Zen Yoga Instructors

The Art of Zen Yoga [ Instructor Bios

Meet the Zen Yoga Instructors

Aaron Hoopes

Aaron Hoopes is a native of Vermont and the founder of Zen Yoga and the author of: Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation, Breathe Smart, and Perfecting Ourselves: Coordinating Body, Mind and Spirit.

He has studied the martial arts, Eastern philosophy, ancient history and alternative medicine in the United States, Australia, and Japan for over twenty-five years. He has a degree in Asian History and Japanese Culture from Tulane University and spent a number of years in Japan studying under the chief instructor at the headquarters of the Japan Karate Association. He holds a third degree black belt in Japanese Shotokan Karate and is a certified instructor and one of the Hoitsugan Instructors. He is also certified as an instructor of Shanti Yoga and Meditation as well as Tamashii Tai Chi. He is trained in Chinese Qigong (Chi Kung) Energy Healing and studied Shiatsu Finger Pressure Therapy under Hitoshi Koeda in Japan. In addition, he has extensive knowledge of Iyengar Yoga, White Crane Qigong, Okinawan Karate, Shorinji Kenpo, Wing Chun Kung Fu and Zen Meditation.

He has taught classes in Zen Yoga, Tai Chi, breathing and martial arts at Yale University, Dartmouth College, and the University of Vermont as well as at the Sakai Shibu in Osaka, Japan, and the Shanti Yoga Meditation Institute on the Gold Coast of Australia.

He has presented hundreds of workshops including the Montessori School, the Safety and Health Council of Northern New England and the Southern Legislators Conference. He travels widely teaching Zen Yoga, Martial Arts, Breathing and Meditation as well as giving performances of his Zen Sword Dance.

Aaron is available for demonstrations, seminars, workshops and personal training. Private sessions are also available by appointment. Contact Aaron: email

Rita Lang

Rita Lang has over twenty years experience in classical Hatha, including Iyengar and Yin Yoga. She is a licensed massage therapist in both traditional massage and Thai Yoga massage.

Rita is the Director of Instructor Programs for Zen Yoga

She is also the chief Zen Yoga instructor at the Zen Yoga Healing Center in Orange, Connecticut.

Rita is the model for the new book - ZEN YOGA: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement, and Meditation available now!

Rita is available for demonstrations, seminars, workshops and personal training. Contact Rita: email

Sonia Mesa

Sonia Mesa brings a life's passion for fitness to her teaching style by offering a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to take the breathing and relaxation techniques learned in class and apply them to their daily lives.

Using ten years of classical ballet as her foundation, Sonia’s athletic endeavors have included women’s indoor & outdoor soccer, Hatha yoga, triathlon, rock climbing and English style equestrian. Seeking to balance these physically demanding activities, she embraced the eastern arts first with Rinzai Zen Meditation and Chen-style Tai Chi followed with certifications in Zen Yoga and Wisdom Qigong.

Sonia graduated with an MFA in Communications from the University of Miami, where she received a partial scholarship for her talent in screenwriting. She then spent several years in Los Angeles working in the film industry before moving back east.

Since returning to Miami in 2003, Sonia leads classes in Tai Chi, Zen Yoga, Wisdom Qigong and Meditation to all ages and presents Wellness workshops to assist those recovering from cancer. She is the creator of Zen Jump an aerobic breathing and movement workout.

Sonia is the Chief Instructor of Zen Yoga Miami and conducts classes, workshops and seminars in and around Southern Florida.

Sonia is available for demonstrations, seminars, workshops and personal training.

For more information contact Sonia at Zen Yoga Miami

Phone: 786.543.6496 Email

Carla Bottalla

Carla Bottalla a Level 2 Zen Yoga instructor and a Registered Nurse. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago and currently resides in Marco Island, Florida. She has been certified with the American Council on Exercise since 1998. Her main focus is on health promotion and body awareness.

Carla is the Chief Instructor of Zen Yoga Marco Island. She teaches individual and/or small group sessions of Gentle Zen Yoga, Deeper Zen Yoga, Warm Up Stretching, and Breathing Exercises. She also teaches basic body building/awareness classes for pre-teens.

Carla's personal goal in working with teens is to encourage them to embrace their personal success and develop self-esteem and self-respect thru body-breath awareness.

Carla is available for demonstrations, seminars, workshops and personal training.

Contact Carla: email

Ellen Brakel & Joey Lemieux

Ellen Brakel

Ellen has been practicing the healing arts for fifteen years. She has a background in Massage Therapy from Sutherland Chan Massage and Teaching Institute, as well as Cranial Sacral Therapy through the Upledger Institute. Ellen’s interest in self care and healing propelled her to learn more about energy and movement which led her to her certification in the Nia Technique and Zen Yoga. Currently she is the co-founder of Soaring Heart Wellness where she teaches Zen Yoga and Nia classes and has a healing practice.

Joey Lemieux

Joey has a deep appreciation for life and this planet and has integrated many healing arts into his practice while studying in the U.S. and Canada. He is a certified Body & Foot Reflexologist, Zen Yoga instructor, Permaculture Designer, and an RCRT (Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist). Currently he is co-founder of Soaring Heart Wellness where he teaches Zen Yoga and has a healing practice.

Phone: 519-925-3409 email

SOARING HEART WELLNESS WEBSITE

Donna Haskett

Donna Haskett is from Rockwood, Ontario, Canada. She has trained in traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate for twenty years and holds a third degree black belt from the Japan Karate Association. She ran a massage therapy practice for a number of years and taught classes at a massage therapy college. She is an active member of the Rockwood community promoting health, wellness and safety.

Donna completed her Zen Yoga instructor training in September 2006 and has been instrumental in the growth and development of Zen Yoga in Canada.

Donna conducts Zen Yoga workshops and seminars for local businesses and corporations. She is also involved with teaching healthy lifestyle skills to children.

Donna is available for demonstrations, seminars, workshops and personal training.

Contact Donna: email

Renee Desmarais & Amy Rauber-Patton

Renee Desmarais is the co-founder of the Möbius Center of Healing Arts in East Hampton, Massachusetts (www.mobiuscenter.com). She provides individualized courses/session of Zen Yoga and Reiki.

Amy Rauber-Patton teaches, works with and lives the principles of Zen Yoga and grows along with her students. She finds that Zen Yoga allows for a meshing of structure and flexibility which opens a world of opportunities to people, especially to those who are easily overlooked.

She holds a M.A. in Human Development and is the co-founder of the Möbius Center of Healing Arts in East Hampton, Massachusetts (www.mobiuscenter.com). She provides individualized courses/session of Zen Yoga and Reiki.

Wendy Rua

I was introduced to Zen Yoga, or rather, Zen Yoga found me, at the Whole Health Expo in Northampton, MA in February 2007. I had not anticipated going into the room in which there was a Yoga demo going on, but found myself drawn there. And moments into the class I understood why. I am so many things in my life (wife, mother, daughter, friend), but one of them is a Reiki Master-Teacher. And when I met Zen Yoga, I not only felt it, but it activated the Reiki energy and moved it in ways that I felt very deeply.

I have since incorporated Zen Yoga into my Reiki world. I teach Zen Yoga along with Reiki and have visions of creating a Zen Yoga/Reiki class that is specific to Moms and Children. I am a stay at home mother of two boys, ages 4 and 2 and my world revolves around them. But as I have noticed about myself, often time’s mothers take care of everyone else, but not themselves.

By using Zen Yoga/Reiki, I honor for myself that my own needs have to get met and then I can be much more whole and present for everything else that I do and in my every breath. I want to pass this gift to other people….particularly Mothers and people in roles as caretakers.

I currently teach Reiki workshops out of three places that I am affiliated with and hope to continue to grow that, as much as time allows…since I am still first and foremost a stay-at—home Mom.

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