Catherine Galli / Founder

Swedish Institute Alumnus L.M.T.
AA Degree: Liberal Arts AA Degree: Occupational Studies
NY/NJ State Licensed MT
AMTA Professional Member
Yoga Works 200hr TT
Crossfit L1- Trainer
Currently MBSR teacher in training

Catherine Galli (aka Cat) was first introduced to Meditation and Tai Chi sometime back in 1985 as a Tae Kwon Do student. It wasn't a daily practice but it was enough exposure for her to know she liked it… “Even at a young age I felt the benefits and effects of Meditation.  It was not only an outlet from the physical activity I was doing but brought a sense of peace & calming to my life that I wasn't necessarily getting at home.” A few years later as a sophomore in high school she took Yoga as what she explains “for all the wrong reasons, I didn't really know what yoga was, but heard I could “sleep” in gym class and get an easy passing grade. But it only took one class to become hooked.  The physical practice, and guided meditation was something I not only needed in my life but craved”.

As a college student she took Stress Management as an elective and laughs as she looks back on it now.  “I was just under twenty and surrounded by continuing ed students in their upper 60’s to 80’s. But again, not only was stress something I was unfortunately accustomed to but I was also aware it was unhealthy and knew that there were ways to cope and tools to combat the insanity of every day life.”

It wasn't until after collage and after working in the corporate financial world for four years that she decided to make a major career change. “As an active Massage therapist since 2001, I still love what I do.  My life path, the journey and interactions with all the good and not so good is what has led me here today. I am beyond excited to be able to bring all the modalities that I so wholeheartedly believe in to every body in stress.”

Fun Facts

- Along my journey I found a way to follow another passion and studied mosaics abroad/Italy.  As a mosaic artist I have some public pieces here in Keyport. Check out face book-Mosaics by Cat Galli
- I'm a level 1 Crossfit trainer and I love to sprinkle in the benefits of yoga in my classes for my athletes.
- As a lifter I enjoy training and participating in sanctioned Olympic lift competitions.

 

Alice

Alice loves teaching yoga to all ages. She began her yoga journey in 2001, and her personal practice led her to earn certification from Ashram Yoga in 2015, as taught by Lili Avery. In her mindful flow of poses, she creates a safe space for students to connect to the stillness within. Alice also teaches children’s yoga, and is a Reiki Master Teacher. She believes yoga is the perfect tool to uplift ones spirit, calm the mind, and nurture the body.

Daniele

Daniele has been practicing yoga since 2009. In 2017 she completed her 200 hour RYT focusing on Vinyasa at Soul Power Yoga. Daniele loves combining music & yoga to create fun and energizing classes for her students! Fun Fact: Favorite movie~ 500 Days of Summer

Melissa

Melissa is a mother to four children ages 7-14 and has been practicing yoga for over 20 years. She is honored to share her love of yoga & meditation with babies, kids and adults. Certified through Childlight Yoga, Melissa has taught several yoga series at the local elementary school, in her own home studio and at Bella Buddha in Belmar. She has studied with Jyothi Larson in her Yoga Mama, Buddha Baby course for new moms. Melissa is also a Young Living Independent Distributor and loves to share natures living energy AKA Essential Oils with her yogis and community.

Marlene

RYT 200, Yin and Reiki level 1 & 2

Marlene’s love of teaching yoga stems from her desire to share what has brought her to a better understanding of wholeness. Not just the desire to look better, but to incorporate whole body wellness. After  years of painful injuries, yoga has kept her fit, pain free and enthusiastic to learn more.

Marlene is an artist and began her career as an embroidery and applique designer working directly  with design houses in the garment district. After 13 years, she left her career and stayed home to raise her two boys.  When she decided to return to work, she wanted to do something that would allow her to be around for her children. That’s when life brought her down a different path. She took a job working  with children with special needs, assisting them with academics and therapy needs. A rewarding, challenging, emotional and sometimes stressful job. Deciding to pursue her yoga teaching certification stemmed from that need to learn to connect with herself, deepen her practice and to also bring yoga to her young students. Marlene enjoys creating  yoga sequences that are interesting and creative. Her classes concentrate on flexibility, balance, and core work, the foundation of yoga. She emphasizes proper alignment and deeply cares about giving her students an enjoyable, safe, and uplifting experience. Marlene believes “The limitations we have are not roadblocks, but merely detours to open us up to a different path.  A journey we take for ourselves, but end up together.”

Jackie

Jackie’s introduction to yoga began in 2009 before her feet even touched a mat when she took an Asian studies class called “Zen and Yoga” as an elective at Seton Hall University. There she learned yogic philosophy and read Deepak Chopra’s “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success,” which changed her life and set her on the path to a physical yoga practice. Jackie received her 200 hour teacher training back in 2014 from Soul Power Yoga in Marlboro and has been teaching in the area ever since. She believes yoga is for everyone & her classes always focus on breath. Jackie lives in Keyport with her fiancé Nick and 2 cats, Marv & Arnie.

Terry

Terry Mares has followed a daily, dedicated meditation practice since March 2016. He came to mindfulness in an effort to lessen the effects of anger, frustration, and anxiety, in his own life. Since he established his practice, he has learned to respond as opposed to react. That has resulted in not only making him more calm and patient, but also more focused. He continues to learn about approaches to mindfulness through books, periodicals, and online resources and seminars, believing that you can never stop learning new methods to improve your practice. Because mindfulness has worked for him, he is happy & willing to share its gifts with others.

Besides mindfulness, Terry loves a wide variety of music, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Al

Teaching Specialty:
T’ai Chi Chuan, Yang Style and Sun Style.
Al has been practicing and teaching Tai Chi for over twenty years, a longtime Keyport local who graduated Keyport High School June 1957. He’s one of the many unique pearls residing in our awesome small town of Keyport! A Past guest speaker at the HCANJ (Health Care Association of New Jersey)58th Annual State Health Care Convention & EXPO in Atlantic City.
80 years wise teaching and practicing Tai Chi, Al is the epitome of Tai Chi embodying many of its benefits, including reduced stress, health, longevity, vitality and stamina. In his spare time Al is often capturing and creating pure beauty as a local photographer many of which can be found on social media

Mike

Mike Poole is a retired police officer and served ten years in the Ohio Army National Guard as a military police officer. He authored a book, Gospel for the Law: A Daily Devotional for Law Enforcement (2005).

A man of many hats but one giant heart behind them all, he is also co-founder of “Potlucks to End World Hunger”, as well as the founder of “Kilts 4 Kause”, He holds a Basic Police Chaplain certification through the International Conference of Police Chaplains. He has a Certificate of Specialized Training for Spiritual Care in Crisis Intervention through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. Michael received his Disaster Chaplaincy Training through the National Disaster Interfaiths Network. Mike Poole serves as a Ready NY Emergency Preparedness Presenter for NYC Emergency Management. He is also a trained Intentional Interim/Transitional Pastor through the National Association of Lutheran Interim Pastors (NALIP).

Michael has been studying martial arts since 1991. He holds a Third Degree Black Belt in Beisho Karate, through the Shorin-Ryu Karatedo and Kobudo Association of American (SKKAA). Mike received his First Degree Black Belt in Kobudo (Ancient Okinawan Weapons) in July 2015, through SKKAA. Mike studies Tai Chi, Qigong and Hung Gar. He has assistant instructor status through SKKAA, and Senior Trainer status through the Tai Chi for Health Institute. He holds instructor certifications in Tai Chi for Arthritis through the Arthritis Foundation; and instructor certifications in Tai Chi for Energy, Tai Chi @ Work, Tai Chi for Fall Prevention, Seated Tai Chi, Qigong for Health, Tai Chi for Rehabilitation, and Tai Chi for Heart Conditions through the Tai Chi For Health Institute.

If you can believe it that’s not all!Mike recently began a journey into practicing the art of Yoga, with the hope of becoming an instructor of trauma-sensitive yoga!

Judy

Owner at Balance Your Life
Chopra Certified Master Educator
Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Instructor

Judy is a Chopra Center Master Educator, having completed The Perfect Health Ayurvedic Lifestyle Program, Primordial Sound Meditation Instruction, and the Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga (200 hour) teacher training at Chopra Center University in Carlsbad, California.  Judy is humbled to share the traditions of her teachers:  Deepak Chopra, David Simon, DavidJi, Claire Diab, Mary Ann Lynch Gebhardt and all her powerful teachers and guides.  She continued her practice and received her 500-hour Yoga teacher certification with Claire Diab (creator of the Chopra Center’s yoga program) at the American Yoga Academy in Summit, New Jersey.

She is a National Strength and Conditioning Personal Trainer (NSCA) and a Massage Therapist licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing.  She received her certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and is registered with the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga is based on the book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra.  These “laws” teach us that harmony, happiness, and abundance are available to anyone willing to embrace a consciousness-based approach to life.  Each class is infused with a different law empowering us to create a more mindful approach to our days.

Judy concentrates on balance and relaxation techniques including mindful-movement, and a practice that is centered on breath awareness and focused attention.  Each class is infused with a different law to create a meaningful and grounding experience.  Her teaching style is enjoyable, calming, uplifting, and compassionate.  She believes that each student comes to the mat in a different place, having different needs and varying spiritual and philosophical beliefs and that learning to respect that individuality is the true definition of yoga.
Her goal is to inspire and empower her students to explore all aspects of yoga, both on and off the mat, in order to create a balanced and stress-free life amidst the often the chaotic pace of the 21st century.