“Open your mind and your heart. Believe in yourself, trust yourself and you will find all the answers to all your questions." Shifu Shi Yan-Ming

Camilla Grube
Camilla, a native of Sweden, began her studies of Yoga at the Scandinavian Yoga Ashram, Stockholm, in 1999 and soon thereafter got introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, which she felt a deep connection with. She received her Teacher Training with Master Yogini Dee Silvers.
While still living in Sweden, Camilla also got introduced to Acupressure and Chinese Medicine and in 1998 she graduated from one of Scandinavia’s largest and most well respected Bodywork Schools.
In 2001 Camilla was introduced to Thai Yoga Massage. She travels yearly to Thailand with her husband Todd and received her Teacher Training Certificate from Master Chongkol Setthakorn in Northern Thailand. Camilla has also studied Thai Oil Massage and Ayurvedic Oils at the Loh Kroh Institute, Thailand.
Camilla is currently studying Taoist Yoga and Chinese Philosophy, one of her passions, with Martial Arts Master Paulie Zink and Teacher Damon Honeyutt at the Temple of the Monkey.

Camilla takes her inspiration from her travels in South East Asia and her Gurus Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi and the Taoist Masters of ancient China.

Todd Grube
Todd (Heng Ni) has been practicing eastern philosophy for over 20 years. He is an internationally known yoga teacher and healer.
He got his start at the Krishna Bhakti movement in Philadelphia studying meditation, scriptures and chanting at the Radha Krishna Mandir, later adding on the philosophy of Ashtanga Vinyasa and Jivamukti yoga which he is deeply influenced by. Todd is a skilled and talented healer working the traditions of Shiatsu, Qigong healing, eastern nutrition and Thai yoga Massage which he has trained and taught at the International School of Thai Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He is an accomplished martial artist and a disciple of the famous Shaolin Temple NYC and is also a teacher and student of Taoist Yoga (qigong) as taught by Master Paulie Zink and Damon Honeycutt.
Todd is the co-founder of the Taoist yogic system Kshyatria Yoga with long time friend and teacher Damon Honeycutt.

Todd’s main focus of interest in this part of his life is fusing the Taoist practices of China with the Hindu Yogic traditions of India. His teachings and practices are greatly influenced by the great philosophical epics of Asia, like the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, Journey to the West, Book of 5 rings and the Ramayana.
Todd resides in Wyomisssing, PA, with his wife Camilla and daughter.

 

David “Dragonfly” Statler
David’s hatha yoga classes draw on over 10 years of dedicated personal practice, combined with trainings in asana, yoga philosophy, chanting and kirtan, Reiki, Transformational Breathwork and meditation. His inspirations are Dharam, Yogiar, and Ernest Holmes’ Science of Mind. His practice and teachings are deeply influenced by the Kundalini Yoga tradition, a connection to Mother Earth and nature, and the metaphysical nature of being. David’s classes fill you with a sense of peaceful and loving connection with Self, and a rootedness to the earth.

His sadhanas are the land and his family. He is a visionary artist, fire dancer and performer, and is the creator of OM Glass, a line of spiritual glass art. He currently co-directs Dragonfly Meadows with Lisa Peters, and is the owner of Dragonfly Studio & Gallery in West Reading.

Elissa Keeler
Elissa Keeler came to Yoga about 10 years ago through an Iyengar class in Arizona. She has since practiced many of the other forms of Yoga, including Hatha, Bikram and Ashtanga. In February of 2008, Elissa became certified in the Hatha Inner Fire tradition, as well as receiving a 100-Hourcertification in Ayurveda. Elissa is passionate about health and wellness, and plans to continue her education in Ayurveda as well as in Ashtanga.
Elissa is a Raja Yogini, and follows the Eight-Fold Path. She believes in observing the Yamas and Niyamas, and emphasizes the importance of these practices in her Asana classes.

Her inspiration comes from the love for her family, husband Tim and children Finn and Maeve. Her other passions include a love of animals, the outdoors, art and cooking.

Anthony Kocur
Anthony, a graduate from downdog YOGA's first Teacher Training also has a background in massage therapy. He graduated from East West School of Massage Therapy in February 2008 with skills in Therapeutic Massage, Swedish Massage, STR, Deep Tissue Massage, and Reflexology.
In 2007 he received his First Degree Reiki Certification and he intends to further his education in the Massage and Bodywork field through additional certifications in higher levels of both Reiki and Thai Yoga Massage.

Anthony holds a Second Degree Black Belt in Taekwon Do and a black sash in Northern Long Fist Kung Fu. He trains in martial arts, yoga, tai chi, qigong, stretching and weight-lifting.
Anthony holds a BA in Liberal Arts from Penn State Berks. He received a certificate in Gerontology from Montgomery Count Community College in Pottstown. Another passion is creative fiction where he aspires to be novelist.

Sheryl Manzella
Sheryl is an experienced and versatile ACE certified personal trainer specializing in Yoga and IM=X Pilates. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a 200hr RYT. She received her certifications in Ashtanga Vinyasa and Yin Yoga at Down Dog Yoga in Reading PA where she had the privilege and opportunity to study with renowned international teachers including Manju Jois (son of the founder of Ashtanga Yoga, Pattabhi Jois), Yogeswari, Manorama and Damon Honeycutt. Sheryl continues to study weekly with her local teachers Camilla and Todd Grube. And she has also completed Levels I II & III, Seniors and Anatomy &Alignment with Yoga Fit.
Sheryl enjoys working with clients individually and in groups and has a strong sense of commitment and dedication to their well being. She assesses and meets their needs with her natural ability to blend Eastern and Western philosophies. She strives for balance in her daily life and encourages and inspires her clients and students to do the same. Her goal as a trainer and teacher is to support others in achieving personal growth and awareness not only on the physical level but on the mental and spiritual levels as well.

Sheryl's holistic view of health and fitness is not new and her background is diverse. She is an accomplished Macrobiotic chef and cooking teacher, an ordained Minister, a trained dancer and a former professional fashion model.
Sheryl considers herself to be a student, as well as a teacher, of abundant living or in other words...living a happy, healthy and helpful life.

Brandy Jones
Brandy graduated from the first Yin Yoga Teacher Training at downdog YOGA in 2009. She completed the 200-hour Teacher Training at downdog YOGA in 2011. Once she became a member at the studio in 2007, she began eating a vegan diet and spent free time cooking local, organic produce and practicing Ashtanga and Yin Yoga as much as possible. In October 2011 she began teaching Mom & Baby Yoga with her newborn son, Luc.
She plans to continue education in nutrition and massage therapy as well as to continue to build on her Yoga foundation by taking workshops locally and eventually complete a 500-hour Teacher Training.

Brandy believes in respecting the Earth and protecting all of its creatures. Her passion for life comes from spending time with her husband, son and two Labradors. They prepare delicious meals together and walk in nature daily. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Patanjali says, “So, first follow truth, and then truth will follow you.” This has held so true in her life and she hopes to be able to share her love of the Yogic life with many others through teaching Yoga.