Love manifests where there is an empty vessel.
Love abides where it is welcome.

- Bhakti Sutras, Verse 53

30 years of Yoga Study and Experience.  11 years of Teaching. 400 hours Yoga Teacher Training. 
2 years Energy Healing Study.
My practice began when I was 16 years of age, still in high school, some 30 years ago (No calculating! Smiling!).  I fell in love with my practice the first time my feet met my mat and I continue to study as I travel through life.  After High School I pursued a degree in Marine Biology, studied Photography, Outdoor Pursuits, and Yoga.   Over the years I have combined my love of science, art, outdoor pursuits, and the eight limbs of a yoga practice.  My yoga practice has given me comfort, wisdom and strength during both difficult and wonderful times.   10 years ago, I fell in love with Vanda Scaravelli's-inspired Hatha Yoga practice, centered around the spine.  I met One of Vanda Scaravelli's students,  Diane Long,  through Siddiqa Salter and Brooke Welsh and a new practice began to unfold.  Presently, I have fallen in love with a slightly different practice called Heart Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism.  My teachers are  Karuna & Paul Erickson and Ally Bogard in Nelson, B.C.,  Canada.  I love to teach to anyone who wants to learn.   I have taught from age 2 to late 90's.  Please do not let age, flexibility, weight issues, or experience hold you back from coming to a class at the studio.   I welcome all to practice with us here at Cerca Trova Yoga.   Yoga is from the Sanskrit root "yuj", meaning "to yoke" or "to unite."  The doors are wide open for everyone,  all the time.  
Sharlene 610-203-4141 or cercatrovayoga@verizon.net 

My love of children helped guide me into the profession of early childhood education. During my 10 years of experience, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach a broad range of age groups including preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school. Shortly after the birth of my second son, I found myself trying to identify different ways to help me improve and become a better mother, wife and person.  I chose to enroll in a yoga teacher training program and learned important skills to help me center myself and stay calm even when challenged by the wills of a toddler and infant.  I have watched my boys mimic me when I am practicing and their natural flexibility and desire to learn was really motivating. 

Next came a natural blend of teaching young children and my love for yoga.  Young children are lively and expressive so it seemed obvious to share what I knew and show children how to express themselves in a way that will build confidence, flexibility, and self-control.  Since then, I have gone to elementary and preschools in the area and practiced with students and found they were natural yogi’s.  Teaching yoga to children is not the same as adult yoga class.  It is fun and animated. Your children will leave my class happy and rejuvenated!

Gabrielle De Burke initially became interested in yoga during her childhood partially influenced as a result of visiting her Sikh friends & neighbors who had a private shrine/studio in their home dedicated to the Kundalini practice. Stimulated by her early interest in the healing arts she began as a young adult studying Hatha and later Ashtanga yoga while in college from 1996-1998.

In 1999, Gabrielle immersed herself in the Chinese medical practices of Taoist internal/martial art forms by training with Master Chik Quadir Mason, founder of the Spirit Wind Internal Arts Society. She received many certifications of study in various martial/internal arts such as Pa-Kua Chang, Tao Yin Yoga Level II, Chi Kung, Tai Chi Chuan plus earning her “Warrior Sash” for Kung Fu, in addition to healing bodywork techniques such as Lin Zi Chi Therapy & Thai Massage. Part of her studies with the group involved participating in group collaborations, demonstrations & performances, including poetry dedicated to specific animal forms (ex. The Crane-Hao Shen Chai). In 2000, she earned her B.A. from Temple University’s Department of Theater with an exploratory concentration in dance, music & voice. As an apprentice, Gabrielle was recommended by Sifu Mason to begin teaching his lessons & encouraged to integrate them along with the material she studied as a multi-disciplinary performance artist.

After Sifu Mason left Philadelphia in 2001, she joined the Philadelphia based theater company, ArcheDream for HumanKind where she began to develop her signature style of movement meditation in combination with performance presentation into a system of practice. Aside from her role as assistant artistic director, she was a lead performer and choreographer who also facilitated healing arts & theater/movement/dance workshops training company members & various students involved in residency programs until 2006 (her choreography from "the shamyn's breath").

Gabrielle’s work as a healing arts practitioner and instructor continues to intersect with her work as an inter-disciplinary performance artist through the incorporation of internal and martial arts forms in combination with dance, poetry and theater presentation (http://www.plumdragoness.com).

Gabrielle is a certified yoga teacher, registered & insured through the Yoga Alliance.  Aside from her intensive studies with Sifu Chik Quadir Mason & the Spirit Wind Internal Arts Society, she has also studied Ashtanga Yoga with Miko-Doi Smith, Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers, Vinyasa Yoga with the Rasa School, Yang style T’ai Chi Chuan with Master Yang Jun, Taoist (Yin/Yang) Yoga with Master Pauli Zink & Thai Bodywork with Michael Buck. She facilitates private lessons, group classes/workshops & is available for Thai Bodywork sessions.

Emily Morrison is a certified Children’s Yoga Instructor through the ChildLight Yoga Organization.  Emily has taught yoga to kids at local preschools and yoga studios.   She has been practicing yoga for nearly 15 years and her personal journey and transformation through yoga encouraged her to share yoga’s benefits with children.  In addition to being a former elementary and middle school teacher, Emily coached and taught swimming to children of all ages for 10 years and currently enjoys participating in and training for triathlons.  Emily is a mom to an energetic preschool-aged daughter who loves to do yoga as well as an infant son. 

Michelle Collier is certified as a personal trainer and as a group fitness instructor through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She holds an HKC kettlebell certification and is a certified Level I CrossFit instructor.  In addition Michelle is certified in classical Mat Pilates through Body Precision (Pilates Method Alliance). The confidence she gains through her dedication to fitness has served Michelle well as an amateur kick boxer who has trained extensively in Bando, a Burmese martial art.

Michelle’s own experience in improving her overall quality of life inspired her to begin sharing her love of fitness with others, eventually adding Mat Pilates, boot camp and kettlebells to her training regimen. Her attention to form and detail will guarantee that your workout is safe, challenging and effective. But most importantly, you'll have more energy, more confidence and a more positive spirit that translates throughout everything you do.

A kettlebell or Girya was originally used by the Russian military to train their forces. Today kettlebells are used by people from all walks of life—working professionals, athletes, stay-at-home moms and teens who want to transform their bodies and get strong. Kettlebells will help you burn maximum fat in minimum time, develop strength and flexibility and improve your cardiovascular conditioning.

 

Scaravelli Inspired Hatha Yoga (Unwind, Refine, Revisit and Renew)  Brooke offers teaching to those with all levels of experience, even those new to yoga. Her classes are personalized and are intended to assist you in developing and cultivate your own practice. This deep, gentle approach uses awareness and attention in yoga poses to release tension, find a different strength and experience greater freedom, ease, wholeness, and vitality in the body. Brooke’s yoga is inspired by the practices of Vanda Scaravelli, author of “Awakening the Spine” and Diane Long. Diane was Vanda’s main student for nearly 25 years.

 Brooke has been practicing yoga for over 12 years, and has been teaching for nearly as long. Yoga quickly became a doorway which opened her up to discovering a multitude of mind/body healing modalities. Brook met her yoga teacher, Diane Long, ten years ago, and has studied with her ever since. The cultivation and refinement of her studies and practices have revealed themselves to be as much of a journey as her life is. It is from that place which she extends her offerings and teachings. Brooke is certified Massage Therapist and a Rebirthing Breathworker for over 8 years. She travels, teaches and studies around the world. She utilizes yoga, breath and bodywork to enjoy life more, uncovering integration and wholeness for herself and others.

Siddiqa Salter is a Master Medicinal Aromatherapist specializing in  one-on-one coaching, consultations, healing sessions and wellness retreats.  Siddiqa holds a Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology, is a certified Massage Therapist and holds certifications in Kundalini, Prenatal and Hatha Yoga, Maha Pranayam Breath Work, Vegetarian Food preparation, Nutrition and Energy Work.  She is the host of a popular show called The Renegade Aromatherapist on Soulgarden.tv.  Each week she delves into the teachings of the Plant and Tree Kingdom sharing how one can practically apply this medicine to everyday life.  For over a decade Siddiqa has devoted her life to helping people listen to the innate wisdom of their bodies, make healthy choices and live life vibrantly with 100% therapeutic grade essential oils, yoga, cleansing and positive mental awareness.            

Passion makes the old medicine new:
Passion lops off the bough of weariness.
Passion is the elixir that renews:
how can there be weariness
when passion is present?
Oh, don't sigh heavily from fatigue:
seek passion, seek passion, seek passion!
 - Rumi