Divine Yoga Teachers


Sarabjot Kaur/Arlene Lucas

Click here for complete bio.

Joanie Kelly

516.662.2011, jkelly333@optonline.net

Joanie Kelly, is a wife and mother of four children living in RVC. Joanie has been developing her own personal practice with Arlene Lucas since 2005 and is presently teaching Hatha and Gentle Yoga here at Divine Yoga. Joanie has completed her 200 hour Hatha-yoga certification and working at L.I. Comprehensive Cardiology in Lake Success under Dr. Ronnie Hershmann. Joan is also certified in advance cardiac life support and holds a certification from the New York College of Health Professionals in Syosset, NY in Holistic Nursing and Amma Massage. Joanie worked at the New York College for two years as an assistant teacher in Amma Massage.

Ellen White

516.581.2018, cwhite@aol.com

Ellen White, CYKT, YKT, By combining her love of yoga with her love for children, Ellen has found the perfect fit as a YogaKids Teacher. Ellen received her certification from Marsha Wenig founder of YogaKids after completing a 310 hour certification program which is often considered the equivalent to a “Masters in Yoga for Kids”. She has received additional training to become a YogaKids Trainer, or YKT, and now facilitates workshops and trainings for teachers, parents, educators, and health professionals. Ellen uses her creativity and sense of humor to create fun interactive classes based on the YogaKids way. Ellen has worked for years in the community with the local children’s lacrosse club and founded “The Backyard Players” a children’s drama program.

Elisa Keena

516.967.4627, Kateri13@aol.com

Elisa Keena MS, RD, CD/N is a nutritionist, practitioner of healing arts and yoga instructor. She holds a BS in biology from Hofstra University and a Master degree in Medical Biology with a specialization in Nutrition from Long Island University. She was the Director of the Nutrition Residency program at Long Island College Hospital for 5 years where she held a certifications in diabetes education and critical care nutrition. Has s been an adjunct professor at CW Post Campus of Long island University .and in the past has been a certified personal trainer. Elisa studied at the touching spirit center for 7 year in the teacher trainer program .There she was taught and then became an instructor in alternative modes of healing and meditation. She was trained at evaluating, balancing and healing via therapeutic touch in energy subtleties Elisa has completed advanced level two Reiki Certifications with Dhyal Singh Khalsa and has been introduced to the Huna Healing Tradition, Navaho Medicine Wheel and received the TAO. Elisa has been doing yoga on and off since childhood and recently fulfilled the requirements of levels 1-5 for the YOGAFIT training system, along with prenatal and seniors yoga on her way to the 200 hour Yoga alliance certification. She has a part time private nutrition practice where she combines her knowledge of traditional, allopathic and holistic modalities to provide an individualized approach which utilizes nutrition, exercise, yoga, healing and meditation to act as a catalyst for change for the whole person Elisa has written articles and been published in Cooking Light, Readers Digest, and Cardiology.

Daya Kaur / Jessica Gabbay

347.813.1452, jessica@yoginiyoga.net

Jessica Gabbay, RYT, (Daya Kaur) has been practicing Yoga since 1996. She has been a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Teacher since 2003. She also obtained Level I & II Reiki Healing Certifications in 2003, as well as a B.A. in Psychology from Concordia University in 2001. Jessica is also a certified Pilates Instructor.

When Jessica discovered Yoga in her early 20's, she was immediately smitten. She originally obtained her Yoga Teacher's Certification in Ashtanga Yoga, and her yoga teaching has since evolved into a juicy Vinyasa flow that still reflects her Ashtanga roots. Jessica has used her Yoga practice to help alleviate back pain, ward off depression and to grow in the spirit.

On April 28 of 2008, Jessica used Yoga and Meditation techniques to give birth to her beloved son Ethan in a planned home birth. Because of her Yoga practice, she was able to enjoy labor and delivery without any drugs. After having had the amazing experience of being pregnant and giving birth, Jessica decided to become a prenatal yoga instructor in order to help pregnant women attain the high level of satisfaction in child birth that she had experienced due to her yoga practice. In the Spring of 2009, she obtained a teaching certification in Prenatal Yoga for Conscious Birthing.  Jessica fell so in love with the subject of Birth that she signed up for a DONA Doula Training in Fall of 2009.  As a Doula, Jessica has the ability to assist her beloved Prenatal Students when the time comes for their babies to be born.  In July of 2010, Jessica decided to take her Prenatal Yoga Teaching to a higher level by enrolling in the famous Khalsa Way Pregnancy Yoga Teachers Training with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa.  Jessica will reconnect with her beloved teacher Ghurmuk by participating in The Kundalini Yoga Teacher's Training at Golden Bridge Yoga in Manhattan this Fall. 

Becoming a mother has added new depth to her Yoga practice as well as to her teaching. Jessica believes that there are no limits to the incredible life changes that a steady yoga practice brings on. She intends to continue to dive into the vast lessons yoga has to offer for the rest of her life. Wahe Guru!

Dhan Dhan Singh / Don Myer

516.423.1889, dmyer33@mac.com

Don Myer did his Kundalini teacher training with Guru Rattana and Guru Kirin on the Big Island of Hawaii in 2008. He started his yoga practice at Yoga Flow under the guidance of Lorraine Aguilar in 2004 where he participated in the Anusara immersion program. Don lived in San Francisco for 25 years. In 1983 he met Chagyam Trungpa who introduced him to the practice of meditation. In 1994 he became a zen student at the San Francisco Zen Center. He has studied Ikebana, the art of japanese flower arranging, in the Sogetsu tradition, with grandmaster Soho Sakai. Don welcomes you to experience the transformative beauty of Kundalini, the yoga of awareness, as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Don’s devotion to his practice infuse his teachings with a deep warmth and open heart.

Harpurkh Kaur / Suzy Gelman

516.642.3106, nrgegg@verizon.net

Suzy Gelman (spiritual name; Harpurkh) received her intensive yoga training at the Manhattan based Kundalini Yoga East, under the careful guidance of Sat Jivan Singh & Sat Jivan Kaur.   Her approach maintains the integrity of Kundalini Yoga as taught by the Master of Kundalini Yoga, Yogi Bhajan.
Suzy was an experienced yoga student when she took her first Kundalini class at Divine Yoga and was amazed at the instant benefits she achieved, mentally, physically, & spiritually.  Kundalini, the yoga of Awareness, quickly became her passion, and remains so!  Suzy continues to take on-going classes and work-shops, both as a student and to enhance her teaching.  She is a member of Yoga Alliance, the International Kundalini Yoga Association, & is a Registered Yoga Teacher.
Suzy has an extensive background in the field of Social Work for over 20 years as well.    Her experience as a certified clinical social worker has given Suzy a deep understanding of people and the supportive & healing processes. 
Suzy happily resides in RVC with her husband, daughter & son, and a bevy of dogs & cats.
She is delighted  & honored to be teaching at DIVINE YOGA at St. Mark’s with such an amazing array of gifted teachers and staff. It is a blessing.

“Befriend your Soul and dwell in God” – Yogi Bhajan

Mahan Kaur/ Barbara Steiper 

516.404.4461, barbell618@optonline.net

While being a dedicated employee of a medical practice located in the  Great Neck and Garden City areas, Barbara always found exercise to be the substance that held things together for her. Juggling a demanding life in New Hyde Park, with a husband and two children, she found excitement and peace in the world of fitness.   Holding multiple certifications, she began her very own Personal Training Business in 1995.  Her home based business was growing rapidly causing her to leave the medical field in January1996. She walked into her first yoga class in 1998 and knew her life would be forever changed.  She holds certifications with YogaFit Levels 1, 2, and 3 along with Senior Certicifations in fitness and Yogafit.    Barbara is a dynamic, experienced, well seasoned instructor, and currently teaches an array of classes.  Being part of the Divine Yoga Family has opened up a whole new world to Barbara and has brought great joy to her life. Her deep love of Yoga and dedication to help others, is what Barbara brings with her, each time she comes to the yoga mat.    

Laura Williams/ Hari Arti

516.984.5767, laurawilli@gmail.com

Laura Williams (spiritual name, Hari Arti) received her teaching certification from Kundalini Yoga East in Manhattan. She comes to teaching yoga after a fulfilling career as a newspaper reporter. "Kundalini Yoga is the ultimate multi-tasker's practice," Laura says. "In just one class, you get to work on the total you -- body, mind and spirit. Kundalini even works on the glands!" Laura has practiced and enjoyed many types of yoga, but was drawn to Kundalini because of the deep exhilaration she often felt during and after class. And she became a teacher because she wanted to share that with others. She also likes Kundalini's focus on meditation and mantra. Laura lives on Long Island with her husband and children.

Marianne

516.984.9644, peacefulyogini@optimum.net

Marianne Bochilo is a Bhaki yogini.  Along with holding her RYT 200 Certification with Yoga Alliance, she holds Certifications in Yoga for Breast Cancer survivors from OM Yoga and Therapeutic Yoga through the Integral Yoga Institute. Her training continues toward completion of a 500 hr certificate and a specialty in Thai Yoga Massage. A mother of three who earned her BBA from Hofstra University in 1990. Marianne is also a former ACE certified Fitness instructor. As a member of the St. Agnes Cathedral Adult Choir Chorale; Marianne holds an affinity for chanting Sutra and her classes center on opening the heart to bring peace and balance.

Melissa Barrett

516.764.7134, meldave@optonline.net

Melissa Barrett is a licensed physical therapist in the state of New York.  Melissa has been doing yoga for ten years and is now certified at the 200 hour level. 
An avid runner for many years, Melissa has completed three New York City Marathons as well as three Long Island Half Marathons.  Melissa realized that Yoga was helping her to sustain her body from the heavy impact of running.  She also realizes the need for a powerful workout that makes you feel energized. 
By doing a series of postures in a flow of movement, and connecting body with breathe,  the student will soon realize that they can get a great workout from yoga.  It won’t take long for the student to realize the mental benefits of yoga as well.