zaanti yoga studio

Our Teachers


	Cathy Salvini, Owner

	Cathy is a lifelong resident of the Berkshires. She is a Kripalu trained, Certified Yoga Teacher. Cathy has both a Bachelor's and Master's in Education. She has taught Elementary Education for 27 years. She has been practicing yoga for 12 years. Cathy is thrilled to combine her love of teaching and yoga, and share this in class with you. Cathy looks forward to sharing Zaanti studio with you, which she has lovingly and personally designed for your peace and comfort.


	Melissa Freedman

	Melissa Freedman is a Registered Nurse and Reiki practitioner, as well as a certified Kripalu yoga teacher. Melissa began exploring Hatha yoga and meditation as a teenager growing up in Westport, CT. Although her practice was put on hold while raising her four children, Melissa's love of yoga was re-awakened through a Kripalu yoga class offered at her community college. Melissa's practice deepened with the help of two other Kripalu-trained teachers, eventually inspiring her to pursue her own Kripalu yoga teacher training. Melissa relocated permanently to the Berkshires in 2008; she lives in Lenox and works as an RN at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington.


	Ben Seidman

	Ben is a Kripalu trained yoga teacher who completed his 500 hr certification in August, 2010. He has an eclectic approach to yoga utilizing mindfulness to support a safe asana practice and cultivation of equanimity to support nonjudgemental awareness and kindness. Ben has been interested in self inquiry since his teenage days. He began practicing Tai Chi in his twenties and meditation in his thirties. He became seriously interested in yoga in 2005 and immersed himself in the Kripalu Volunteer program in 2006. Ben completed his 200 hr teacher training in 2007. Ben has previously worked as a registered physical therapist and has a master's degree in exercise science. He draws on this background to promote musculoskeletal safety during his classes. & Friday mornings

Rima Sala

Rima received her 200 - hour Yoga Certified Training at Moksha Yoga, in Chicago, in 2000, and continued studies with Shiva Rhea, Ana Forest and Gary Kraftsow. Drawn to dance and movement from childhood, yoga was a gateway to movement as meditation. After an injury temporarily restricted her yoga practice, she began exploring other mind-body healing modalities. In 2001 she began from training in Asian Body Work and the study of Chinese Medicine, taking over 1000 class and clinic hours in Chicago and Italy. She was certified by two national organizations and has practiced Shiatsu since 2001. Under the guidance of one of her teachers, she began the practice of Zen, which influences her yoga and shiatsu practices. Rima's classes include short meditation and pranayama, or breathing exercises, as a way of bringing students to a place of stillness and focus, and a conscious exploration of movement and energy in the body. Born in New York City, Rima moved to the Berkshires in 2008, with her husband, and has worked in health care during much of that time. In addition to her yoga and shiatsu practice, she volunteers for Hospice and at Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival.