Reinette Fournier
(Suraj Kaur)
Co-Founder and Director
Kundalini Yoga
Reinette has been a student of various schools of yoga for almost 30 years. In 2003, she walked into her first Kundalini Yoga class. “I really had no knowledge of what Kundalini Yoga was,” Reinette said. “It turned out to be quite different from anything I had done before. What I remember the most is leaving that class with an incredible and unforgettable sense of well-being and peace. I felt lighter and brighter with a calm beautiful energy.  I couldn’t wait for my next class. I can honestly say that my experience with Kundalini Yoga has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.”

Reinette became so passionate about this form of yoga that she soon entered the 200-hour teacher training program at Baba Siri Chand Ashram in Millis, MA., where she became KRI certified. Her teachers have included Gurucharan Singh Khalsa (Director of Training at the Kundalini Research Institute), Hari Kaur Khalsa (Former Director of Golden Bridge/NYC), Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa (Director of Golden Bridge/LA) and Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa (Director of Guru Ram Das Center for Medicine and Humanology).

In addition to her teaching, Reinette is a certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master and holds an MFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts/Dartmouth. She resides in Newport with her husband, Thomas Speare, who is also a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher. They share their home with two Boston Terriers, Django and Pearl, and two Siamese cats, Mingus and Indigo.

Thomas Speare
(Parmatma Singh)
Co-Founder
Kundalini Yoga
Like many who are exposed to the ancient teachings of Kundalini Yoga, it took only one Kundalini class to spark the transformative process that culminated in Tom teaching this unique combination of asana, pranayam, mantra and meditation. He followed the lead from his wife, Reinette Fournier, who completed her Kundalini Yoga teacher training at the Baba Siri Chand Ashram in Millis, MA. in 2005, finishing the same KRI certificate program in June of 2007. Tom has been fortunate to have studied with many internationally recognized Kundalini Yoga teachers including; Hari Kaur Khalsa, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Sada Sat Kaur Khalsa and Guru Singh Khalsa.

A Newport resident, Tom, (Parmatma Singh) brings to his teaching the experiences of being a sculptor, small business owner and entrepreneur, a land conservationist and nature lover. He and his wife, Reinette Fournier, share their home with two Boston Terriers and two Siamese cats.

Amanda Bourne
Vinyasa Flow
Amanda found yoga in 2002 and instantly felt the physical and emotional healing powers of the practice. While on a yoga retreat in Mexico, she was encouraged to enroll in a Teacher Training Program. She completed her training at Soma Yoga in Newport, RI in 2004.

Through breath, asana and a bit of laughter, she safely guides students through their practice. Her classes are designed for practitioners of all levels and are influenced by the many teachers she has practiced with. She encourages free movement while stressing the importance of proper alignment. Amanda's goal as a teacher is for students to experience that feeling of "letting go" and to be completely  present on the mat.

Mary Brakenhoff
(Harpiar Kaur)
Kundalini Yoga
Mary has been a student of  various forms of yoga for the past 12 years. Always searching for new ways to take care of her body and her spirit, she was very excited that Tenth Gate opened just down the street from her home.  “When I saw Kundalini Yoga on the schedule, I thought, something new!” Her first class was an experience like no other.  It was not only physically challenging, but it sparked something mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  “ All my life I’ve been yearning to know my purpose in life…..aside from raising 6 amazing children with a wonderful husband, I always knew there was more. After being encouraged by her mentor,  Reinette Fournier, she began Kundalini Yoga teacher training at Kripalu this past Febuary. This journey is just beginning to unfold for Mary. With an open heart she looks forward to sharing her passion for Kundalini Yoga with her Tenth Gate family.

  
Renee Deslauriers
Hot Power Vinyasa Yoga
Renee has a long history of practicing in the heat. For more than fifteen years she has been learning yoga from Master Bikram teachers MaryAnn and Donna Nassa. Under their guidance, she began to teach.

More recently, the lure of heat led Renee to a vinyasa class taught by Master Baptiste teacher Philip Urso. Shortly after, Renee completed Philip's 300-hour teacher-training and was certified. In addition to her certification, Renee has completed Baron Baptiste's Level 1 & Level 2 teacher training programs, which total an additional 220 instruction hours.

Liz Dufresne
Hot Power Vinyasa Yoga
Liz discovered yoga 14 years ago when her children were young, and she was balancing parenting and graduate school.  Although weekly yoga classes gave Liz the mental and physical flexibility she needed to manage the responsibilities in her life, it remained in the background.

Then, six years ago, Liz took her first Baptiste Hot Power Vinyasa Yoga class. That one class changed everything. She knew this was a language that made sense. Overnight, yoga went from being an accessory to being primary in Liz’s life. Weekly practice became daily practice

Liz has completed all of her teacher trainings with world-renowned yoga teacher Baron Baptiste. She finds his clear, direct, authentic teachings perfectly complement her personal beliefs, and she continues to attend yearly “bootcamps” with Baron.

In addition to her Baptiste influence, Liz’s teaching draws on her twenty years working in the field of psychology. She holds a Master’s degree in psychology and worked for many years with both children and adults.

Liz also facilitates studies in “A Course in Miracles” a spiritual text she discovered 13 years ago.  According to Liz, “This text has answered every question I have ever had about spirituality and I have had LOTS of questions!  It is comfortable knowing that even when I temporarily forget what is true, I have the tools and the experience to remember.  This is the gift I bring to my students.”

Liz is a Reiki Master and runs the Hot Power Yoga and Reiki Training programs at Tenth Gate.

Barbara Gee
Hatha Yoga
Beginner's Yoga and Meditation
Barbara first encountered yoga over 30 years ago, from a book. Since that time she has delved deeply into the connection between body, mind, spirit, and the heart. In her journey she has learned from many traditions including: Transcendental Meditation, Aikido, Shiatsu, Buddhism, Zazen, and Pilates. She continues to question and learn, with an open mind, and heart. Barbara is a graduate of the Innerlight Yoga Teacher Training, and a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She is also a Master Gardener, professional writer, and published author (www.barbaragee.com).

Born and raised in London, Barbara has traveled extensively working in places as far afield as Hong Kong, San Francisco, New York, and Boston. Her work in television, and the world of publications, has always been about communicating. Now she chooses to communicate her love of yoga: “Yoga answers all my questions, and then presents me with more. I’m entranced by it all – from Yin Yoga to Kundalini. I could plunge ever deeper!”

Barbara lives in Portsmouth with her husband and their two daughters, all three of whom work in theater. Also part of the family are Toby, their Golden Retriever, and two cats, Noelle and Horatio.

Sat Siri Kaur
Kundalini Yoga
Sat Siri Kaur brings to her teaching over thirty-five years of Hatha Yoga and Vipassna Meditation practice. However, it was her experience with Kundalini Yoga that inspired her to become a teacher.  In addition to being an IKYTA and KRI certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, Sat Siri Kaur is also a Third Degree Initiate in the Usui system of Reiki and a Level Two student of Sat Nam Rasayan®.
 
Sat Siri teaches to share with others the therapeutic benefits of Kundalini Yoga. Her classes use Kriyas, mantra, pranayama, and meditation, and seek to develop in the student a compassionate and contemplative self-awareness that leads to peace, a stronger immune system, and a calm heart. She strongly encourages students to enjoy the benefits of Kundalini Yoga, to start wherever they are, and to let the yoga work on them.
 
Sat Siri was diagnosed in 1992 with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, and in 1997 with chronic Lyme Disease. When her health again permitted, she returned to yoga and in 1999 took her first Kundalini Yoga class. Kundalini Yoga had an immediate positive effect on her health. She developed a regular Kundalini practice and in 2003 she was certified as a teacher. To this day Sat Siri Kaur relies on Kundalini Yoga to manage chronic illness. She knows from experience that “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.”

Jessica Mason
Vinyasa Yoga
One day, about ten years ago, participating in her first yoga class, Jessica discovered child’s pose, and from there found emotional balance. She was hooked. Over the years she has turned to vinyasa style yoga to find both emotional and physical balance and as a tool to allow life to flow freely in the way her free spirit craves. As a certified Holistic Health Counselor, Jessica chose to incorporate yoga into her practice by becoming a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level, by completing the teacher training program through Soma Yoga in Newport, RI. With her extensive sports background, including the completion of several long distance triathlons, Jessica enjoys teaching the importance of incorporating yoga into an effective training program as a way to enhance performance and prevent the sports related injuries plaguing today’s athletes. Jessica now balances teaching yoga with her nutritional counseling business, Ripple Effect Wellness, full time corporate job, and quality time with family and friends.

Jude Monteserrato
Alignment Based Yoga
Jude began her dedicated yoga practice in 2003. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level and completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification with Cathy Cesario/Spirit Tree Yoga in 2007. Jude has been blessed to study with many wonderful teachers, including her first teacher, Vivekan, in Brooklyn, Cathy Cesario, Seane Corn and most recently Aadil and Mirra Palkhivala. Each of these teachers has impacted her practice, teaching, and life.

Jude's love and passion for yoga comes through in the safe, fun and playful environment she establishes in her classes. Students are encouraged to honor and listen to their bodies with compassion while developing strength, balance, and flexibility. Her teaching style emphasizes alignment-based asana (postures) and the use of props to deepen the student's experience of the asana while also cultivating mindfulness.

Jude's desire to help all humanity inspired her to embark on the Cambodia Seva Challenge with Seane Corn, raising $21,000 by uniting with community, friends and family. Presently, Jude is pursuing her 500-hour Yoga Teacher Certification at Aadil and Mirra Palkhivala's College of Purna Yoga in Washington State. She expects to complete her training with Aadil and Mirra in September 2010.

In addition to studying, practicing and teaching yoga, Jude is also a Personal Chef and loves to cook whole, natural simple delicious food.

Michael Parsons
Hatha Yoga
Beginner Yoga and Meditation
Michael is a 500 (+) hour Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Licensed Massage Therapist and Ayurvedic Educator. Michael began his inquiry into Yoga and the Healing Arts in 1994 with Reiki and Therapeutic Touch. He received a 200 hour "Mind-Body" yoga certification from Finding Inner Peace in Abington, MA in 1997 and became certified to teach Kripalu Yoga in 2005 while in residency in Stockbridge, MA. He has recently been awarded a 500 hour teaching certificate and Ayurvedia Yoga Specialist certification through Kripalu Center. He has been a Polarity Practitioner since 1998 and a Licensed Massage Therapist since 2000. An advocate of daily pranayam, simple postures and energy awareness, he teaches from a heart-centered place that is both accessible and approachable. Michael also has a professional practice with a focus in bodywork and Ayurveda Education at Newport Acupuncture & Wellness Spa in Middletown, RI.You can contact Michael at www.pranadudes.com
 

Natalie Schiffer
Bliss/Svaroopa® Yoga
Natalie Schiffer is certified as a Svaroopa® Yoga Basics teacher as well as an Embodyment® Yoga Therapist offering classes and private sessions. She is registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level through Master Yoga Foundation in PA and has had the honor to study with Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati, the creator of Svaroopa® yoga, as well as many of their master teachers. After trying several styles of yoga, she decided her passion was Svaroopa® yoga and started the intense teacher training. She continues training with Master Yoga in order to enrich the experience of her students, keeping them challenged and growing. Her journey into yoga started with chronic pain, stress and an innate yearning for “something.” Little did she know it was the beginning of her true path and moving into inner bliss.

Maureen Sweeney
(Mehermeet Kaur)
Kundalini Yoga
Maureen has been a fan of all things yoga for 20+ years.  First, as a student, and now taking it to the next level...teaching.  She is currently enrolled in the Level One Kundalini Teacher Training at Kripalu, completing this Winter.  With a Masters of Education, she has lectured health care students for both the Community College of Rhode Island and New England Technical Institute.  For 15 years she has been licensed and active in providing physical and massage therapies in clinical and private settings in Rhode Island.   

Lynda West
Children's Yoga
Mommy & Me Yoga
Lynda is a student of ChildLight Yoga working with children ages 3-11.  She is continuing her studies in yoga for teens. She has been part of the health and wellness  community for over ten years.  Lynda holds certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness Aerobics, Kickboxing, Pre/Post Natal Fitness and Nutrition.  She is the creative mind/teacher behind Moms In Motion, a popular pre/post natal program in Newport.  Her love of motivating people to take care of their bodies yet except who they are, plus raising four children of her own, has brought her to her dream of sharing the yoga experience with young minds.