Teachers

Hillary Bardwell

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth. " - Rumi

Hillary discovered yoga in 1998 as a means to deal with stress and a severe health issue. She soon realized it to be a healing art. In her quest to learn more, she studied with many teachers including Betsey Downing, Naime Jezzeny, Desiree Rumbaugh, Martin Kirk, and her favorite - Liz Conner. She is grateful to ALL of the teachers who have graced and inspired her own teaching. She started instructing yoga in 2003.

As an AFAA certified personal trainer and core awareness enthusiast, Hillary incorporates strength and flexibility into her teaching with particular attention to alignment. While creatively interweaving underlying themes, poetry, and music she provides a nurturing environment in which students are encouraged to connect with their inner power and discover their own beautiful gifts.

Hillary has always been a sports and fitness enthusiast - playing tennis in high school; performing synchronized swimming in college; and now loves swimming and biking. She earned a BA in French/International Relations from Bucknell University; and has her Master's degree in Education from the University of South Florida. Hillary became a certified vinyasa flow teacher through the Prancing Peacock Yoga Teacher Training program. She is a 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance.

Elizabeth Bye

Elizabeth had been drawn to yoga through many sources over the course of her life. Upon returning to Bucks County after several years surfing in the Atlantic, Pacific, and South Pacific Oceans, life's demands grew and access to waves abruptly diminished. After an invitation to attend a yoga class with friends the, previously, passing spark of yoga ignited into a flame. It didn't take long to realize the similarities between her surfing experience and a regular yoga practice. Elizabeth discovered a new opportunity for a moving meditation that is, all at once: spiritual, athletic, ever changing and limitless. She wishes to offer her students a safe haven to tap into their inner strength in order to better understand, and navigate, life's challenges. Classes are light hearted yet reverent; a sense of humor is always welcome!

Being somewhat of a perpetual child herself Elizabeth has worked with preschool children, in both regular and special education, for over 15 years. She is delighted to offer kid's yoga classes at The Prancing Peacock and support the magic of self-discovery in our littlest of yogis and yoginis.

Karen Caggia

"At the center of your being you have the answers; you know who you are and you know what you want." - Buddha

Karen Caggia knew she wanted to share the healing attributes of Yoga soon after her first class. She wanted everyone to experience the same sense of well-being, balance and awareness Yoga brought to her life.

Karen's love of swimming, dance, and movement supports her passion for the joyful flow of the Vinyasa Style Yoga. She is certified through Yoga Alliance and completed her Teacher Training at the Prancing Peacock Yoga Studio. She hopes to inspire others to find the powerful connection of mind, body and spirit that continues to enrich her own personal journey.

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Art from Rosemont College and plans to incorporate some of her artistic skills into Drawing and Creative Energy Flow Meditation Workshops. Her yoga classes emphasize a gentle, fun-loving spirit with instruction on how to increase balance, energy, flexibility and happiness for students of all ages.

Karen currently teaches a Gentle Yoga class on Thursday evenings at 5:30. She also delivers a Yoga program for mentally and physically challenged young women at the Woods School, under the direction of the studio. Karen is also a Certified Reiki Level II Practitioner.

Linda Carl

"Life is a journey, not a destination."

Linda's yoga practice began in 1996 after leaving her job as a Vice President for a bank to raise her children. Yoga has taken her on a journey to a deeper sense of peace and fulfillment. She aims to share this blessing with her students.

She believes that yoga is much more than just a physical practice, but one that allows students to draw closer to their spirit. Her classes focus on the mind, body and spirit connection by integrating breath, asana and mediation. Her class will leave you feeling strong, flexible, empowered and beautiful. You will feel more deeply connected to your spirit and a greater sense of peace, love and joy in your life.

Linda began teaching in 2001 and has received numerous certifications including Ashtanga and Power Yoga and has completed advanced training in Anusara, Hatha and Kundalini. She has studied the chakras in depth and is a reiki master. She has practiced with and learned from many nationally renowned teachers. She possesses a master's degree in human resources and feels blessed to be able to share the power and benefits of yoga to others so that their lives can be transformed.

She lives in Yardley with her husband of over 25 years and her two beautiful daughters.

Amanda Calisti

“L'amore vince tutto, facciamo anche arrendersi all'amore.”
(Love conquers all; let us, too, surrender to love.)

Amanda was introduced to yoga through her Grandmother and role model, Mimi. Known to her friends and family as Mandy, she is an extremely passionate and upbeat person! If she had super hero powers, you would find her flying in the clouds. When she is not on the mat, you will find her engaged in movie watching, dancing, and interior design and organizing her drawers! When she steps onto her mat, the world around her stops and gathers in her soul. To her, Yoga is more than an exercise; it is a lifestyle that brings happiness and love to those she shares it with.

Mandy loves her cat Patches, who terrorizes her regularly with his favorite activity, catching mice! Her favorite pose is dance- which suits her perfectly, as she is always dancing about. As a graduate of the Prancing Peacock Teacher Training program, and a Reiki 2 practitioner, she seeks to continuously better herself and her practice. Join Amanda and let her lead you down that path on a beautiful spiritual journey.

Lynn Cohen

"When was the last time you did something for the first time" - Unknown

Lynn Cohen began practicing yoga 13 years ago and became a teacher in the summer of 2010. Her love of yoga has grown every year for many reasons. Besides the obvious health benefits, Lynn swears that yoga has changed her life. It played a major role in her healing from a herniated disc, gave her the confidence to public speak, keeps her flexible, gives her energy, opens doors to deeper parts of herself, inspires her to try new things and has taken her avid meditation practice of 20 years to new heights. She believes yoga has the power to help unleash each person’s amazing inner capacity!

As an executive coach and trainer, yoga compliments her already existing toolbox as more and more organizations realize the stress reducing and healing benefits of yoga. Lynn loves to hike in nature with her dog Valentino, journal, juice, read, write, ride motorcycles, travel and spend time with her family.

Her greatest gift in her classes is to let you know that she deeply and passionately cares about your experience, and will work tirelessly to help you on your journey.

Katie Conner

"Be who you are, and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Katie became a certified yoga teacher in 2008. She teaches the gentle class on Tuesdays at the studio. Katie is also a certified Usui Reiki master since 2007. She loves using this healing energy on others, especially animals. She graduated with a Bachlors Degree in English from Temple University in 2010 and is a certified Red Cross Instructor teaching CPR/AED/First Aid courses at the studio and other locations.

She also loves to cook, and is always whipping up delightful treats for studio functions or just whenever she feels like it! She walks, especially with Sophie, her German Shepard, and writes and paints. She plans on writing a book someday. Among her other duties are studio manager (she can fix anything,) boutique buyer, and keeping Liz focused doing what she is supposed to do!

Liz Conner

"One day, to our astonishment, we will find that the true self we have been searching for has also been searching for us." - Stephen Cope

Liz is our resident yoga guru and "Chief Peacock." Her light and breezy air inspires all around her to practice with compassion, humor and always with joy. She leads her classes with enthusiasm, and feels this practice is magical- bringing joy, sweat, peace and life to you each time you step onto the mat Liz is an E-RYT 500 Yoga Alliance teacher and has studied with Shiva Rea, Baron Baptiste and many others.

She received her Reiki Master training in 2001, and uses this healing energy everyday. If she's not leading a yoga class or teaching future teachers, you can find her running behind her flock of guinea hens and chickens, herding the goats or leading a pack of dogs around the pond. She has been known to spontaneously break into song and dance and is always laughing.

She envisioned her own yoga studio on a serene, farmhouse setting many years before it became a reality. It is a labor of love that she works tirelessly to perfect. making sure each student is greeted with a smile and feels right at home. She is humbled by what life has provided her (family, a menagerie of pets, homestead, yoga community) and is constantly reminded that life is good. Join her- it will change your life!

Kelly Corbitt

"Live the life you've imagined." - Henry David Thoreau

Kelly first started practicing yoga in 2000 after moving to New York City to pursue an acting career, but quickly realized that she loved yoga more than auditioning. And boy are we glad that she did! We love having her at the Prancing Peacock. Did you know she used to be a bartender in New York? She claims that she was "very clumsy" and "spilled more things than she'd care to admit." We find that tough to believe coming from some one whose grace on the mat is inspiring! Kelly says that the pregnancy and birth of her daughter, Willa Rose, in March 2010, greatly enhanced her yoga practice in magical and unexpected ways, and reconfirmed her passion and dedication to working with pregnant women and babies in yoga.

Kelly now continues her yoga teaching and study, as well as her work as a therapist for children, teens and their families. Yoga helps her find clarity, courage and compassion, and Kelly hopes that she can help her students discover these beautiful gifts as well.

Helene Goldberg

"Our thoughts of yesterday created our life of today. Our thoughts of today create our life of tomorrow. Our life is therefore the creation of our mind." - The Buddha

Helene began practicing yoga to heal a pulled hamstring that she injured from running. She instantly fell in love with yoga and the way she felt at the end of the yoga class. When the opportunity to participate in Prancing Peacock's teacher training program arose, she new this was meant to be. In 2009 Helene completed the 200 hour Vinyasa teacher training program at Prancing Peacock.

Helene's teacher style is energetic with attention to alignment and breath. She believes you should feel yoga from the inside out and enjoy your practice. Her classes weave, breath work and flowing asanas. Helene loves experiencing all the gifts that yoga has to offer, and enjoys passing those gifts on to her students.

Helene is blessed with a wonderful husband and two children.

Sherry Hanck

"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right." -- The Grateful Dead (from Scarlet Begonias)

When you enter the studio, you can always find Sherry by looking for her bright smile and infectious laugh. Once you start practicing with her, you will not want to stop!

Sherry's journey to yoga may not have been clear from the start, but it is no surprise her path led her to the mat. Navigating NYC and a life in the arts to living in Bucks County as a wife and mother of three, the one unchanging (yet always changing) thread was yoga.

Sherry emerged from her first yoga class in 1999 confused and sore yet certain that something special had happened and knew she wanted to be part of it. Her greatest wish is to share the magic of that feeling with as many people as possible. Sherry completed the 200 hour teacher training from the Prancing Peacock in 2011. Her favorite yoga pose is Tadasana - "Not only is it the asana foundation, it is a simple and potent reminder to be present. From there, anything's possible!"

Alison Levine

"We show up, burn brightly in the moment. Live passionately; hold nothing back. And when the moment is over and our work is done we step back, and let go." - Rolf Gates

Alison, known as Al to her friends and family, is a recent Prancing Peacock graduate. Alison loves to teach kids, babies, dogs, adults, everyone! The more contact you have with Alison, the more you will find that she has a heart of gold! This beautiful mother of two loves to sing and dance, (it seems to be a requirement here), write, and secretly sees herself as a DJ-hmm, could be a new position at the studio!

She loves Led Zepplin, and her favorite pose is half moon, because it connects her to heaven and earth. If she had superhero powers, it would be to heal hearts. We already know she does this through her work teaching yoga in a women's shelter!

John Luczyszyn

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." - Sri Chinmoy Ghose

John discovered yoga in 2010 through a small article in Men's Health informing of the physical and health benefits related to yoga. Being an open minded individual and always looking for ways to remain healthy; John decided to take his first yoga class a few weeks later. He immediately fell in love with the strenuous and rigorous aspects of yoga. He couldn't believe how physically challenging yoga was! Over time the practice of yoga developed into a way for him to feel total wellbeing within the mind, body, and spirit. It is this peace and serenity he finds during a practice that keeps him coming back to the mat week after week.

While yoga remains the core of his exercise routine John still finds time for kettle bell workouts, 10Ks, half marathons, and the always fun mud runs! Adding to his resume was the time he spent serving in the United States Marine Corps and being the oldest of six. He brings this warrior mentality to his class, in which you will find yourself pushing the envelope to discover your own inner power and confidence. While he certainly enjoys challenging himself and his students, John's class is intertwined with the love and compassion that is found with all our teachers here at the Prancing Peacock.

Megan McClure

"If you know better, you do better." - Maya Angelou

Megan arrived on her mat ten years ago, and it has been a life changing, life saving, amazing journey ever since. So far, her yoga life has taken her in directions she did not necessarily expect, but she has embraced them with a full and open heart.

After completing her 200-hr teacher training at the Prancing Peacock, Megan went on to to get her certification in Restorative Yoga and Mindfulness Yoga Therapy, the latter of which focuses on helping war veterans suffering with PTSD through yoga and meditation. Her ultimate hope and goal is to help facilitate the positive change and joy that yoga has brought to her life into the lives of others.

Kate McGlasson

Kate McGlasson has been practicing yoga for 15 years. A friend introduced Kate - an avid runner - to take her first yoga class. Kate hung up her running shoes immediately, picked up her first mat, and has never looked back.

Early on her yoga path, Kate knew she wanted to share the feeling she experienced, both physically and mentally, from practicing yoga. However, it was the birth of her second child that convinced Kate to pursue teaching yoga. Yoga played an important role in keeping Kate healthy and strong during her two pregnancies. And continues to keep her fit and calm while running around after them!

Kate went on to earn her 200-hour RYT certificate at The Prancing Peacock, and is excited to spread the benefits of Yoga. In Kate’s yoga class you will find joy, attention to anatomy and alignment, while flowing through a vinyasa sequence. Kate believes all your dreams and ambitions can be manifested through the practice of yoga.

June Miller

"Just breathe" and "Let it go"

Once upon a time, many moons ago, June was known as "June Bug". Now we know her as "that teacher who will work muscles you never knew you had". But that's only if you're fortunate enough to wind up in one of her popular classes. This teacher has a huge heart and will take very good care of you in class. By day, she is an air traffic controller! This powerful yogini literally has people's lives in her hands.

June is certified in Power Yoga through Yoga for Life, and has studied Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson and many other teachers. She believes that it has given her personal knowledge of the value of yoga and pilates for relieving stress and stress related physical ailments. She is eager to share her joy of yoga and believes the class should be both fun and challenging. When jokingly asked what were the reasons for the Civil War, in our teacher survey, she replied, "because no one was doing yoga!"

Beth Roth

" I roam about the fields. To climb a steep mountain is then my joy, working my way through pathless forest... Then I feel some relief. Some!" - J.W. von Goethe

Beth first discovered her personal path to yoga via the fitness world where she worked as a personal trainer for 12 years. Her background in movement began nearly 50 years ago growing up with ballet lessons and evolving into teaching many different types of bodywork, from dance to aerobics to weight training. Desiring to move gracefully beyond hard core fitness regimes, she turned to yoga in 2000. She found yoga became a natural extension of her professional metaphysical practice as an astrologer and tarotist.

"Yoga has become a path of devotion for me, extending beyond the power and strength of the body into right action and spiritual connection," she says. Her yoga style is expressive and flowing, allowing for intuitive physical exploration of the asanas in an open creative manner. Her movement is slow and controlled with an emphasis on body sensation, and awareness, couples with a meditative mind. She took the very first teacher training at The Prancing Peacock.

Doris Szeto

"Your body lives in the past, your mind in the future. They come together in the present when you practice yoga." - B.K.S. Iyengar

Doris has been practicing yoga since 1998. She immediately fell in love with it and has continued breathing yoga into her life everyday since.

Doris is a certified yoga instructor from OM in NYC, completing her vinyasa teacher training in 2005. She also finished her Yoga Therapy certification (2007), and her Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors teacher training (2009), both at OM. Doris is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She graduated from NYU, worked in the photography/advertising industry for 12 years, then moved to PA in 2004, relocated to western MA in October 2011, and has just returned to PA!

Her classes infuse a juicy flow of asanas, informed by precise attention to alignment and breath, supported by Buddhist mindfulness in the OM tradition. She encourages her students to be curious on and off the mat, exploring the practice with a sense of humor, playfulness and compassion. Doris teaches from her heart and enjoys sharing her love of yoga with all beings!

Crystal Widmann

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

Crystal is another one of our very own Prancing Peacock graduates. Long before she blossomed into the beautiful and accomplished yogini you see before you today, she tells of the first time she practiced yoga:

"I ran out of the house to make it to class on time and grabbed a sweatshirt out of the dryer. As I was moving through the sun salutations, there was a surprise article of clothing that fell out of my hood and onto the mat for everyone in the class to see! I was SO embarrassed!"

Today, Crystal is a School Counselor and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher. Crystal teaches each class from a space of joy and intention and tries to create a class atmosphere where students feel empowered to grow in their own personal practice - even if their unmentionables end up in the middle of the floor for everyone to see.