VANI P GANDHI, MD (CLINICAL ADVISOR, GUEST TEACHER, INFECTIOUS DISEASES)

Dr. Gandhi is Director of Integrative Medicine at the Spencer Cox Center for Health at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospitals. She directs a weight loss program for patients with HIV and obesity. She teaches nutrition and stress management to patients and staff at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. She is involved in training of Infectious Diseases fellows, medical residents and medical students at the Spencer Cox Center for Health.

Dr. Gandhi provides primary care for patients at the Morningside clinic of the Institute for Advanced Medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. She specializes in the integrative treatment of chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and irritable bowel syndrome.  Dr. Gandhi is an integrative medicine specialist trained at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and offers Integrative Medicine consultation for all patients at the Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital sites. Most insurances are accepted.

ELIZABETH GOTTSCHALK, RN RYT200 (BREATH TECHNIQUES, BREATH COACH MENTOR)

Elizabeth Gottschalk is a registered nurse, certified pilates teacher, a qualified yoga and meditation teacher. She has over 500 hours of training in yoga. Raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Elizabeth grew up performing dance and playing competitive basketball until she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 17. She became quite disconnected from and ashamed of her body. 10 years later Elizabeth moved to New York City as cardiothoracic intensive care unit nurse. In 2012, Elizabeth discovered the healing powers of yoga while taking hot vinyasa classes with Dana Slamp at Pure Yoga. Elizabeth began to feel free in her body again - creating the shapes of the yoga asanas and performing meditation liberated her mind and the focus on pranayama (breath) in yoga aligned her with the present moment. 

In 2014, Elizabeth received her 200-hr RYT at Pure Yoga in New York City under the guidance of Kay Kay Clivio and Yogi Charu.  She is honored to have been mentored by her teacher, Rebecca Hajek at Yoga Vida in New York City. While at Yoga Vida, Elizabeth  completed advanced trainings in Restorative Yoga with Abby Paloma, Ally Bogard, and Jessica Caplan and Advanced Vinyasa Sequencing and Advanced Assists with Dana Slamp and Kajuan Douglas. In 2017, Elizabeth received her Pilates Method Alliance Mat Certification at Equinox fitness in New York City.  In 2020, Elizabeth completed 200 hours of advanced meditation teacher training with Yogi Charu through the Bhakti Center in New York City. Elizabeth has her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from Duke University (2008) and her Bachelor's of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2003). In the fall of 2020, Elizabeth will continue her education, studying for a Masters in Healthcare Administration through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Public Health. She currently resides in the small town of Bynum, North Carolina with her boyfriend, his two small children, and is a yoga teacher at Red Room Hot Yoga in Chapel Hill. 

As a nurse, Elizabeth’s background in human anatomy, disease intervention and emotional intelligence guide her instruction. Her own joy for physical experience, her personal struggle with an autoimmune joint disease, and her nursing career influence her ability to teach students with empathy and grace.

DANA SLAMP, C-IAYT, ERYT500 (FOUNDER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR)

Dana began teaching yoga in 2005, offering vinyasa classes known for their spirit, strength, and safety across New York City.  She joined the senior staff at Pure Yoga in 2008, expanding her teaching to therapeutic classes, as well as teaching in Pure's renowned 200 hour Teacher Training and Professional Mentorship Program.

Despite her love of classes, Dana saw the great need for one-on-one, specialized therapeutic teaching in the tradition of "yoga chikitsa" - "yoga medicine."  In 2010, she served as Managing Teacher at Pure West, and eventually cocreated the 300 hr advanced teacher training program at Yoga Vida.  Dana completed over 1100 hours of yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, and yoga therapy training with Guru Dharam, Dana Flynn, Dr. Marc Halpern and Yogi Charu - becoming one of the first certified yoga therapists in the US.

In 2012, Dana founded Prema Yoga Institute, New York's premiere yoga therapy school.  PYI offers a radical collaboration between wellness professionals devoted to yoga, bridging the gaps between yoga and healthcare and academia and yoga.  PYI prepares wellness professionals to provide yoga and mindfulness to diverse populations - regardless of any injuries or limitations present.  (Premayogainstitute.com)

She continues to teach internationally, contributes to countless teacher trainings, and has presented at the Telluride Yoga Festival, Wanderlust in the City, and several times at the Yoga Journal Conference. She has been honored to consult on research projects and wellness programs for clinics, doctor's offices, condominiums, and corporations. Dana is a member of IAYT and currently practices in New York City. (Danaslamp.com)

CHRISTOPHER WALLING, PSYD, MBA, C-IAYT (SOMATIC PSYCHOLOGY, PEER COACHING, AND PHYSIOLOGY OF YOGA)

Dr. Walling has been an active leader in healthcare for nearly two decades. His work integrates the developmental, biological, and somatic aspects of the lifespan. His work in academic medicine has included the administration of multidisciplinary leadership teams in hematology-oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and geriatric psychiatry.  

Dr. Walling’s service in geriatric psychiatry began as the Executive Administrator for the UCLA Longevity Center and Division of Geriatric Psychiatry in 2010. It was there through his work with world class physician researchers he began to explore the applications of yoga therapy in mental health. He currently serves as Chairman of the Education Advisory Committee for the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation. He is a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and a Certified Yoga and Meditation instructor through Yoga Alliance.  

Dr. Walling is the President of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy. His clinical focus in the behavioral sciences has examined the intersections of neuropsychotherapy, affect regulation, and body psychology. He has trained with some of the leading experts in contemporary psychotherapy including Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Sue Johnson, and Dr. Allan Schore. His research on Proprioception and Interoception in Somatic Experiencing Praxis received the 2016 President’s Award for Research Excellence at California Southern University. 

Dr. Walling is the Clinical Director of Soma Psychological Services in Los Angeles, California where he specializes in stress related disorders, trauma, couples work, and addiction recovery. His passion and expertise in resilience, mindfulness, and psychological wellbeing make him a sought after speaker for several Fortune 500 companies where he has helped executives learn how to harness the power of peak performance via the innate resources of the body.

MENTORS 

JAN ORLAND-GO, RN, ERYT500 (BREATH COACH MENTOR)

Jan takes a personal and individualized approach to teaching yoga, influenced by his own experience as practitioner of Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga.

He is a Three Sisters Yoga 300 Hour alumnus (2014) and 200 Hour alumnus (2013). In addition, he has 100 hours of Advanced Anatomy Training, 85 hours of Pre/Post Natal Yoga Teacher Training and 25 hours Restorative Yoga Teacher Training.

As a registered nurse, Jan works as the Nurse Manager at Rogosin Institute Dialysis West Side. Jan manages the outpatient dialysis facility, which provides hemodialysis treatment. Jan incorporates his medical and yoga training in order to help his patients maintain a positive outlook and reduce anxiety during treatment. As Nurse Manager, Jan leads his staff by focusing on Yama's first teaching, which is Ahimsa (non-harming). 

Jan integrates his training and learning as both a yoga teacher and a registered nurse to assist yoga practitioners and patients alike in their common health-centered goals.

Jan is also a co-founder and co-trainer with partner Angela Rauscher of Shiva Shakti School of Yoga 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. 

The basis of his teaching philosophy is that yoga can benefit all body-types: if you can breathe, you can benefit from yoga. 

When you join Jan’s class, you can expect an experience of breath and alignment-based exploration of familiar asana while exploring challenging and often untapped asana.

Always committed to being intuitive, compassionate and non-judgmental the cornerstone of Jan's practice is a joyful exploration into challenging and new asana with modifications for all.

BRITTANY ANDERSON

Brittany Simone Anderson is a New York based sound practitioner, ceremonialist, and movement guide. Brittany believes that well-being is our birth right, and as such, it is our responsibility to take an active role in our own wellness. Brittany combines a variety of practices that include sound, breathwork, coaching, yoga, and mindful eating. Brittany works one on one or in groups to empower people to take their health in their own hands. Together we can reconnect the mind/body/soul. 

Brittany Simone leads sound meditations and breath experiences in Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs. She has been studying sound at her home studio, Woom Center since its opening in 2016, with her teachers Elian and David Shemesh. She has also studied with Alexander Tannous, Mitch Nur, Daniel Ryan and Jarrod Byrne. Brittany has been working with the breath since 2014 and uses both the breath and sound to elevate the cacao ceremony experience. Brittany facilitates cacao ceremonies in group and private settings and has been working with the plant since 2015. Find her in Manhattan in or traveling the world learning and spreading joy.