speak directly to her audience, Ashley has toured with rock stars, lectures in academic settings and leads transformational workshops and retreats around the globe. For more info visit ashleyturner.org.