Sage Yoga Teachers

Susan Rubin
Wendy Boller
Annie Hampford
Helena Mertens
Roey Ficaro
Kristine Fornaby
Jennifer Lang
Laurie Luongo
Sally Firestein
Laurie Jordan
Lisa Harris

Susan Rubin, RYT, Director Certified Anusara Instructor received her original certification at The Katonah Yoga Center under the guidance of Nevine Michaan.  For the past 4 years Susan has practiced and studied Anusara Yoga with John Friend. Her love for yoga and teaching has been her driving force to open Sage in Armonk.

She has studied pranayama, meditation and hatha yoga  with several world  renowed and master teachers throughout the country including, John Friend, Rod Stryker, Erich Schiffmann, Rodney Yee, Shiva Rea and Patricia Walden.   She has studied therapeutics  with Gary Kraftsow author of “Yoga for Wellness” Presently she is continuing her studies of Anusara  theraputics under the guidance of John Friend and Amy Ippoliti.

Her classes emphasize principles of alignment, and alignment with nature.  Postures are sequenced to balance and open the body according to the seasons and their demands.  This full range Hatha practice, incorporates challenging physical postures, to build strength and endurance and breath-work  to enhance the body's natural synergy with the seasons.

Susan is dedicated to bringing a warm open atmosphere to her community for spiritual  development of all who wish to participate.  Susan shares her dedication to this ancient tradition with love and humor, hoping to inspire others to connect deeply to their hearts.

Wendy Boller Wendy Boller is an Affiliated Anusara Instructor working toward Anusara Certification. She encourages playfulness, introspection and creative expression in her classes and workshops. Practice of hatha yoga as a portal to remembrance and articulation of our highest capabilities is emphasized.

Wendy is known for her passionate teaching and eye for alignment. She has been studying and practicing yoga for the past 12 years. Wendy holds certification from The Sivananda Vedanta Center and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. Wendy is grateful to all her teachers who have and continue to lead the way. Special thanks to John Friend & Douglas Brooks.

OUR INSTRUCTORS

Annie Hampford Annie Hampford is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance who has spent her life exploring the movement of the body, the cultivation of the mind, and the geography of the soul. She sees yoga as an elegant synthesis of the physical, intellectual, and spiritual realms and approaches both her practice and her teaching from this perspective.

Annie’s teaching is thoroughly Anusara-inspired with an emphasis on aligning with nature and celebrating the heart. Currently, she is working toward certification in Anusara Yoga. Annie is grateful to all of her teachers—particularly John Friend and Todd Norian—for their their support, kindness, and inspiration. Annie feels blessed to be able to share her experience and energy with her students.

Helena Mertens
Helena obtained her certification in yoga instruction from the Open Center in NY in Prana Yoga. She has studied with many world renowned yoga teachers including Rodney Yee, Donna Farhi and Patricia Walden. Currently Helena is continuing her training under the guidance of John Friend, the creator of Anusara Yoga, and is working towards her Anusara certification. Anusara translated from the Sanskrit means "stepping into the flow of grace." Helena's previous career as a dancer and her own spiritual practice of more than 35 years helps her students to feel the Anusara experience for themselves.

Roey Ficaro Roey Ficaro has been a practitioner of yoga for over ten years.  She is an affiliated Anusara Yoga teacher and a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist.  Roey holds a masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University and a Postmasters Certification in child, adolescent and family psychotherapy.

For the past 12 years she has run a private psychotherapy practice in Mt. Kisco and has a small private yoga studio in Katonah where she gives individualized private and semiprivate yoga instruction as well as Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy sessions by appointment.  Roey is able to combine her love of yoga with her professional skills as a psychotherapist. Her classes focus on reducing stress, increasing personal strength and flexibility and integrating the celebration of the heart with universal principles of alignment.

Kristine Fornaby As a dedicated student of yoga for six years, Kristine brings the joy and enthusiasm of a true student’s heart into her teaching. She is excited to share the inspiring philosophy and refined alignment of Anusara yoga which have helped her to experience life more fully. She creates an environment for playful exploration and discovery in her classes.

Kristine is honored to teach at Sage, and hopes to inspire others along the journey into the authentic Self. Kristine would like to thank her many amazing teachers, including John Friend, Amy Ippoliti, Jackie Prete, Rudrani Farbman Brown, and Douglas Brooks. She would like to offer special thanks to Susan Rubin for guiding her into the heart of Anusara Yoga.

Jennifer Lang Jennifer first stepped foot into a yoga class during the summer of 1995 in her native Oakland, California. From then on she was hooked. For years she primarily studied with Rodney Yee, who guided her practice through two pregnancies. Then she found vinyasa yoga.

The combination of breath with movement in a dance-like flow clicked with Jennifer's modern dance background. When she and her family moved to White Plains in 2001, she knew it was time to deepen her practice. Longing to teach, she completed her teacher training certification with Betsy Kase at Yoga Haven in Tuckahoe.

Jennifer teaches adult and prenatal yoga throughout Westchester County and makes as many pilgrimages to Kripalu as she can. She currently studies Anusara and is working toward certification. Special thanks to Todd Norian whose teaching changed Jennifer's personal practice and teaching. Jennifer particularly enjoys helping people gain strength and feel more centered through the practice of yoga

Laurie Luongo Since her first class in an attic in Berkeley, CA, Laurie has found balance through her yoga practice, and has remained a student for over 25 years. As a Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor she has continued advanced studies and draws on additional styles, including Kundalini and Vinyasa. As a student of Susan Rubin’s and after studying with Todd Norian, Laurie has embraced the techniques and spirit of Anusara yoga.

Fundamental components of her classes include pranayama, alignment, flow, and experiencing the joy of yoga, as well as relaxation techniques, including Yoga Nidra. Three years of study with Sherri Baptiste Freeman in San Anselmo, CA, graduate work in Physiology and a certification in massage therapy have all contributed to her inspiration and methodology.

Sally Firestein Sally Firestein was a professional dancer in New York for many years. She began practicing yoga in the late 90''s and has studied with John Friend, Shiva Rea and Lee McKenna. She Is currently pursuing her Anusara Teacher Certification.

Lisa Harris Lisa enjoys teaching a vigorous physical practice but always reminds her students to honor yoga's true intentions. "Anytime we link the mind, body and soul and give selflessly, on and off the mat, we are practicing yoga." She encourages students to dedicate their practice to the happiness of all living beings and to encourage inner-peace & freedom for everyone.

She reminds her students that spirituality can be fun (that's why we see so many laughing Buddahs!) She is a reistered teacher through Yoga Alliance and the California Yoga Teachers Association and has been teaching since 2001 and studying zen since 1996. Lisa also teaches pre and post natal, restorative yoga , and yoga to students with chronic conditions. She can also be currently found managing WynneParis a yoga/rock/jazz musician, setting up kirtans and festivals as well as helping to promote BCI,theBonobConservative Initiative and teaching yoga as a professor at Manhattanville College.