About

Jennifer has been practicing yoga for 14 years and has a dedicated personal practice. She received her 200HR Yoga Teacher Certification with Lauren Toolin of Yoga Vidya, in April of 2012. She completed the final module of her 300HR advanced training program in November of 2016. She is grateful for her teacher Lauren Toolin and for the guidance and love that she has provided. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance as a 200ERYT and a 500RYT. Jennifer has always been interested wholesome/natural living and believes passionately in yoga’s potential for creating a healthy, successful and loving existence. Her teaching style is drawn from her knowledge of Classic Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, Tantra, and her own personal experiences with the teachings and practices. A typical class with Jennifer will include Pranayama (breathing techniques), skillfully sequenced Asana (physical postures), Meditation and Relaxation. Her classes are accessible to practitioners of all levels and modifications can always be provided. Jennifer loves and lives her yoga practice, it spills into all other aspects of her life. She is the mother of 4 and a loving wife to her husband, best friend, and business partner Luciano Venditti, Jr. "Yoga has had a tremendous impact on my life. It has supported and sustained me through many changes, transitions, challenges, struggles, and successes. It has also helped to get & keep me healthy, and on a good path regarding my health & wellness."

Vanessa has been practicing yoga since 2003 and teaching since 2008. She started using a Rodney Yee video after her eldest child was born as a way to lose weight. It worked and she was intrigued by the details in the relaxation portion. She began to be aware of things she had never thought of before or had actively pushed away. Her first public yoga class was done in jeans because a "workshop" meant something else for someone who had never been to a yoga studio. It was a bandha workshop with Lauren Toolin at Heartspace Albany. She was told after by another student that the Y might be a better fit for her while she was looking at the studio schedule, so she committed to a 12 week yoga series with the then owner of the studio. Practicing in a studio with a live teacher was relevatory. She decided to take the 200hr Yoga Teacher Empowerment Program the owner was offering. When he fell ill midway through the training, Lauren Toolin stepped in to complete the program, and subsequently offered Yoga Teacher Trainings at Heartspace every year thereafter. Vanessa has a bachelor's degree in Holistic Health, she has taken Lauren Toolin's 300 hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training twice. She has been offering yoga classes in the Capital District for 10 years. She has also developed and grown a business which supports the growth of wellness professionals across the country. She is currently raising three people, helping to manage Lilananda Yoga and attempting to forgive herself the constant state of disarray in her home.

Laurel's first experience with yoga was in 2012. She was amazed at the way it helped her cope with the stress and pressure of life as a college student. 2 years later, she decided to embark on the journey of yoga teacher training through Jennilee Toner's HOT WARRIOR YOGA. In 2017 she completed her 500 hour teacher training through Jennilee's INNER SANCTUM teacher program. She has also attended a 100 hour BARKAN level 2/3 training. Laurel also holds a certificate in graduate studies in MINDFULNESS. She is the co-founder of HOLISTIC YOUTH PROJECT, an organization aiming to empower the youth of the capital region with yoga, mindfulness, and self care practices. She has also completed Lauren Toolin’s Yoga for kids teacher training. Laurel has completed level 1 and 2 in Reiki Healing Touch through THE ART OF REIKI and is currently working on her personal training certification. Her class is designed to acknowledge the physicality of asana while still focusing on yogic philosophy and self inquiry. Laurel's aim is always to create a safe space for you to explore and evolve.

Yoga has been an integral part of my life for the past 10 years, and my practice has helped me grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off my mat. Yoga inspires me to live each moment more mindfully. I completed my 200 hour Hatha Yoga training through Yoga Vidya in Albany, NY in 2012, and completed Judith Hanson Lasater, PhD, PT’s “Relax and Renew” Restorative Teacher Training at Kripalu in 2015. In Jan. 2017, through Yoga Vidya, I completed “Advanced Studies in Teaching Yoga to Seniors.” I will always be a student of the practice and am deeply grateful for the loving wisdom my teachers have shared with me. I have a small, by appointment only studio in Clifton Park, NY, “Inspired Yoga for Wellness.” In my classes, I love to combine gentle creative sequencing, a spirit of playfulness and a dose of inspiration to help you deepen your own practice. I seek to help others thrive in life by nurturing body, mind and soul with yoga. My hope is that you step off your mat feeling restored, nourished and balanced. If you experience pain or have mobility issues and are searching for a gentle yoga practice that will leave you relaxed and renewed, this may be the perfect yoga class for you.

Chris has been practicing yoga for over 30 years, initially as a student with Kripalu yoga for many years. She began her life changing journey with yoga in 2003 when she was faced with a breast cancer diagnosis and began to re-evaluate her life and health. It was than when she dove into her yoga practice with more intensity and resolve and ventured into yoga teacher training with Lauren Toolin and became 200 hr YTT certified in 2011. She also trained with Jennilee Toner studying Hot Warrior Yoga. She presently is in the process of working on her 500 hr. certification and has been teaching yoga in the Capital District for the past several years, mostly offering gentle hatha yoga, chair yoga and gentle vinyasa flow. Chris is passionate about yoga and is excited to share with others the many health benefits a yoga practice provides. When not found on the mat, Chris also is an Occupational Therapist and has worked with children for the past several years. She loves to be outside whenever possible and is often found hiking, kayaking, on a paddle board, skiing or snowshoeing.

Margo Janack was first introduced to yoga in 2002 after registering for 10-week pre-natal yoga program through Kripalu Center on Wolf Road in Colonie. Margo continued yoga practice for years through a continuing education class at a local school where her teacher, a good-hearted, eternal optimist, (Judy Rightmyer) became her inspiration. This past year, Margo took a class at Lilananda Yoga studio, and left with a peaceful, “right at home” feeling, falling in love again with the whole “mind-body-spirit” philosophy. This experience prompted her to consider deepening her practice and explore her passionate need to find a stronger sense of purpose in life. So, Margo enrolled into a 200-hour yoga teaching certification weekend program through Yoga Vidya with instructor Lauren Toolin at Heartspace Studios in Albany. She completed her training in April 2017 and has been teaching beginners classes at Lilananda Yoga. Margo believes that yoga is for everyone, and that class should provide a “safe haven” for all to enjoy and practice at their own abilities with compassion and no judgement. In her professional career, Margo has over 30 years in Marketing, Communications and Outreach experience in the fields of radio broadcast, public transportation, economic development and healthcare. She is currently employed by the New York State Department of Health as Chief Marketing and Outreach Officer for NY State of Health Marketplace.

Kara Panetta completed her 200 hour yoga certification in 2008 at Heartspace Holistic in Albany. Her program was designed by Robert Cuozzi and her course work was completed with Lauren Toolin. Kara was drawn to getting her certification in order to deepen her own practice and to grow spiritually. Robert's program was ideal due to its offering a taste of all the mighty tree of yoga has to offer by not being rooted in one branch. Upon graduation Kara taught for several years in a private studio. After a break from teaching she is excited to return. RW Emerson wrote "To live the greatest number of hours is wisdom." Her hope is to share many of those good hours with all of you by offering an upbeat class combining traditional Hatha asana with Vinyasa flow.

Carrie began practicing yoga 17 years ago at various health clubs and hot power yoga studios in the Greater Boston area as a part of her physical fitness routine. In 2004, she signed up for Yoga by the Sea, a summer-long sunrise and sunset yoga al fresco series. She expected ocean-side yoga, but got much more. This was her introduction to practicing the Iyengar method, which seemed slow (and even boring) at first; however, with an emphasis on form and alignment, her practice advanced more that summer than it had in the four years prior. Over time, yoga became an essential part of Carrie’s life, both on and off the mat. Through a decade of being dedicated to her practice, Carrie was transformed physically, mentally and spiritually. During a few years of major life transitions, Carrie let her yoga practice slip, and felt the effects. She began practicing classical hatha yoga at Lilananda Yoga in 2015. In an effort to deepen her personal practice, she completed 200-hour teacher training with Lauren Jay Toolin of Yoga Vidya in 2017, and is registered to begin 300-hour advanced training this year. Throughout teacher training, Carrie was repeatedly amazed by the intensity and effectiveness of classical hatha and tantra yoga asana, pranayama and meditation practices. While it had not been her intention to teach, Carrie feels compelled to share this ancient lifestyle philosophy that is as relevant as ever in today’s world.

John Avitabile has practiced yoga on and off since 1976. He is a student of Lauren Toolin, and has completed his 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification under her guidance in 2016. For the past two years, he has taught a lunchtime yoga class at the College of Saint Rose, where he has been a Computer Science professor since 1989. He is very excited to be teaching at Lilananda Yoga. John's yoga practice is very important to him, and he has received many benefits from his practice. John loves sharing his love of yoga with his students. He especially likes teaching students who are new to yoga or who think that they can't do yoga. He is a proud, first-time grandfather!

I grew up in Ballston Lake, then moved up to Plattsburgh where I attended SUNY Plattsburgh for my undergraduate work in Environmental Science, and Graduate level work in Entomology. I worked as as an Environmental Educator for the NYS DEC for 3 Summer Seasons where I developed my love of sharing nature with anyone that will listen! After grad school I worked at a Not-for-Profit as a Staff Educator and Incident Investigator for 10 years. In this position I found a passion for assisting people strengthen their health and wellness. Currently I'm a Naturalist & Community Educator, a 3rd season Beekeeper, and a knitting enthusiast.