I N S T R U C T O R S & S T A F F
(scroll down to see our newest staff members!)
Founder /Director
Shankari (Janet Shapiro) was given her name by her beloved teacher in 1989. She started her yoga journey with the study of meditation, chant and yogic philosophy. Having studied extensively with her teacher in the ashrams in New York, California, Switzerland, and at the Mother Ashram in India, Shankari has gained deep understanding of this ancient wisdom, which she applies to everyday living. She draws upon her dedication to daily practice to support her unique style of teaching. Trained in Iyengar, Jiva Mukti, Anusara, Hatha and structural yoga methods, Shankari was certified to teach yoga in 1996. She has owned Ananda Shanti Yoga for over 15 years in several locations on the North Shore and is pleased to be back in Manchester. Passionate about keeping the true integrity and respect for the yoga lineage at ASYS, Shankari strives to hold the sacredness of yoga for the greater community. Firm in her belief that yoga studios are not fitness centers, she believes good health comes from a balance of devotional and physical yogas.Shankari shares her love of Kirtan, the sacred practice of chanting, with her students as a powerful, devotional aspect of yoga. Shankari and The Ananda Shanti Yoga Band have played at yoga studios and offer Kirtan evenings at ASYS . She is currently working on her new CD, fusing ancient chant with popular sounds for all to enjoy.A skilled psychotherapist with a Master's degree in counseling psychology and 20 years of a successful private practice, she focuses on a holistic approach for her clients. Shankari is a gifted energy healer and integrates the body/mind philosophy in her private practice. Teaching and training at the Polarity Institute in Ipswich and the Center for Body Oriented Psychotherapy in Boston, she has studied Reiki, cranial sacral work, sound therapy, nutritional care, and cleansing techniques. She provides psychotherapy and healing to individuals, couples, family and children.
Psychotherapist/Director of Ananda Shanti Wellness Center
-Deana Bacon
Deana Bacon has been a talented, successful entrepreneur in the field of human services from the age of 22. Helping people feel safe and appreciated has always been of the utmost importance, and naturally led her to the field of psychotherapy in 1988. Deana holds a Ten-Year Gold Certificate in Advanced Training of Psychotherapy. Deana is one of the founding members of the Massachusetts Association of Independent Psychotherapists and serves on its Board of Directors. She has conducted several seminars and workshops while being noted for her outstanding help in the community.
In 1993, captivated by many styles of psychotherapy, Deana launched her own private practice in Beverly, Massachusetts while recently adding a secondary location in Manchester By the Sea. In addition, Deana has collaborated with Shankari Shaprio as Co-group therapist and Director of Ananda Shanti Wellness Center.
Deana infuses her sessions with a fun enthusiastic, challenging process. Allowing the client time to truly connect with the mind and body opens up a greater opportunity for change. Deana offers a holistic integrated approach while conveying her passion for helping people, into every session. Deana believes that good psychotherapy is a learning and unlearning endeavor. Deana’s practice has given her perspective, balance, and most importantly gratitude,and respect for life. It is her hope to share this gift with clients guiding them through their own path. To contact Deana, email her at
J E N Q U E A L L Y
L A U R E N P I G O T T
Instructor
Lauren came to yoga by personal invitation and fate. For several years, she
studied philosophy without satiation of her existential inquiries. And than she was invited to take a friend's yoga class. Finding yoga to be a consolidation of all the reasonable Western philosophies and the seemingly unattainable Eastern philosophies, she set aside her books for her mat. Lauren believes that yoga is the perfect remedy for her --and your-- busy mind and adventurous body. Her classes are playful with lots of movement and experimentation with challenging poses that focus on the foundations of alignment. Lauren was a lucky lady to have done her 200 hour RYT on the amazing island of Kauai with Bhavani Maki. She is now very excited to be practicing and studying at Ananda Shanti.
Alternative Healing, Ananda Shanti Wellness Center
Greta Bro, MA is a spiritual healer,teacher, empath, evolutionary coach, sound healer, singer/songwriter and mult-media performer. She has taught at Lesley University, Wheelock College, Atlantic University, Interface Foundation and is the Founder of Wisdom Ways Retreats. For the past 25 years she has offered a unique form of mind-heart-body-spirit healing work that draws on fields of universal wisdom, sound, healing energy and love to help people release states of contraction and dysfunction so that they are better able to reconnect to essence and consciously participate in the wave of awakening that is here now in these powerful re-evolutionary times. Greta and Shankari blend their shakti, wisdom and devotion in chants and sacred sound events throughout the year. She is currently writing a book about her work and has a CD, "Love's Song" that has been joyously received internationally. She performs throughout New England, in NYC and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For further information on Greta, please visit her website at http://www.gretabro.com
Instructor
Fabienne has been a a student of life and the Healing Arts for the past 20 years. She is a teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, Meditation and Visualization. Her emphasis is on the establishment of Pranayama, Ujjayi breath, bandha work and the 8 limbs of YOGA as a lifetime practice. Her wish is to teach those who wish to take their practice to deeper level, using their bodies to access more expanded levels of their minds, and with a sense of humor and honoring the individual.
She began her training in California at the Eselan Institute on the Big Sur coast and has never looked back. It was an immediate love affair. Since then she has studied Ashtanga Yoga with many amazing teachers. Lino Miele in Copenhagen and India, Dina Kingsburg, Australia, Tim Miller, California. David Swensen. The Master Pahttabi Jois in San Francisco and Mysore India. She has taught as a guest teacher in studios in Thailand and Copenhagen and was invited to teach a Masters Class at Mexico City’s first international Yoga Convention in 2008.
Fabienne made her home in San Miguel de Allende Mexico where she built her International Yoga School the Moola Bandha Yoga Shala where she welcomed and taught people for all over the world. For eight years, she enjoyed the cultures and flavors of many peoples. They say the dust gets in your blood when you live in Mexico and it surely did in mine! Visit her website fabiennegauthieryoga.com for more info.
Kim Valeri, ERYT, is a master teacher, musician and a gifted American transformational tantric healer. She founded yogaspirit® studios in 1997 to share the powerful teachings of hatha tantra yoga from her home base here on the North Shore. Through teacher certifications, workshops, retreats and classroom and private yoga instruction, Kim has supported students and teachers of yoga worldwide using yoga as a healing art of personal transformation and self-realization. As a teacher, she is known for her authenticity, esoteric experience and ability to blend spiritual compassion with technical proficiency. Kim refines posture through attention to form and alignment from her many years studying Iyengar yoga. Also certified in Kundalini yoga, Kim is a catalyst for awakening Kundalini Shakti. Her classes infuse teachings from Iyengar and Kundalini as well as Surat Shabda. She continues to inspire students through strength, grace and service and by making her teachings accessible to all. For Kim’s full bio, visit http://www.yogaspiritstudios.com/about-kim
Rochelle has a way with creative vinyasa sequencing and words! Her clear instruction and knowledge of alignment will get you into poses you may have not fathomed possible!
M A R C ST. P I E R R E
Instructor
It all began over 10 years ago when Marc asked a friend about where would be a great place to "do some real yoga". His friend guided him to City Yoga Los Angeles in California when the studio was a little over a year old. "I had such great fortune to meet Anthony Benenati, Sue Elkind and Naime Jezzeny, some of the 'founding yogis', each of them had so much to offer and it was a sensational place to be...the birth of Anusara Yoga!" "It was like being a conspirator in a great revolution...like making yoga hisotry!" Vive la Revolution!
Marc is a Certified Anusara teacher know internationally and had the good fortune to establish Anusara on the fantastical island of Maui, where he lived for seven years. Marc now travels and teaches and cannot believe this is his "job"! Clearly, and with enormous gratitude for the Anusara community and for John Friend, Marc celebrates teaching yoga as his vocation and service.
"Marc is a loving and knowledgeable kick in the pants!"
S U Z A N N E O T T E R B E I N
Suzanne’s journey of yoga began in 2001 after the birth of her second child. As as a busy working mom of young children, Suzanne appreciated the overall sense of well- being and reduced stress she felt after discovering yoga. Since then, Suzanne studied at YOGAspirit® Studios to become a certified yoga instructor and has been teaching for over five years, focusing primarily on Flow and Power yoga classes. She is also registered yoga teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. Suzanne continues her studies with workshops on pre- & post-natal yoga, children’s yoga and is currently enrolled in the YOGAspirit® Studios 500 Hour Teacher Training program. Suzanne is inspired to share her experiences with her students, encouraging them, through their own practice, to see beyond their self-imposed limitations.
Teaching and Administrative Intern
Instructor
oth adults and children for the past 20 years. She began teaching yoga here on the NorthShore in 1996. Influenced by her background in dance, group exercise and personal training, her yoga practice is both nurturing and athletic. A class with Heather combines mindful breathing with movement, sweat, good music, & laughter.
Instructor
Mary Hart is a master instructor
who has been yoga alliance Registered (RYT 500 hour) since 2000. Her classes, based upon the principles of Anusara, astanga and pilates , are flowing and inspirational. This class will challenge all levels.
C H R I S C R O T T Y
Instructor
Chris practices and teaches hatha yoga emphasizing mindfulness as a foundation for personal growth and overall wellness. A practitioner of meditation since 1998, he takes retreat yearly in the vipassana tradition and aims to inspire each person's capacity to live consciously, skillfully, and compassionately.
Chris is an adjunct instructor in Wellness and Alternative Medicine at Johnson State College, staff yoga teacher at the Trauma Center in Brookline, and he is on the teacher trainning staff at Pavones Yoga Center in Costa Rica.
Through his private practice Chris integrates contemplative and western techniques to support people of all ages to achieve greater wellbeing and fulfillment in their lives. His non-clinical, client-centered approach focuses on empowering others to live more fully present within the changing conditions of life through the confidence of their own self-awareness. Chris is available for private yoga sessions and can be reached at chris.crotty@me.com
J O A N N E P A R S O N S B R E A U
Instructor
JoAnne has been studying and practicing yoga for more than 12 years, with a focus on Vinyasa for more than eight years. In 2002, JoAnne travelled to the Yucatan Rain Forest to complete her first teacher training (Baptiste Power Yoga). There she met and worked with some of the great teachers from around the globe, including Gregor Singleton, Baron Baptiste and Rolf Gates (author of Meditation from the Mat). From that moment on, JoAnne knew there was no turning back - she had found her passion!
R A M A N I R A N G A N Instructor
Ramani was born into an Indian family in England. At an early age he felt his connection to his roots and nature and into what was to be his study and practice of the Yogic Traditions. Ramani founded and ran Yoga, Meditation and Arts multi-media centers in Copenhagen, Denmark and New Mexico and has been teaching in the Greater Boston area and the North Shore for 12 years. He believes in allowing every day to reveal its gifts and letting go of knowledge for direct experience which is the core purpose of his classes and workshops. He loves music and plays several instruments, he also enjoys dance and preparing exotic meals. He is an artist and writer. Humor and light heartedness are very important for him, balanced with holding a sacred space around him for others to feel safe which is evident in him as a person and as an instructor.
“My aim with Yoga is for each of us to reach and maintain the highest level of vitality of our whole being.”