Nirvana Yoga Instructors

Melissa Cugini
Owner of Nirvana Yoga, Melissa R. Cugini has been a student of yoga since 2004.  She began her
practice when she and her husband relocated out of state. She found that yoga provided much needed
stress relief as she adjusted to living in a new city.  Melissa has studied with various teachers in
Chicago, Cleveland & Akron communities and is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Instructor.

In addition to classes at Nirvana Yoga, Melissa teaches on-site corporate yoga and has served as the
assistant yoga instructor for the Cleveland Indians minor league players. Prior to becoming a yoga
instructor, Melissa worked as a Corporate Recruiting Consultant within the fields of banking,
manufacturing and media communications.

Melissa is grateful for the opportunity to connect with people through yoga, she strongly believes that
yoga has something to offer everyone, no matter what place they are in their lives and feels honored to
assist her students on that path of discovery. Her classes are designed to accommodate students of all
levels, encouraging them to expand their mind / body awareness and make the practice their own.



Deb Kistner
Deb Kistner has been practicing yoga for over 8 years with various teachers in the Cleveland area and
is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Instructor. Deb is also a Reiki practitioner. Prior to teaching
yoga, she spent many years in the corporate world as the firm administrator of a law firm as well as a
corporate accountant. These experiences allow her to bring knowledge and compassion to her classes.

Deb ties together music and movement for a fun class experience while also encouraging students to
remain grounded and open to all of life’s experiences. Deb acknowledges that change is constantly
occurring in her life and in the lives of her students and she hopes to promote yoga as a positive force
to deal with that change.



Brenda Saridakis
Brenda Saridakis started her yoga practice over five years ago. Physical exercise including jazz, ballet,
aerobics, kick-boxing and weightlifting have always played a role in her life.  “Once I started practicing
yoga, I found that endeavor to include all that I sought from physical movement and more. Yoga provides
me with the muscular strength, flexibility and endurance needed for a healthy body as well as mental
growth for a healthy mind and spirit.”

Brenda’s focused study of Yoga came after she left the legal and non-profit world to raise a family.  
Studying with various local and nationally renowned teachers, Brenda now observes the general
principals of opening to grace and letting go.  Brenda is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Instructor.  
In addition to teaching Yoga at Nirvana, Brenda provides balance to young athletes' minds & bodies at
Gymnastics World in Broadview Heights.  Brenda's classes combine alignment and heart opening
principals, inviting all students to gain power and fluidity for their bodies as well as learn to focus and
calm their minds.




Additional Nirvana Yoga Instructors

Darlene Kelbach
Darlene Kelbach has been practicing yoga for over 7 years and has studied at many of the local studios throughout the
Cleveland-Akron area. Darlene is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor and enjoys teaching both adult & children’s yoga
classes.  Currently, she is focusing on teaching workshops and private lessons.   Darlene is interested in conveying the
message of Self-love.  She encourages her students to see yoga as a lifestyle and as a means of nourishing, restoring,
and honoring one’s Self.  Darlene’s classes are usually a unique blend of asanas (postures), pranayama (breath work),
and meditation.  Darlene is also a Reiki Practitioner & Historical Landscape Architect for the National Park Service.




Lori Thomas
Lori has been practicing yoga for over 8 years, five years ago she added meditation to her practice and her passion for
yoga grew as her meditation practice expanded. Making the connection between body, mind and spirit was life-
changing for her and brought a whole new meaning to her yoga practice.  Lori then began her path as a teacher
studying meditation, several different forms of yoga and alternative healing. Lori is a 200-Hour Yoga Alliance
Registered Instructor.

In each class, she blends her training and years of experience into a creative, challenging, and soulful class. Her
classes are designed to release tension, improve flexibility and balance as well as strengthen the body.  Inspires her
students to become self-aware, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Encouraging students to recognize their inner
being, becoming self-aware mentally, physically & spiritually.  Lori's classes offer a fun, safe, and sacred space for
students to nourish their spirits, connect with their bodies and cultivate their true potential, leaving class feeling
nourished on all levels.






Nirvana Yoga Special Guest Instructors

Tim La Fleur
At Nirvana Yoga - April 17th & 24th
As the creator and co-owner of “Preventing & Surviving Violence”, Tim La Fleur has been conducting workshops for the
last three years.  Workshop content is based, in part, on his 7 years of involvement in the martial arts.  Tim also draws
from his degree in psychology, graduate work in the counseling field, as well as personal life experiences as a meeting
planner and in the social service industry.  “Preventing & Surviving Violence” has been presented at area universities,
social service agencies, fitness centers, churches and corporations for team building and employee enrichment
programs.  For more more information about Tim and his self-defense program visit, www.violencesurvival.com.




Rowan Silverburg
At Nirvana Yoga - May 2nd
Rowan Silverberg has been a student of yoga for 42 years, and has been teaching for over 20 years in the Cleveland
area.  She has also studied and practiced meditation in the Vipassana and Zen Buddhist traditions.  Rowan's teachings
are inspired and informed by her studies with John Friend and Jamie Allison (Anusara Yoga and Yoga Therapy) and
Douglas Brooks (Rajanaka Tantra).
Stagecoach Bldg. - 2nd Floor
4183 W. Streetsboro Rd. (Rt. 303)
Richfield, OH 44286
330-564-3773
Ice sculptures courtesy of
Elegant Ice.