Mind & Spirit Yoga

Irena "Reva" Blethen, RYT (Owner)

She is also a certified Kripalu YogaDance instructor. She has been teaching since January 2006 but has a long background in dance. Irena began dancing at a young age and performed with the "Ukrainian American Youth Ensemble" in Philadelphia from her adolescent years until her mid-twenties. She studied under numerous renowned Ukrainian dancers/choreographers and performed all over the east coast. After discovering yoga Irena traveled to "Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health" and discovered a wonderful combination of yoga and movement called "Kripalu YogaDance". From the first class she knew it would have a profound effect on her life. Her hope is to help people overcome their fears and self created doubts and bring them the joyful expression of uninhibited movement.

Karen Porter, CYT, RYT

It wasn't until she moved to Milford, PA in 2003, when her daughter Lily Rose began school that she decided to share her love of Yoga with others. In order to properly prepare herself she enrolled in a 200 Hour Teachers Training Program with Fran Ubertini, CYT, ERYT 500, Director of Yoga for Well Being and Certified Yoga Therapist. Thrilled and humbled to be bringing Yoga to others, Karen aspires to create opportunities for her students t move deeper into the lovely truth of who they are.

Mary Louise Grimm

Judi Weiss

Judi's Bio coming soon.

Anne Prather, RYT

Anne has always been interested in traditional and alternative health related issues. She is a registered nurse and has worked with oncology patients most of her career. She believes the movement within health care to make integrated and alternative therapies available to patients is very exciting. Anne is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor through Port Jervis Yoga and is very excited to be teaching with us.

Jennifer Ferdinandsen, RYT

Jennifer "Jaya" Ferdinandsen is a 200-hour certified Yoga Instructor through The Port Jervis Yoga Teacher Training. Her classes combine strength, flexibility and meditation juxtaposed with a connection of mind and body through the breath. She cares deeply about her students and it shows. As a Reiki II practitioner, Jennifer has experienced the body's powerful healing abilities through energy and intention. Her firm belief is that happiness and joy is everone's birth right and she strives to educate her students and implement this principle in all of her classes and workshops. Jennifer holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and is aspiring to re-connect with her drawing and painting in her daily life. She has numerous fitness certifications and has taught classes and workshops at various health clubs and studios in the tri-state area. Having taught fitness classes for more than a decade, she continues to enjoy motivating others and helping them to achieve their fitness and wellness goals while having fun and feeling good about themselves. Her life's journey is leading her more toward the spiritual aspects of health and healing and she continues to study and learn more about her chosen field and integrate the physical and spiritual aspects of health to achieve total well-being. Jennifer is available for private Reiki and Yoga Sessions at Mind and Spirit Yoga. You may contact her at Jennifer4WellBeing.com.

Maxwell Kofi Donkor - Master Drummer

Kofi's Bio coming soon.

Robyn Oakes, RYT

After many years as a runner and an interest in alternative healing Robyn began practicing yoga. She is a 200 hour certified yoga teacher and a graduate of Port Jervis Yoga Teacher Training School. She has a playful spirit, and encourages a balance between working hard and light joyful explorations into one's own practice, into the awareness of one's own true nature. Sequencing movement with alignment is a strong focus in her teaching. She encourages students to gather their attention and anchor it in their breath, while moving through the asanas to explore their own personal edge with consciousness and purpose. In her life outside of yoga, Robyn holds a BA in Elementary Education and Fine Art, is a trained Interior Decorator, and has a blossoming catering business.

Estrella Rodriguez, CYT, RYT

Estrella Rodriguez, CYT, RYT 500, has been a student of yoga since 1998. In 2004, she began a teacher-training program and received her 500-hr yoga teacher diploma after completing an intensive 3-year study at Yoga For Well-Being. She continues her studies with her teacher Fran Ubertini, in Goshen New York and holds a yoga teacher diploma from the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation located in Chennai, India. She attends various workshops taught by T.K.V. Desikachar, Kausthub Desikachar, Sonia Nelson, Fran Ubertini, Gary Kraftsow and many other master teachers, which help her to expand her understanding of yoga. Estrella strictly follows and teaches the Krishnamacharya tradition of yoga. Breath and movement are emphasized with all asanas; pranayama and meditation are used in her classes when appropriate. Each class is taught according to the needs of the people in the class. She is a firm believer that yoga can bring positive inner experience for anyone, at any age, or at any stage of his or her life. Yoga has helped transform her own personal life, and she believes it can help transform the individual mind, body and spirit. Estrella also studies energy healing at the Healix Institute of Qi, Energy Healing, and Earth Studies. Her 3-year certification covers a variety of healing techniques including Qi-Gong, color, sound, chakra, healing, meditation, and Feng Shui, as well as clearing emotions using several techniques like EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). Her studies in yoga and energy work inspire her and bring knowledge and wisdom into her teaching.

Health Practitioners

Tom Verchot, Reiki Master

A traditional Usui Reiki Master Practitioner/Teacher, Tom Verchot is a member of the Independent Reiki Masters and Practitioners Association. His teacher lineage traces back to the mid-nineteenth century founder of traditional Reiki in Japan, Mikao Usui.

Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive method of natural, spiritual healing. It is transmitted through the hands by a light, gentle touch, or by hovering over the body. Reiki helps to reduce stress, remove energy blocks, and promote healing on physical, emotional and spiritual levels. Clients often report a sense of deep relaxation and peace following a treatment.

Tom is available for one-on-one healing sessions, distance healing for those unable to meet in person and the clearing of energy in rooms and spaces. Reiki classes are also available for those wishing to learn this simple and effective technique for treatment of oneself and others.

For more information on Reiki, or to schedule a session, contact Tom Verchot:
(845)856-6907 (main)
(917)705-1233 (mobile)
tverchot@gmail.com.