Meet Our Staff

Mike Curtis - Founder

Mike Curtis is a E-RYT-500 teacher (trained and certified to teach teachers). Mike began The Yoga Place in 1995. He has attended many yoga teacher trainings as a student, has supervised many yoga teacher trainings as a teacher, and has practiced yoga in many countries. He believes that yoga is an incredible tool for anyone’s spiritual journey, and that a regular yoga practice is an enormous asset in self development. For Mike, learning is one of the greatest excitements, and learning together is even better.

Abigail Dombroski

Abi Rose is a massage therapist, licensed by the Ohio State Medical Board since 2013. She instructs yoga with a 200 hour Yoga Alliance certification through the Yoga Place, studying under Michael Curtis. She is also certified in Advanced Thai Yoga Massage from the Lotus Palm School in Quebec, Canada. Abi enjoys working with people and providing hands-on assisting during yoga classes. Come join her for strength-building yoga poses in a warm environment.

Alice Zenger-Jones

Alice is a retired computer systems engineer and a life-long yogi. Alice believes that a yoga practice should accommodate the student rather than the student trying to accommodate the yoga practice. The student evolves on an individual basis working with asanas (yoga poses) to increase their own unique movement potential. Alice is a student of Gary Kraftsow (primary), Leslie Kaminoff, Judith Lasater, and Michael Curtis with 1000+ hours of training.

Bob Bratton

Bob is a lifelong resident of Massillon. He attended Kent State University and graduated with the degree Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Studio Art - painting, drawing, and printmaking. He still paints and submits work to local shows. Bob began practicing yoga in 2001 at Sampoorna Yoga Center. He has completed three 200 hour teacher training certification programs, a 300 hour certification program, and is certified to teach chair yoga. Bob has been instructing Yoga classes since January 2009. He currently teaches a gentle/moderate level class at The Yoga Place at 9:30am on Tuesdays, three classes a week at the Massillon Recreation Center, and he teaches at both the David YMCA in Jackson Township and the Schalmo YMCA in Canal Fulton. From May to October, Bob offers a donation-based outdoor yoga class at Witwer Park. Bob does not teach with goats, cats, alpacas, or any other animals.

Brian Bowles

Brian teaches Tai Chi & Kung Fu at his own martial arts school, Lost Step Kung Fu, with almost 40 years of martial arts training. He also has close to 10 years of training in animal & primal movements via workshops. Brian is a Taoist and a Level II Reiki practitioner.

Brian teaches workshops and classes in Canton, Kent, and Medina. He teaches Tai Chi & Kung Fu in Medina and at his school in Kent. He regularly offers donation based self defense workshops around Northeast Ohio. His classes are laid back and fun with a deep focus on connecting to your body through movement and breath. "Movement is medicine" is at the core of what he teaches.

Brian Bowles on Facebook

bbowles2@kent.edu

https://loststepkungfu.com/

Carrie Sibila

Carrie has her YTT-200 with Prajna Yoga, and is currently undergoing YTT-300 with Michael Curtis. She has worked with Prajna Yoga master teachers as well as Mary Richards, Karen Algire, and Nikki Myers. Being in long-term recovery herself, Carrie always felt the connection between Yoga & 12-Step Programs. She became a Y12SR certified leader and felt compelled to lead yoga for others in recovery. Off the mat, she enjoys attending music festivals and concerts, and traveling with her family. To wind down, Carrie likes to travel, knit, read, bake, and hike.

Carrie loves yoga because it helps bring us back home to ourselves; our very core, which is all the good and love in the Universe. She hopes she can impart a sense of acceptance and contentment of the present moment to her students. She likes to incorporate the movement of the breath with asana to create a moving meditation. Carrie also likes to welcome people who have never taken yoga before, and walk with them through the first steps. She likes to encourage the use of props in her practice as well, to make the benefits of a pose accessible to anyone.

Corinne Zellers

Corinne has been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years. Her very first yoga experience was at The Yoga Place in a vinyasa yoga class. She was hooked, and found herself attending class whenever she had the chance. She
completed her 500-hour yoga teacher training with Mike Curtis. Her favorite style of yoga to teach and practice is vinyasa. She enjoys sequencing yoga poses together, moving from one pose to the next with each breath. While she tends to teach more of a moderate flow vinyasa class, she offers modifications so that each student can make the class their own.

In addition to teaching yoga, Corrine is the Program Director of a Medical Laboratory Science program at Stark State College. She received her Master of Science degree from Akron University, and her undergraduate degree from KSU. While she enjoys teaching her profession to students, her greatest love is teaching yoga to all ages.

Danielle Lunce

Danny (Danielle) is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher, Reiki level-2 Practitioner, and a certified Y12SR Leader (Yoga and the 12 Steps of Recovery). She is deeply moved by the profound experiences one can have both physically and spiritually with the practice of yoga āsana, energy work and the study of yogic philosophy. She strives to continue to grow in her personal practice and in turn, has found herself inspired to teach/share yoga with others. Off the mat, Danny enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, listening to music and exploring the world of holistic health. She believes that food, music and movement are all forms of medicine. Paired with a willingness to take an honest journey deep into the mind, body and soul, anyone can transform themselves and change perspectives and behaviors. Danny truly believes that yoga and Reiki are not only a physical practice, but a way of life.

David Finley

David Finley is a mixed movement artist who has studied and practiced various forms of movement throughout his life. His teaching focuses on proper technique, alignment, and logical progressions to building strength.

David's training includes:
Russian Kettlebell Certified (RKC) Instructor
Assistant Instructor at two RKC Certifications
JumpStretch Flexband Certification
Certified Natural Trainer, Jon Hinds 2006
Attendee of two Gymnastic Bodies Certifications, Christopher Sommer 2012
RYT-200 from The Yoga Place, Michael Curtis 2012
RYT-200 Prajna Yoga Certification, Tias & Surya Little with The Yoga Place 2017
Instructor of Budokon® Yoga Primary Series, Cameron Shayne 2016
Instructor of Budokon® Yoga Second Series, Cameron Shayne 2017
Ido Portal’s Creative Movement Tools Workshop, Shai Faran 2017
Ido Portal’s Movement X, John Sapinoso, Zack Finer 2017
Ido Portal’s Motion, John Sapinoso, Liav Baron 2018
And more!

Donna Bishop

Donna Bishop describes herself as a recovering “stress-junkie.” She credits Mike Curtis and “free class” advertised on a sign as she drove by the Yoga Place as changing (maybe even saving) her life. She has found that yoga has brought the calm back to her life, especially during the busy times. She loves Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga the most as they keep her busy mind focused on the breath, body alignment, and in the moment. She has been a Yoga Place student for many years, and was in the very first class ever held at Yoga Central with Bob Bratton. She is a graduate of the 2018 class of 200-hour teacher training. Donna holds a doctorate of organizational leadership. She is a retired school principal, teacher and teaches future teachers and principals as a professor at the University of Mount Union. When not teaching Donna is doing something outdoors, reading, or spending time with her husband, pets, and family.

Ellie Manes

Eleanor is a graduate assistant at the University of Akron studying arts administration. She currently teaches private and group lessons, composes, and gigs in the Akron area. Some highlights in her career have been teaching in Jamaica through the JAFSP, her thesis work on steelpan pedagogy, and her time spent a Akron working with guest artists such as Michael Spiro, Wynton Marsalis, and Liam Teague.

Eleanor offers private and group music lessons, music commissions and performances, and an overall connection to the younger music scene in the Akron/Canton area. Her teaching style is supportive and flexible, focusing on equity through experience and building on previous knowledge. She is also available to support the organization, design, and overall execution (ie. miscellaneous tasks) of group collaborations.

Gloria McAlister

Gloria McAlister, M.Ed., LPCC-S
Mentoring for moving through change.
Counseling for trauma, addictions and transitions.
Meditation and Mindfulness.
Working as a counselor for over 20 years.
(330) 265-5058

EMDR
Body-centered therapies.

Jessica Bennett

Jessica began dancing at the Canton Ballet when she was 4 years old and studied there until she was 18. She completed a dual degree at Ohio State University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Modern Dance and a Bachelors of Art in Psychology. After graduation, she danced professionally primarily for the Backspace Performance Ensemble. Her dance career led to her curiosity for Yoga, because many choreographers were using the practice to warm up the mind and body for rehearsals and performances. In 2009, she moved to New York City to continue dancing for Backspace, and her yoga practice became a priority, for not just physical benefits, but for emotional and spiritual health as well. In 2014, she completed her 200 hr RYT at Yoga Vida NYC, a program grounded in Vinyasa with influences of Ashtanga. After 5 years living the NYC life, she and her husband Jeremy decided to move to Los Angeles. The transition was the perfect time to visit India for a month, where Jessica completed an intensive at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. She was able to sharpen her skills and knowledge of yoga philosophy, pranayama, meditation, and chanting. The Ashram was the perfect preparation for teaching, dancing, and acting for Fugitive Kind Live Theater in LA. The calling to start a family brought Jessica and Jeremy back to Canton in 2017 and also inspired her to specialize in prenatal & postnatal yoga. She completed her Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training certificate through Blooma Yoga at Kripalu Center For Yoga & Health that same year.

Jessica's classes are a movement meditation with an emphasis on alignment and breath. When leading a class, she hopes to meet each student where their body, mind, and soul are at! You can find Jessica teaching Vinyasa classes, Prenatal and Postnatal workshops, as well as private dance classes.

Kathy Kelley-Zanzig

Kathy has been practicing yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2015. Her first class focused solely on breath practice, bringing a sense of peace and calm, and allowing an inward connection to true self. This is still her favorite aspect of a yoga class. Her yoga classes are a blend of styles, often incorporating mudras, breath practice, massage and somatics with asana, and exploring the qualities of the elements. She wishes for her students to leave class with bodies open, minds free, and hearts at peace.

Kathy has 500+ hours of training, including two 200 RYT trainings, Prajna Yoga with Surya and Tias Little, Five Element Yoga with Jennifer Reis, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra with Jennifer Reis, and Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater. As a lifelong learner, she is always evolving as both a student and a teacher.

Kathy is a retired engineer and expat. She has lived in Europe (Luxembourg) and Asia (Shanghai) and traveled to 25 countries. She loves being outside gardening, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and blending an outdoor yoga practice with many of those activities. She also enjoys cooking, reading, museums, and concerts.

Jody Sivy

Jody is a resident of Louisville, where she and her husband raised 3 daughters. They enjoy “farming” on 5 acres, growing many vegetables and fruits, and raising their own chickens.

She attended college at Mount Union, where she received a degree in Medical Technology. She worked for 40 years in Laboratory Medicine, and now is the Hematology Supervisor at Salem Regional Medical Center.

Jody's love for science is balanced by an equal love for movement. Ballet was her passion, but she enjoys learning many forms of dance. She began teaching dance at age 16. Also, she was a floor coach for the gymnastics team for many years.

She was introduced to yoga and The Yoga Place in 1996. Yoga remains a mainstay in her life. In 2018, she completed the 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training program at The Yoga Place. Jody says, "What I have come to appreciate most is that yoga is a constant evolution involving body, mind, and spirit, and that it is adaptable to any person and any physical challenge or situation."

Jody’s style would be classified as Beginner/Moderate with a sense of gentle flow. The use of various props may be incorporated to aid in stability, flexibility, and sometimes even creativity! Her classes are accessible to all skill levels while still allowing freedom to explore some challenges.

Kedric Wolfe

Kedric Wolfe has been practicing, studying and teaching yoga for 35 years, and over that period of time has developed his own unique approach to both practice and teaching. His style is eclectic with strong influences of Hatha and the Ashtanga tradition, which he introduced at the Yoga Place upon his return to Canton from Los Angeles in 1996 after having stepped away from a long sojourn as an actor. His enjoyable classes are both gentle and challenging with no small measure of humor mixed in along the way. He likes to say, “Let’s begin with the bodies we’re in and go from there.” It is also worthy to note that he is the inventor and developer of the Great Yoga Wall, prominently featured both at the Yoga Place and now here at Yoga Central, as well as many other studios and homes throughout the world.

Kelly Senzarin-Kulik

Kelly has been practicing yoga for more than twenty years. Intrigued with developing a deeper
understanding of the practice and philosophy, she enrolled in 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2019.
Kelly was introduced to much more than she could have ever imagined and realized she had so much
more to learn. Kelly did not enter the training with the intention of teaching, but fate guided her to a
new chapter of her life. She left her career in the steel industry and began teaching. She says she traded
in her steel-toe boots for a Tibetan singing bowl. Kelly lives in Uniontown with her husband, son (when
he’s home from school at UC), and dogs Nike and Nugget.

Lana Sugarman

Lana is a lover of movement, inquiry, and deep rest. Creative vinyasa, mantra, and stillness through yin, restorative, and meditation practices are her jam. She has been teaching since 2009, practicing for over 20 years, and is certified in Jivamukti and Yin Yoga.

Lana's classes include chant, expressive vinyasa, restorative shapes, and a sprinkle of humour. She teaches moderate flow, yin yoga, leads kirtan and facilitates in the Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Central.

Fun facts: Lana holds an MFA in Acting from Kent State University. Off the mat you can find her playing cribbage and eating chocolate with her hubby Narada Wise, romping in the park with their pup Otto, and snuggling with cat Smooshie.

http://sugarmanyoga.com

Lenore France

Lenore is a 500-hour yoga instructor. She has been sharing Yoga privately and publicly since 2012. She is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist of 30 years and has the unique perspective of a medical background mixed with the philosophy of Yoga. She offers Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga in the summer months with Yoga Central, and teaches at the Natatorium in Cuyahoga Falls through the year.

She shares her unique view of Yoga as a guide for life, a gift for the body, and a joy for the spirit. Her classes are welcoming for any level of practitioner. She enjoys meeting new people and sharing a practice which fits their needs. Lenore offers a class that is specific to you in any class setting.

Leslie Schneider

Leslie completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2018, and is pursuing a 500-hour certification with Michael Curtis. Leslie is certified in Chair Yoga with David Dickerson, Yoga & 12 Step Recovery with Nikki Myers, and Wall Core Yoga with Martin Zibauer. Leslie is also a Licensed Massage Therapist who explores Reiki and Craniosacral Biomechanical Therapy, and has studied with Cherie Weber at the Heiwa Center. She and her life partner Marc have three grown children. They enjoy cycling, hiking, and traveling with family and friends.

In addition to practicing at The Yoga Place & Yoga Central, Leslie teaches Yoga at the Massillon Museum and Aultman West. Leslie holds a BS in Communication from Ohio University and an MBA from Ashland University. Leslie currently serves Stark State College students as an Adjunct Instructor in the Management & Marketing Department.

Lizzie Lambrou

My name is Lizzie Lambrou, I am a 200 hour certified yoga teacher that loves art, photography, and is currently in college for graphic design. I help the studio with graphic design, art, and I'm on the junior steering committee!

I offer any sort of graphic design work (ex, poster designs, brochure designs, website graphics, and more) and I also sell a lot of my art! I hope to get back into teaching soon but when I do teach, I usually teach gentle and restorative classes. I also like photography!

https://linktr.ee/lizziedesignsthings

Lyn Sabino

Lyn has practiced yoga for many years, and became certified in 2011. In addition to yoga teacher training, her studies have included Cognitive Kinesiology with Khadija Marcia Radin, meditation with Yoshin David Radin, Hatha Yoga with Diane Moser, alignment-based yoga with Mary Richards, and Thomas Hanna Somatics. Outside of the yoga studio, she maintains an executive coaching and business consulting practice and is a dog-lover partial to Westies. She currently shares her home with Quinny and Ella, two sweet, spirited girls rescued from puppy mill life.

As a neuromuscular therapist and holistic health practitioner for over 25 years, Lyn believes that yoga shouldn’t be intimidating—it should be available to all bodies. She approaches her classes with a “therapeutic eye” to sense how students are feeling and moving on any given day, and then offers postures and modifications that serve those needs.

Maddie Indré

Maddie Indré received her RYT 200 certification after training with Tracy Rhinehart in 2020. She has been teaching ever since! Her favorite thing about yoga is weaving an uplifting message into her challenging flow!

In Maddie's classes, you will work up a sweat and leave with a clear head. You will experience a power vinyasa flow with emphasis on core, breathing to match your motions, and a killer playlist!

Margot Milcetich

With a background in meditation, Margot teaches hatha yoga as an awareness practice that refreshes and refocuses us. Margot has been teaching since 1973, and is now retired from training Yoga teachers and teaching classes and workshops as an E-RYT 500. She gained stability in her personal practice and in teaching under the unusual guidance of Swami Bawra. In 2004, she became the founder of Brahmrishi Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Alliance 200-hour and 300-hour levels, certifying teachers at the 500 level.

Margot has a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State University, certification in Jin Shin Jyutsu, and a master’s certification in Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT). She is a co-founder of Kent Yoga and now has a home for her school with Centerpeace Brahmrishi Institute. She offers an informed approach to philosophy, anatomy, teaching method, alignment, and sequencing. She inspires each trainee to develop an authentic approach to practice and teaching.

Margot has two sons, is married, and is raising three grandsons. She writes much of the time, and lives with her husband Bill by a lake near Kent, Ohio.

Marcela Bishop

Marcela has been practicing Yoga for over 10 years. She has completed 500 hours of training as a Yoga teacher, is a certified Somatics instructor, and loves to practice restorative Yoga and meditation along with Feldenkrais movements.

In her free time, Marcela likes to paint with mixed media, dance, read, and go for long walks.

Her style of teaching is gentle with a focus on mindfulness.