Faculty 1 | PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala

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Hansa	Hansa, LMT, E-RYT500, left the corporate world in 1988 to pursue a career in holistic health, and received her Yoga certification at the Kripalu Center Yoga and Health. Continuing to study, she takes classes in Viniyoga, Vedic Chanting, Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy, and other Yoga programs. Incorporating her B.S. degree in Behavioral Science, Hansa has been able to develop a keen insight into the collaboration of the Body, Mind, and Spirit. She has studied and integrated diverse body oriented therapies including Kripalu Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Therapeutic Body work, Body Reading, Health Education, Homeopathy and Ministry to facilitate Spirit connection. She teaches for the American Yoga College and Rocky Mountain Institute. She currently serves on the board for Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Yoga Alliance and is a member past president of Yoga Teachers of Colorado. She is on the Board and acts as the Executive Director for SANGA, an educational non-profit organization. Hansa has a home studio, Gentle Touch Body Mind and Spirit Connection and is the owner of PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala. She teaches satellite classes for Kaiser Permanente, Lutheran Hospital, Jefferson County Library, Mile Hi Church, two Senior Centers, at Regis University and serves on the faculty of Metropolitan State College and her therapeutic work integrates Yoga Therapy and Massage.
Patricia Hansen	Patricia Hansen, M.A. E-RYT500, is a Yoga therapist, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Lifestyle Consultant and National and International Yoga Teacher and Lecturer. Patricia has been studying and teaching yoga in Denver for over thirty years. Patricia started teaching at the local YMCA in 1967 and in 1969 started teaching at the Jewish Community Center. She developed the first prenatal yoga classes in the early 1970’s. Patricia established first academic yoga classes in America through Metropolitan State College and the University of Denver. She received her master’s in Religious Studies from the University of Denver and her certification as an Ayurvedic Practitioner and Lifestyle Consultant from the Ayurvedic Institute under the direction of Dr. Vasant Lad. Patricia is a past President and founding member of Unity in Yoga International and Yoga Teachers of Colorado; a founding member of National Ayurvedic and Medical Association and International Association of Yoga Therapy; a member of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico; an executive board member of International Yoga Studies; past President Emeritus of the Yoga Alliance, co-founder, co-director and faculty member of the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda; faculty member of American Yoga College; and currently is sharing her Yoga knowledge and skills by serving on the Board of Sanga, a local non profit yoga educational organization while still serving as a faculty member at Metropolitan State College and maintaining a private Yoga and Ayurvedic practice. Patricia studied with Swami Satchidananda, Yogi Bhajan, Rama Jyoti Vernon and many other teachers. She integrates all the teachings to offer a beautiful yoga experience.
Karin Bustamante	Karin Bustamante RYT500 started practicing yoga by taking one yoga class a week. This led her to meditating and studying yoga for many years. The dramatic impact on her life outlook and physical well-being motivated her to share her experience and start teaching. She has a deep interest in meditation and feels yoga practice makes it possible to maintain a daily meditation practice. She actively shares her enthusiasm and great respect for yoga by creating an atmosphere of empowerment that provides students the space to explore and listen to the wisdom of their own body.
Maggie Dick	Maggie Dick is a registered certified Hatha Yoga Teacher. She completed her training with Hansa at the PranaYoga and Ayurveda Mandala. Maggie is interested in yoga “off the mat” as well as asana practice (yoga postures). To her, yoga is a passion and a way of life. Maggie’s classes tend to be gentle and spiritual incorporating breathing, strength, flexibility and balance. She enjoys working with students at all levels. In addition to her Saturday morning refresher class at PranaYoga, she also teaches classes at The Children’s Hospital as part of the Employee Yoga Program.
MahaJyoti Glassman	MahaJyoti Glassman, RYT, began her yoga journey in 1976 in the Ananda Marga tradition. She continues to further her understanding by studying with teachers from the US and abroad. MJ enjoys sharing yoga experiences with preschoolers, teens, and adults of all ages and abilities. Currently she is the director of one of the few yoga based preschools in the US. For more information on MahaJyoti’s classes call 303.433.6280.
Melissa Chaney	Melissa J. Chaney, BA, RYT is a yoga teacher and yoga practitioner. Melissa has been studying and teaching Yoga in Denver for over 10 years. Certified in Contemplative Hatha Yoga, Prenatal, Senior, and AyurYoga Levels 1 and 2. Continuing to study, she takes classes in devotional chanting, Ayurveda, nutrition, and Yoga Therapy. Melissa is one of the original founders of former local yoga studio, Jaya Yoga Center. Other teaching experience includes, MetroWastewater, Auraria Healthy Moves, Kaiser Permanente, Regis University, Thornton Senior Center, PranaYoga Ayurveda Mandala, Yoga Connection, Lady Fitness, Colorado Athletic Center, Morey Neighborhood Center and after-school programs for kids. Melissa integrates universal principles of balance into daily living by incorporating her BA in Behavioral Science accompanied with her Yoga training and continuing education credits. She is registered with Yoga Alliance. WELCOME & NAMASTE’ STUDENTS
Carrie Searles	Carrie Searles, BA, RYT500 has been practicing yoga since 1994, teaching since 1995. She has obtained her professional 500-hour yoga teacher certification and 750-hour Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy certification from the Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda. She is certified in Yoga of the Heart, taught by Nischala Devi who devised the yoga program for Dean Ornish’s successful Lifestyles Heart trial. Carrie has also studied Structural Yoga Therapy under the supervision of Mukunda Stiles.
Dee Peterson Dee Peterson is a certified yoga teacher (2007) who received her training