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The Yoga Sanctuary Story: Our First 15 Years

The Yoga Sanctuary Story: Our First 15 Years

In May 2007, Bonnie Yonker, yoga teacher and founder of The Yoga Sanctuary, opened the studio doors in the Swiss Connection Building at 403 Sullivan Street with just eleven classes on the schedule. Read more to learn the story of The Yoga Sanctuary…

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In the Midst of March 2020 Madness

By Margit Bannon, Instructor E-RYT 200, YACEP, and USPTA certified Tennis Professional  Earlier last summer I was confiding in Gwen, a fellow yoga teacher and friend that recently passed. I said to her, “ I feel as if I’m practicing (yoga) as though I’m preparing for...

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Pura Vida: The Yoga Sanctuary in Costa Rica

Live Your Life Fully by Jennifer French and others It’s been just over three weeks since The Yoga Sanctuary returned from our first ever yoga retreat! Our adventure took us all the way to Costa Rica. We stayed just outside of a little town called Puerto Viejo de...

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Using the Sensory Practice to Move Inward

A Guided Meditation Led by Melissa Goodwin Melissa fell in love with yoga at the age of 10, when she and her mother attended a community yoga class. She is grateful to have found her long-time teachers, Tias and Surya Little, when she moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in...

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The Art of Self Practice: Why Are You Here?

By Jennifer French I often reflect on how fortunate I am to be on this yogic path. It has provided me with tools and skills that help keep me afloat when the day to day challenges of life get even more challenging. It’s a blessing to have mentors to go to, teachers...

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Yoga for Dispatchers

By Kimberley Heffley: 2019 TYS Teacher Training Graduate and 15 year 9-1-1 Veteran with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department As a group, dispatchers sit. A lot. Upwards of 12 hours for some. Some dispatch centers have consoles that allow you to stand but we are...

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Yogi of the Month: Anita Weisglass

The Yoga Sanctuary: Tell us a little about yourself. Anita Weisglass: I was born in Greece in 1937, which means that I am a survivor of the Holocaust. My family name is Castro, a Spanish name, and that means that my ancestors came to Greece in 1492 when they were...

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Yogi of the Month – Cathy Getz

The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Cathy Getz: From my first trip to Florida with Grandma when I was 18, I knew I wanted to live here, so when my husband Jim and I retired in 2003, the move was imminent. Jim and I already owned a vacation...

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Yogi of the Month: Diane Smolen

The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Diane Smolen: Talking about myself does not come naturally. I arrived in Florida following retirement from a career in Michigan where I had earned a PhD at Michigan State University. Several years were spent...

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February Yogis of the Month

Miguel and Nicole Dotres The Yoga Sanctuary: Can you  tell us a little about yourselves? Miguel and Nicole Dotres: We have been married for 15 years and have 2 children.  We moved to Punta Gorda from Miami 3 years ago in an effort to find a great place to raise our...

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Why Bother Breathing to Improve Your Game

The Yoga Sanctuary is excited to share this excellent essay by local Tennis Professional, Jak Beardsworth. Jak writes about the importance of using the breath, particularly the exhale, to improve your game -- something we yogis know very well! To learn more about Jak,...

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Staff Spotlight: Introducing Robin Lee

Robin has over 20 years of experience practicing massage therapy after completing her training at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 1993. She combines techniques from Swedish relaxation, myofascial release, reflexology, reiki, and craniosacral therapy to...

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Yogis of the Month: Edie and Glen Martin

As a young man, Glenn began his career in the car business. When he moved to Punta Gorda, he obtained a degree in culinary arts and worked as a chef catering with Dean of Dean's South of the Border, first at Edison College and then Hurricane Charley's. Edie is retired...

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Yogi of the Month—Teresa Pamer

I have been married to Dave, the love of my life, for 23 years. My children Jack and Olivia are simply amazing. I was put on this earth to be a teacher. I teach fourth and fifth grade gifted at Neil Armstrong Elementary School. I first began yoga three years ago, and...

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Staff Spotlight—Pat Francis

I went to a small Catholic school where they taught with intimidation and harness. While I did have a couple of wonderful teachers who made it tolerable, they were few and far between. School was not my favorite place to be. I was taught to fear the wrath of God more...

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Yogi of the Month—Millie Rosenfield

I grew up in Highland Springs just outside of Richmond, Virginia. At age 21 I became a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines, based in New Jersey, Miami, and Washington, DC. I flew for 11 years and then moved to Charlotte County in 1982. I have a son, Jonathan and a...

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