The Studio for yoga and more located in Moorestown,NJ by the Moorestown Friends School

856-430-1116

101 East Main Street * Moorestown, NJ 08057 * 856-430-1116

Our Teachers

Rochelle Townsend , E-RYT, Reiki Master
Director

Rochelle's first introduction to yoga many years ago lit the spark that never fizzled out. That spark then became a fire and it is this fire that has inspired her to pursue her teaching certification and then open her own studio. Like many events on her yogic journey, there are no coincidences and everything is connected by the thread of life. Rochelle's first yoga teacher hired her for her first teaching position as well as her teacher and friend and later became her first partner and the circles of life continue.
Rochelle studied with Corina Benner at Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia, where she received her Vinyasa Teaching Certification. Her studies encompass the asanas, pranayama, meditation, hands-on adjustments and anatomy. She is also certified in Yin Yoga, Thai Yoga massage and is registered with the Yoga Alliance as an Experienced Yoga Teacher. Rochelle feels blessed to study with teachers who inspire her both personally and as a teacher. She comments, “It is a wonderful gift to wake up and share the gift of yoga with those around me. I hope to bring my passion for the practice through to all my students; challenging them both mentally and physically.” She offers a challenging class with a light hearted air.
Rochelle continues to study with a variety of teachers to further her practice as well as her teaching skills. Special gratitude to mentors Shiva Rea, Gerard Arnaud and Beryl Bender Birch. Rochelle's desire to help others has expanded her love of vinyasa to another level. She has traveled to the Yogaville Ashram to study Structural Yoga Therapy with Mukunda Stiles and to New York to study with Elise Miller in her pursuit of becoming a Yoga for Scoliosis trainer. Rochelle most recently became certified aas a Reiki Master under Elsie Kerns.

Connie Meehan
Connie began practicing yoga with Peggy Boblenz in 2002 in Moorestown. In 2003 she took a seminar at the Kripalu Yoga Center and there the seed was set for a lifelong commitment to practice and teach. In 2004 she took her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at the Yoga Center of Medford where she received her certification. Since then she has studied and taken workshops with a variety of teachers and masters including meditation with Seijaku Roshi, founder of the Zen Society of Shamong NJ, Vinyasa with Seane Corne and studied Iyengar with Debra Ann Robinson. Connie teaches a nurturing style of yoga encouraging breath and body awareness which not only emphasizes the external practice of asana and pranayama but the internal practice of stilling the mind. Students gain a deeper knowledge of their own bodies focusing on a gentleness that comes from listening to and respecting messages of the body.

Staci Zemble
Staci received her Pilates mat certification through the AFAA Mat Science I and II (Pilates Core Conditioning) and is also a certified Powerhouse Pilates instructor. She has been studying pilates and yoga for 10 years with most of those years under the direction of Rochelle. Staci enjoys staying in shape through teaching Pilates, cardio and working on her yoga practice! Her other hobbies include shopping, arts & crafts as well as hanging out with family and friends. Staci is currently single and looking, so if you know anyone that would be interested please feel to stop by her class and meet her!

Diane Cooper, BA, ACH, CYT
With love and gratitude Diane continues to honor the Hatha style of her teacher Semera Weatherd, in conjunction with the Pacifica School of Yoga and Tai Chi, from which she earned her 200hr. yoga certification. A speech therapist of 32 yrs with special needs children Diane has expanded her practice to Integrated Movement Therapy which incorporates yoga postures into the six core principals of learning. Guided in this study and practice Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, by Molly Lannon Kenny and Stephanie Hager and the SamaryaCenter in SeattleWashington. She continues to expand her love and knowledge in the study of yoga in taking workshops and trainings with David and Doug Swenson, Paul Grilley, Desiree Rumbaugh and Julie Gudmetsad. She believes, “One Breathe at a Time.”

Lee Forest Knowlton

L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., CMT, Hatha/Raja Yoga Instructor

Member, International Association of Integrative Medicine (IAIM)

Women’s Wisdom Circle Facilitator
Lee first took a yoga class in 1972 with Alma Nelson in Moorestown; in 1977, she was a student of Yogi Shantananda, and resided with a handful of his other students in Moksha Ashram, formerly the Kripalu Satsang Society, which moved from Wilmington, DE to San Francisco, CA. Yogi-ji permitted her to start teaching hatha yoga in 1978. In 1983, Lee was formally certified to teach hatha/raja yoga by the Ananda Fellowship -- after completing an intensive nine-month yoga teacher training program of 500 hours. It was also in 1977 when her healing arts career began. Spanning over 20 years, she taught yoga and practiced massage therapy and then integrated those within a clinical practice of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. She received a B.A. from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine (in San Diego) in 1991. She was licensed both in CA and nationally. In 1993, Lee moved to Boulder, CO, where she was one of three acupuncturists hired for an NHI (National Institutes of Health) study – the first study to include acupuncture in its protocol. The study lasted for three years. In 1997, Lee’s focus totally shifted to her first love, writing; she began to write on spiritual and holistic themes in 1999, and worked in the publishing industry as a copywriter. She is immersed in nonfiction book-writing currently. Her ‘journey’ involves whole-oriented living through health, wellness, soul and creativity. Her many influences include Zen, Tao, and nature’s wisdom. Now 52, Lee is putting together a course on ‘crones,’ reawakening ‘feminine’ consciousness in our lives.

Tracy Phoenix
But you can call her Phoenix! She gained that name over the years of rebirthing into being a diverse individual. Phoenix has been known as a “Jack of All Trades” due to her versatility in the arts and wide range of accomplishments. She’s been dancing since the age of 8, graduated with an Associates from University of the Arts and continued her BA in Modern-Contemporary Dance/Performance with Rutger’s University. Yoga was the thread that has and still remains the connective link to her keeping all these many aspects of her life together. Phoenix received her teaching through Wake Up Yoga under the direction of Corina Benner and Jill Manning and registered under the Yoga Alliance. She continues her studies in Ayurveda, Meditation under the direction of Michael Carroll, guidance of the Yoga Sutras with Paul JJ Alix and soon to attend continued Sanskrit Study with Manorama. Phoenix can now bring awareness of her yoga practice with the diversity of her knowledge and experience in order to build on her long life path of unity within and with others. It is with the focus of the life practice of Loving Kindness, Compassion, Equinimity & Wisdom in her “Skillful Means Toolbox” that she hopes will continue to cultivate unity in all her many lives with all beings.

Linda Gaffney
Linda began a regular practice of yoga in 1998. Since that time she has studied under a variety of teachers, including Doug Swenson and Ana Forrest. She received her teaching certification in 2005 from the Yoga Center of Medford, and incorporates elements from many different yoga traditions in her teaching. Her classes focus on moving with the breath, self observation and providing variations and modifications for all students. She also enjoys bringing elements of chant and meditation into practice. She is currently working toward completion of a 500 hour advanced teaching certification in the Kripalu tradition.