Alana Kessler MS RD CDN CYT , certified Ayurvedic consultant is the founder of Sangha Yoga Shala, a community nutrition, yoga and conscious living space located in New York City. Steadfast in her passion for healthy living, she continues to deepen her knowledge through her many teachers and life itself, which she firmly believes is the greatest teacher of all. With the integration of nutrition, yoga, mindfulness, and a dedicated personal practice of over a decade, Alana provides individuals with the practical tools they need to live more balanced and meaningful lives. She founded Sangha Yoga Shala as a way of reaching a greater scope of individuals on a deeper level. Eternally grateful to the people, experiences and education which have helped shape her practice and offering, Alana is committed to Ashtanga Yoga as taught by the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and is dedicated to a daily mysore style practice at Ashtanga Yoga New York with Eddie Stern. Personally transformed by the cleansing and purifying sequencing of Ashtanga yoga, Alana’s classes are taught directly from her own personal practice, offering an intelligent, compassionate and physically challenging environment. Students are invited to embrace and transcend limitations by connecting breath with movement in a dynamic meditative flow. As a Registered Dietitian and Certified Ayurvedic practitioner with a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics from NYU, Alana complements her teaching by encouraging and supporting individuals and groups to integrate nutrition, mindful lifestyle behaviors and yoga as an effective means to nurture and achieve their goals. View Alana's Schedule  

I began a yoga practice when I was sixteen, and was immediately struck by the immeasurable benefits and insights gained from aligning breath with movement. This epiphany laid the groundwork for years of introspection and self- examination. Throughout this time I began to deepen my practice, my breath, and my relationship with life. I saw a swift change in my energy, focus, clarity, alignment, and overall wellbeing. I traveled to India in search of “spirituality”, a term I sought to define for myself. In India I found a people living from the heart and trusting more in their bodies than their minds. This experiential learning and innate trust in intuition has been one of my greatest teachers, showing me the first steps towards a life-long journey of letting go of the ego and allowing the Self to be. I moved to New York City and received my Teacher Training Certification through YTTP, underwent a ten-day silent Vipassana mediation, and again, returned to India to study Yoga in Rishikesh, Varanasi, Mysore, Neyyar Dam, and Tamil Nadu. I continue to practice daily and guide individuals of all levels as a teacher throughout New York City. I teach Ashtanga inspired Vinyasa Yoga, with focus on breath, alignment, and non-reaction.

  I was forced to take my first yoga class. What was this silly practice? I had more important things to do. Within 90 minutes my life had changed for good. Body & breath connected and I truly sunk into myself. I felt emotions coming up that had been stuck down for years. I came back to my mat day after day, awakening new parts of my physical and spiritual body. I began to understand stillness. I became brighter & clearer and my body saw the health and balance it had been asking for. Years later I became a teacher to guide others on their own individual path toward their own individual truth & transformation. I completed my training with Namaste Yoga Teacher College and began teaching throughout New York City. In 2011, I journeyed to India and backpacked around the country learning yoga from many different teachers. The ashrams and yoga classes greatly deepened my practice and understanding of yoga, yet the greatest teachers in India were the children, the land, and the laughter.   I teach Vinyasa yoga with inspiration from the Ashtanga lineage. I focus class on deep breathing, challenging flow asana, and working through mind resistance. Some of my greatest teachers are Ramana Maharshi, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and Burning Man. I live in Brooklyn where I practice Mysore Ashtanga and make raw chocolate.

Aimee originally moved to New York from Kansas to pursue acting. She noticed that as her acting career progressed, she was continually more drawn to yoga because of the generosity, ease and sense of calm that her own practice cultivated in her life off the yoga mat. Aimee particularly enjoys working with women in particularly challenging times--teaching prenatal, Baby & Me yoga, and yoga to women through and after cancer, as well as working as a labor support doula. Bringing more than a decade of personal practice and teaching to her students, she infuses lightness into the practices that have brought her through difficult times. She is endlessly grateful for the support and compassion shown by her teachers and feels blessed for the opportunity to teach and learn from her students.

Certifications: Women Cancer Survivors Training: Tari Prinster, Pre and Postnatal Certifications: Deb Flashenberg & Nikita Maxwell, Baby & Me: Jyothi Larsen, How to Teach Restorative: Margi Young, Pranayama Teacher Training: Cyndi Lee & Joe Miller, 200 hour certification: Cyndi Lee, Joe Miller, Frank Mauro, Sarah Trelease, Margi Young, Christie Clark

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Malka began practicing yoga several years ago and hasn't looked back. From the moment she stepped on the mat, she knew it was just the beginning of a lifetime journey - full of mindfulness, openness, devotion, and so much more. After years of developing a deeper, regular practice, she wanted to share her love of yoga with others and decided to become a teacher. She received her 200-hour training at O2 Yoga in Boston, MA. She is forever grateful to Mimi Loureiro, founder, and all of her teachers at O2 Yoga who have continued to inspire her. Malka has recently moved to New York and is excited to be a part of this diverse and energetic city! She is incredibly thankful to have found the community at Sangha Yoga Shala. Her vinyasa classes are inspired by Ashtanga yoga, with clear cueing for postures, stages for various depths, and thematic sequencing. She also places a strong emphasis on alignment and anatomy. View Malka's Schedule

James, a Queens New York native, was introduced to the teachings of yoga in his teenage years through his father, a teacher of Buddhism. Since this early age was an increasing concern with the Real and the Truth of existence, realizing the abyss inherent in the pursuit of transient desires and the vanities of time. He established a daily practice in 2007 with vigor. Already an experienced guitar teacher, and intent on his passion to serve others, he became certified to teach through Yoga Sutra NYC in 2009. Also a cancer survivor, he is keenly aware of the depth of suffering in the human condition and credits the profound transformational power of yoga as a testiment to his survival. He teaches with a zest of responsibility, compassion, and conviction in this royal path to freedom. His athleticism and high degree of fitness and passion for the teachings and practices of yoga makes him particularly skillful in teaching athletes and new fitness aficionados alike bringing a fire to the practice and to practicioners that stands alone. He is grateful to all his teachers past and present, including Kimberly Flynn, John Campbell, and Guta Hedewig, and is primarily influenced by the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya, and the Ashtanga yoga tradition and its offspring of athletic, vinyasa based yoga methods.  His classes specialize in vinyasa sequencing, including a plethora of creative arm balances weaved into a vigorous flow.

Born in Haifa and raised in New York City,   Hanniel studied Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University and received a masters of science  in environmental policy at Bard College.  Hanniel sees a strong connection between the environment and faith based study and is pursuing this relationship in his Rabbinical studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion where he will be ordained in May 2013. He is a Research Associate at Beth Israel’s Continuum Center for Health and Healing and passionately promotes green healthcare environments and patient-centered care, believing these to be crucial components of holistic care. Incorporating yoga and meditation, Hanniel teaches philosophy, prayer, and religion throughout the city creating a uniquely inclusive and non-judgemental spiritual space, where individuals of all backgrounds can join together. Hanniel was a competitive gymnast who has competed on the national level and strongly believes in the healing and restorative elements of exercise, particularly yoga, and is a registered Vinyasa yoga teacher and a Certified Personal Trainer. He is thrilled to have found a shared vision with Alana and the Sangha Yoga Shala family in invigorating the spirit of tradition with divine warriors, building the community of the world. View Hanniel's Schedule

  I was introduced to the yoga practice during the winter of 2005. After my first class, I felt the effects immediately. I love how the physical practice makes my body feel and also the mental clarity experienced. The practice allows me to make more mindful choices and decisions off the mat, which permits me to move freely with awareness through life without getting stuck. Possessing an exuberant teaching style, classes are Vinyasa inspired, connecting breath with movement, focusing on alignment, anatomy, assists and well thought out sequences set to a groovy playlist. There is an interplay of strength and stretch movement sprinkled throughout class in an effort to balance the entire body. I allow my students to learn, live, play and grow in an open and nonjudgmental space. I have taught at yoga studios, gyms, elementary schools, high schools, pharmaceutical companies and backyards. I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training course with David Vendetti at Back Bay Yoga in Boston, June 2008.

Hannah Gruber is a spirited individual, whose enthusiasm and dedication shine out in both her teaching and personal practice. She believes that all individuals, regardless of age, physicality, or background, possess the freedom and potential to explore and create. Yoga should be accessible and fun for everyone, and she encourages her students to approach their practice with both curiosity and playfulness. Her teaching is infused with her own energy, wisdom, and love of adventure. Due to her knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics, sharp eye for detail and elegant instruction, Hannah enjoys teaching all levels, the beginning student, the student with therapeutic needs, and the advancing student.

A student of yoga since 2002 and devoted to Anusara since 2008, Hannah expresses gratitude to all of her teachers, especially Zhenja La Rosa and Sharon Kenney, and all others who have shared their guidance and wisdom along this path.

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