Bhava Yoga Center

PETER RIZZO

Peter has been teaching Yoga since the early nineties. He was certified at the 500- + 200-hour level at Jivamukti in 1997. In 1999, he opened Bhava Yoga Center in New York City. For four years, Bhava served the East Village Yoga community with a unique mixture of substantial, amazing classes offered at low prices in a supportive and genial atmosphere which was made possible only by running a Yoga center by yogic principles. Through his free six-month teacher-training program, many devoted Bhava students were trained to teach Bhava Vinyasa Yoga. They now teach all over the U.S. and abroad. Peter is happy and grateful to be in Brattleboro and to offer Bhava Vinyasa Yoga in this magical, beautiful place.

JENNIFER ELIZABETH BRUNTON

One of Jenny's earliest memories is of being taught Sirsasana (headstand - with lots of help!) by her Aunt, a student of Kripalu Yoga. Yoga, in its many forms, has been an integral part of her life ever since. She grew up practicing in the Kripalu tradition, was introduced to Integral Yoga in high school, and studied Iyengar Yoga in her early twenties. In her late-twenties, she joyfully discovered Jivamukti Yoga. She was trained and certified at the 500- + 200-hour level in this tradition in 2000. Shortly thereafter, she began teaching at Bhava Yoga Center in New York City's East Village. Peter and Jenny were married in 2000, and Ernie was born in 2001, introducing them to the very high and challenging practice of the Yoga of parenthood! In summer 2006, our daughter, Xiaohan, joined our family. Jenny has a Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University.

LISA MOON

Lisa Moon's background is based in Iyengar/vinyasa yoga. She was originally trained as a teacher in Embodyoga - how consciousness expresses through the body, and the body through consciousness - based on the insight and study of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. She is currently finishing a four-year professional degree program at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing - an energy work program that combines hands-on healing techniques with spiritual and psychological practices. She has loved practicing at Bhava for the last year and is very excited to be a Bhava teacher!

BRETT BLOOMBERG

Brett has studied Yoga extensively for the past ten years in both the United States and India. Brett's teaching is informed by the Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Yin Yoga traditions all bound together by the spiritual philosophy of the Vedas. His asana classes balance fluid, mindful movement with careful instruction in physical and energetic alignment. Brett is also a certified Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner currently practicing at Sojourns health center in Westminster, Vermont.

EMILY WOLFMAN

Emily comes to yoga with 30 years of dance training. Finding yoga in 2000, Emily embraced it as a complement to flexibility, strength, and balance. Since then, she has studied with masters such as Anna Forrest, Seane Corn, and Baron Baptiste. Emily completed a 200 hour teacher training through Lotus Gardens, Inc. in Naugatuck, CT. She is currently engaged in an Integrative Yoga Therapy program which will culminate in a 1000 hour certification of study and practice. Emily has found her bliss sharing the joys, challenges, and healing powers of yoga with children and adults of all levels and capabilities.

COOPER SEAY

Cooper Photo

“… Each of us is here to discover our true Self, to find out on our own that our true Self is spiritual, that essentially we are spiritual beings that have taken manifestation in physical form. We’re not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences – it’s the other way around: we’re spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences.“ Deepak Chopra

OM NAMAH SIVAYA

E. Cooper Seay RYT began practicing yoga in 1997, blessed by two integral yoga teachers who were both doctors of chiropractic; her first instruction was both spiritual and profoundly informed by the instructors’ knowledge of the body. A lifelong athlete, Cooper became diverted by more physically challenging forms of hatha, going on to become a Bikram instructor. After four years of teaching an average of fourteen classes a week, running studios and eventually opening her own studio, she came full circle. Following her integral lineage she traveled to kerala India to obtain her Sivananda teaching certificate. It was in the sivananda ashram that she was able to connect her earlier career as a musician with her yoga through both bhajan and kirtan. After completing a teacher training in bhava yoga, Cooper began her current path and passion, teaching vinyasa in the Krishnamacharya lineage.

Cooper’s personal practice is defined by her love of vinyasa and her love of iyengar. As counterpoint to her hatha yoga, Cooper practices vippasana meditation as taught by SN Goenka. As a teacher, Cooper strives to integrate the tappas of a strong practice with the santosha of a quiet mind. She is sensitive to the perils of strong physical work in a culture that is body obsessed, and believes that only through the eight-limbed path can we become free from internal friction. “The yoga shala is a laboratory, it is where we begin to observe our patterning. It is an amazing journey to become aware enough to observe, and in control enough to create more options for our behavior.”

WITH OM AND PREEM

BROWNYN SIMS

Bronwyn Sims is an actor, acrobat and educator. She has appeared in movies (Next Stop Wonderland, Dischord, Enough Already, Trial by Fire) and on television including a role in the Emmy award winning first season of The Sopranos. Her NYC stage credits include productions with The NYC OPERA at Lincoln Center, La MAMA E.T.C, The National Black Theatre, The Kitchen, HERE Arts Center, Blue Heron Theatre, Galapagos, One Arm Red, The Slipper Room, Artists of Tomorrow Festival with Six Figures Theatre, The NYC Clown Theatre Festival at The Brick Theatre & The International Dance Festival at The Duke Theatre. Regional stage credits include The American Repertory Theatre, Raven Theatrical, Speakeasy Stage Company, and a European Tour with Sandglass Theatre. As an Acrobat and Aerialist she has performed with The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, LAVA, Odonata Dance Project, Cirque Boom, Wise Fool & Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Festival. She is a Founding member of The NYC Circus Theatre company KIRKOS. As an educator Bronwyn has taught classes and workshops at Colorado College, University of New Hampshire, University of Florida, Streb/ Slam, The Trapeze Loft and numerous other yoga, dance, and aerial studios throughout New England and NYC. Bronwyn currently performs with the Nimble Arts Touring Company and teaches aerial and circus arts at The New England Center for Circus Arts. She is also in collaboration on a new work to premiere this Fall 2008.