Nirvana Yoga Instructors
A detail to consider as you decide where to practice yoga - there are no laws that govern the instruction of yoga - that being said,
anyone can call themselves a yoga instructor. Pretty scary - huh?
Yoga Alliance® is the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States. They work in the public interest to
ensure that there is a thorough understanding of the benefits of yoga, that the teachers of yoga value its history and traditions and
that the public can be confident of the quality and consistency of instruction. At Nirvana Yoga you can be assured that your yoga
instructor has completed a Yoga Alliance approved teacher training program at the minimum 200 hour level. Additionally, Nirvana
Yoga is a Yoga Alliance registered Yoga School.
Melissa Cugini, E-RYT
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 an Experienced 200-hour Yoga
Alliance Registered Instructor, as well as the Director of the Nirvana Yoga Teacher Training Program.
In addition to classes at Nirvana Yoga, Melissa teaches on-site corporate yoga, has served as the assistant yoga instructor for the
Cleveland Indians minor league players and teaches Yoga for Cancer at Stewart's Caring Place in Akron. 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.
Kathy Orazio
Kathy Orazio has been practicing yoga for over 15 years with various local and national teachers. Kathy is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance
Registered instructor and is also a Reiki practitioner. Kathy has spent the last 2 decades studying the benefits of the mind/body
connection and has found yoga to be one of the best ways to heal the body and calm the mind. She has studied extensive breath
work and has seen how countless people have been positively affected by simply slowing the breath and relaxing the mind.
Kathy's yoga teaching experience includes teaching seniors and teenagers (mostly affected with ADD & ADHD) and has seen that no
matter what the activity level of an individual, yoga has something to offer everyone. Kathy brings to her teaching a sense of us all
being beginners and believes that when we come to the mat, we begin anew, simply taking one breath at a time.
Maria Santoferraro
Maria is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Instructor who has practiced with many teachers throughout the Akron/Cleveland area.
Prior to becoming a yoga instructor, Maria spent many years in the corporate world of advertising and software development and it
was that fast paced, stressful environment that eventually led her to seek out a healthier lifestyle and the one form of exercise that
has always brought her joy and relief—yoga! The practice of yoga has helped Maria heal her back from the chronic pain she
experienced as a result of being diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager. But more than relieving stress and feeling better both
physically and spiritually, yoga has brought her a new balanced way of living that has enhanced her well-being.
Maria keeps her classes lighthearted and fun while helping to demystify yoga and educate her students on the benefits of yoga both
on and off the mat. With a different mash-up of music every week and a variety of uplifting class themes, she keeps her classes fresh
and creative. Maria’s goal is to share the benefits of yoga with everyone, especially those who think that they aren’t able to do yoga
because of their fitness level, inflexibility, injury or any other reason.
Elaine Hullihen
Elaine got her first taste of yoga ten years ago as a teenager whose best friend's mom taught yoga in her backyard. Through many
great local teachers since then she has been introduced to the lifelong journey of yoga. Elaine completed her teacher training
through Brahmrishi Yoga, which was inspired by Brahrishi Vishvatma Bawraji and is now taught by Margot and Bill Milcetich. This
tradition aligns breath and movement to bring the mind and body together. Asana and meditation are tools to develop awareness of
the body that blossoms into personal discovery, growth and strength.
Elaine's teaching style that encourages students to grow from within - finding their own breath, light and life in practice.
A detail to consider as you decide where to practice yoga - there are no laws that govern the instruction of yoga - that being said,
anyone can call themselves a yoga instructor. Pretty scary - huh?
Yoga Alliance® is the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States. They work in the public interest to
ensure that there is a thorough understanding of the benefits of yoga, that the teachers of yoga value its history and traditions and
that the public can be confident of the quality and consistency of instruction. At Nirvana Yoga you can be assured that your yoga
instructor has completed a Yoga Alliance approved teacher training program at the minimum 200 hour level. Additionally, Nirvana
Yoga is a Yoga Alliance registered Yoga School.
Melissa Cugini, E-RYT
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 an Experienced 200-hour Yoga
Alliance Registered Instructor, as well as the Director of the Nirvana Yoga Teacher Training Program.
In addition to classes at Nirvana Yoga, Melissa teaches on-site corporate yoga, has served as the assistant yoga instructor for the
Cleveland Indians minor league players and teaches Yoga for Cancer at Stewart's Caring Place in Akron. 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.
Kathy Orazio
Kathy Orazio has been practicing yoga for over 15 years with various local and national teachers. Kathy is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance
Registered instructor and is also a Reiki practitioner. Kathy has spent the last 2 decades studying the benefits of the mind/body
connection and has found yoga to be one of the best ways to heal the body and calm the mind. She has studied extensive breath
work and has seen how countless people have been positively affected by simply slowing the breath and relaxing the mind.
Kathy's yoga teaching experience includes teaching seniors and teenagers (mostly affected with ADD & ADHD) and has seen that no
matter what the activity level of an individual, yoga has something to offer everyone. Kathy brings to her teaching a sense of us all
being beginners and believes that when we come to the mat, we begin anew, simply taking one breath at a time.
Maria Santoferraro
Maria is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Instructor who has practiced with many teachers throughout the Akron/Cleveland area.
Prior to becoming a yoga instructor, Maria spent many years in the corporate world of advertising and software development and it
was that fast paced, stressful environment that eventually led her to seek out a healthier lifestyle and the one form of exercise that
has always brought her joy and relief—yoga! The practice of yoga has helped Maria heal her back from the chronic pain she
experienced as a result of being diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager. But more than relieving stress and feeling better both
physically and spiritually, yoga has brought her a new balanced way of living that has enhanced her well-being.
Maria keeps her classes lighthearted and fun while helping to demystify yoga and educate her students on the benefits of yoga both
on and off the mat. With a different mash-up of music every week and a variety of uplifting class themes, she keeps her classes fresh
and creative. Maria’s goal is to share the benefits of yoga with everyone, especially those who think that they aren’t able to do yoga
because of their fitness level, inflexibility, injury or any other reason.
Elaine Hullihen
Elaine got her first taste of yoga ten years ago as a teenager whose best friend's mom taught yoga in her backyard. Through many
great local teachers since then she has been introduced to the lifelong journey of yoga. Elaine completed her teacher training
through Brahmrishi Yoga, which was inspired by Brahrishi Vishvatma Bawraji and is now taught by Margot and Bill Milcetich. This
tradition aligns breath and movement to bring the mind and body together. Asana and meditation are tools to develop awareness of
the body that blossoms into personal discovery, growth and strength.
Elaine's teaching style that encourages students to grow from within - finding their own breath, light and life in practice.
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| Nirvana Yoga Stagecoach Bldg. - 2nd Floor 4183 W. Streetsboro Rd. (Rt. 303) Richfield, OH 44286 330-564-3773 |
Nature Photos by Peggy Miklus
