Teachers

Mark & Geri Bjorling are the happily married parents of 6 and grand parents of 5. Mark is degreed in accounting from University of Oregon, and is a CPA working in industry. Geri is a degreed sign language interpreter working in deaf education.

Laurie Brekke has been studying Yoga for over 10 years and has been a certified teacher for 4. Her propensity towards delving into realms unknown has inspired her to research and put together some fun and interesting classes, including a comprehensive on the Chakras and a session combining Yoga and the zodiac signs.

Patrick Davis is an experienced health care consultant and massage therapist. As a "hospice chaplain turned life coach" he supports caregivers and professionals with the many transitions of life. As the founder of Desired Outcomes, he has created a host of original tools for managing stress and life. Patrick has worked with various organizations as they develop cutting-edge programs that address the holistic needs of the community.

Nischala is a guest teacher for OYBC. Nischala Joy Devi is a masterful and compassionate teacher, internationally renowned since 1974. Educated by masters in India and worldwide, she was a monastic disciple of Swami Satchidanandaji for over 20 years.

Liz Dolejs received her training from the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has training in Swedish massage, deep tissue, ortho-bionomy, pregnancy massage, comfort touch with a focus on subtle energy techniques. She also incorporates elements of shiatsu, traeger work, aroma therapy and myofacial release. She has studied cranial sacral therapy in Boulder, Colorado.

Rolf Sovik is the spiritual director of the Himalayan Institute and a clinical psychologist in private practice. He has studied yoga in the United States, India, and Nepal, and holds degrees in philosophy, music, Eastern studies, and clinical psychology. Co-director of the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo, he began his practice of yoga in 1972, and was initiated as a pandit in the Himalayan tradition in 1987.

Suzanne was first inspired by yoga in 1985 with Lilias Folan on PBS television and from there was mostly self taught until she came to Omaha. Here she studied with Susi Amendola and was a mentor of the OYBC Teacher Training for 3 years. She also studied with Mark Watson, now the owner of the Yoga Path.

Jacque Denney graduated from the Universal College of Healing Arts in September of 2007. Her services include: Swedish, corporate chair, myofascial and deep tissue massage. She also uses aromatherapy when requested and mixes her own oils and creams for such things as muscle aches, psoriasis, bug repellent, etc. She is very interested in Eastern and Native American medicine and continues to expand her knowledge of both.

First introduced to Yoga through a video in 2003, Monika Duszynska started Yoga as a way to loose weight. Her practice cost her 40 lbs; 5 years and counting!

In the fall of 1989, Deborah Pufall arrived at a time in her life when the door to growth opened wide. She stepped through it into her first Yoga class and knew very quickly that she had found where she needed to be. The gentle yet strengthening physical activity, the moments of quiet reflection and insight, and above all the love & joy that emanated from her first teacher helped her begin to find a better way of living in the world.

Ramona Miller received her training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska. She has training in Therapeutic Swedish Massage, deep tissue, pre-natal/pregnancy massage, comfort touch, myofascial release. She also has training to perform bodywork and massage for people with fibromyalgia. Ramona is also Level II Reiki. Ramona is certified in Ayurvedic Stone Therapy.

Marissa McMillin was raised in Omaha surrounded by a community of alternative healers. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2003 with a B.A. in Political Science and wrote her senior thesis using feminist theory to explore women's body image issues in our society. After struggling to understand an illness that she endured post-college, Marissa was hugely inspired by Ayurveda.

Amy is a guest teacher for OYBC. Amy Matthews, CMA, SME, RYT, RSMT/RSME has been teaching movement since 1994. She is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst and a Body-Mind Centering Practitioner. Amy has been on the faculty of the Year-Long Certificate Program at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies since 2000, and teaches embodied asana classes and workshops at Movements Afoot, the Breathing Project and the Society for Martial Arts Instruction in NYC.

Sri Beehivanandaji started life auspiciously as the youngest child in a family of 13 born to Pakrit, a Snake Charmer in the Trans-Bhutan Starlight Wonderwheel Circus, and his wife Lemura, the Leopard Wrestler. Her parents, fearful she would grow up neglected in their already massive brood, left her at the feet of their beloved teacher Ohno to be raised and educated in the ways of spirit.

Dr. Rajesh Kotecha is the chief physician and executive director of Chakrapani Ayurveda & Research Center in Jaipur, India. He graduated from Ayurvedic college in 1985 and received his doctorite in 1991 from Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar. He contributes to many health publications and research in the area of Ayurveda. Dr. Rajesh travels and teaches while maintaining a thriving practice in Jaipur, India.

Vidyarani Lisa Hofmann began her study of yoga in 1994 with OYBC.  She began teaching in 2000 and is a registered Yoga Instructor through Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.  

Julie has been a mental health profession al for over 10 years. She graduated from Boston College with her Masters degree in Clinical Social Work in 1998. In 2004, she earned her Diplomate in Clinical So cial Work. Julie founded The Center for Counseling and Psychotherapy and Emerging Mindful ness, where she works mostly with adults dealing with life's challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Dr. Michele Marie Desmarais is the author of "Changing Minds: Mind, Consciousness and Identity in Patañjali’s Yoga-sūtra and Cognitive Neuroscience" (Motilal Banarsidass). She is an Associate Professor in Religious Studies, editor of the Journal of Religion and Film, and member of the Native American Studies Faculty at UNO.

Prasad Gollanapalli holds a Masters Degree in 'Gandhian Thought' and a Degree of Master of Philosophy in 'Gandhian Thought and Peace Making', in addition to Masters degrees in Commerce and Law.

Matt Clouse has been practicing yoga for nearly 10 years, and took his first yoga class at Omaha Yoga and Bodywork, where he later received his teaching certification. Matt also has a BA in Art History and is working on his MA in Museum Studies.

Jenn Koley has been practicing yoga for 7 years, introduced through her corporate fitness classes, she fell in love with the deeper aspects of living yoga and its ability to change her life. She is currently working on her teacher certification. Jenn is a Licensed Massage Therapist & is working on credentials for Chemical Dependency Counseling.