Nancy (Nalini) Nowak, RYT, CSYT, MA
Founder and Co-Director
Nancy has been practicing yoga since 1980 and teaching since 1986. She has studied a variety of yoga styles and began devoting her practice and teaching of Svaroopa® yoga in 1997. She founded The Centered Place and co-directs with her life partner, Phil. She is in the Svaroopa® Yoga Advanced Teacher Training Program and is certified to teach Bliss Yoga, Deeper Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Pregnancy and Yoga for Your Back. Nancy is also certified to provide Embodyment yoga therapy.
“We look into that mirror of yoga and see the places in our body that need support, that need to open. Each breath, each movement, reflects who we are. We regard our own geography like archeologists unearthing hidden treasures.”
(a quote I like; not sure of the author)
Phil (Krishna) Milgrom, RYT, CSYT, CSMT
Co-Director
Phil has been practicing yoga since 1970 and teaching since 1974. He has studied a variety of yoga styles and received his first yoga teacher’s certificate in 1976. He became certified to teach Svaroopa® yoga in 1997 (700 hours) and has since taught Svaroopa® yoga exclusively. Phil is certified by the National Yoga Alliance. He is in the Svaroopa® Yoga Advanced Teacher Training Program and is certified to provide Embodyment yoga therapy and to teach Svaroopa® Vidya Meditation, Bliss Yoga, Deeper Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Pregnancy and Yoga for Your Back. While teaching yoga at The Centered Place, he taught classes for employees at HP (and formerly, Compaq and Digital Equipment Corporation) for over 15 years. (He was an employee at HP and subsidiaries since 1980, retiring to teach yoga and meditation full-time in 2016.) He is also a certified Laughter Yoga Leader (he teaches a workshop of his own design entitled Laughter Is a Good Stretch, Too). He is a motivational speaker and stress management consultant.
“Yoga has been such a great blessing for me and my life; it’s only natural that I want to teach yoga so that I might hopefully bring some of that blessing to others’ lives.”
Patty (Yashoda) Sayre, RYT
Patty has practiced yoga at The Centered Place since 1990 and began teaching classes in 1999. She completed training for teaching Svaroopa® yoga in 2000, when she earned her Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Certification at the 200-hour level. Patty is also trained in Embodyment Therapy. She continues to take professional development courses to maintain her teaching certification.
“Whether I’m teaching a class or doing my own practice, yoga continues to lead me toward balance and harmony.”
Shanti (Ellan) Catacchio, RYT, CSYT
Shanti has been practicing yoga for many years. She has found the benefits to be helpful for managing stress and physical tension that seems to go hand-in-hand with (a) a career in the corporate environment and (b) a busy family life.
Shanti found Svaroopa® yoga at The Centered Place in 2000. She began teacher training in 2003 and considers that a life-long endeavor. She is a RYT (at 500 hours training level) and Certified Svaroopa® Yoga Teacher, and a Certified Embodyment Therapist.
What is in the Name “ Shanti”? Shanti is the name given to her by Swami Nirmalananda. The word Shanti means not only “peace” but “the peace that passeth all understanding.” Shankaracharya called it “the peace of right knowing.”
Shanti wanted a name that would honor the openings that she’s received through Svaroopa® Yoga and Svaroopa® Vidya meditation — a name that would help her continue to stay in the flow of grace. Shanti is grateful to have received her name under such auspicious circumstances: she received it February 2013 in India with Swamiji Nirmalananda at the Kumbha Mela. Her name Shanti honors her experiences there.