Lizzy Hoffmann was taught Yoga by her mother as a child in the late 60’s -70’s. Her mom followed gurus such as Muktananda, Satchitananda, and Roy Eugene Davis. Yoga was a part of her life at a very young age.
Lizzy took up dancing and became a professional dancer and by the time she was graduated from High School she was working with Dance companies across the States. She received her Degree in Dance/Kinesology and Choreography in 1986. The joy of movement and the miracle of life itself is a constant inspiration for her. She then went head first into the Sport /Fitness world . Became a presenter for major fitness Companies and presented for them around the world. Lizzy came back full circle to Yoga as she was introduced to her teacher, Paul Toliuszis, owner of Miami’s Yoga Shala in Miami, FL. She earned her 200hrs RYT with Paul and since then has taught thousands of yoga classes, created her own school and opened her own Yoga Studio: Urban Bliss Yoga. She has achieved E-RYT status with Yoga Alliance and is currently working on her 800 hour yoga certification with Georg Feuerstein. Lizzy practices Ahimsa in her daily life and consciously eats vegan.
Genevieve was brought up practicing yoga, imagery and stress management techniques using an holistic approach as a child. She was also fortunate enough to meet and learn from such holistic health leaders as Lilias, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Joan Borysenko, Dr. Andrew Weil, Joan Wester Anderson, and others who have greatly influenced her life.
In high school, Genevieve danced classical ballet, jazz and lyrical competitively. She graduated from OhioUniversity in 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communication and Marketing.She moved to Cornelius after college taking a marketing position. She met Lizzy Hoffman and began practicing and studying yoga, completing her 200 hour teacher training in 2008.
Genevieve's passion for healthy living encompasses other body, mind, spirit approaches including nutrition, journaling, running, skiing, volunteering and meditation. She is also fluent in American Sign Language. Genevieve is a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance and looks forward to sharing the wonderful journey of yoga with you.
Amanda Brutus-Phillips, RYT
Vinyasa Yoga
Amanda is a certified vinyasa yoga instructor and a licensed Massage Therapist. She holds a Bacherlor degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Education. She has spent several years working with New York City youths in the field of education.
She lives with her husband and two beautiful daughters in Cornelius. After moving to Charlotte she has dedicated herself to helping others achieve a healthy lifestyle through movement and touch therapy. “I look forward to joining and being a part of the Urban Bliss yoga family.”
SAM Sather,MS, BSN, RYT Yoga Flow, Modified Primary Series, Kids Yoga, Teen Yoga
Sandra “S.A.M.” Sather received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at Niagara University and later her Master’s of Science in Education. Out of college SAM taught fitness classes and was a personal trainer for over 20 years. SAM left fitness training for 5 years to build a business in the clinical research industry with her husband Chuck called Clinical Pathways. The business continues to helps companies develop new therapies to cure and/or mitigate disease. During the time away from fitness SAM was diagnosed with an adrenal disorder caused by that extremely busy schedule many of us live by. So, she decided it was time to get back into the fitness industry to help herself and others. This lead to the participation in yoga classes and eventually a 200 hour yoga certification program completed this Fall with Lizzy through Urban Bliss. SAM is also trained in Kids and Teen Yoga. She uses her love of educating and facilitation in her class to combine mind and body in each session. SAM and Chuck have two children 16 (Rob) & 18 (Sarah), two dogs and the boss of the house: the cat Oogii. SAM is excited to learn and practice at Urban Bliss!
Kari Sharpstene, BS, RN, RYT Modified Primary
Kari received her Batchelor's of Science in Biology at Florida Southern College and later her diploma in Nursing. She has worked for Presbyterian Hospital for eleven years, the last four being at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville. She has two children Sara (14) and Matthew (10) and two cats.
Kari started taking yoga classes back in 2006 and enjoyed the mind, body, spirit approach. She jumped headfirst into consistent yoga by studying with Lizzy and completing teacher training in the fall of 2008 through Urban Bliss. Kari teaches the Thursday Yoga I class from 6-7pm. She looks forward to practicing with you.
"Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do."
John Wooden
Elle Banken, RYT Restorative Yoga
Elle moved to the Lake Norman area from Florida after she took the Yoga Teacher Training with Lizzy at Urban Bliss Yoga in the Cornelius Studio.
Judi first started practicing yoga in her native Country, England. She loved the way it made her feel and wanted to share that with others. She completed her 200 hr Teacher Training program at the Urban Bliss School of Yoga in Cornelius with Lizzy Hoffmann.
She also holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Counseling. She lives with her husband, two wonderful boys and their dog, Lola in Huntersville.
Maureen Kunda - Alignment Yoga (similar to Iyengar Yoga)
The ancient practice of yoga has long been regarded as an effective path to relieving emotional stress, curing bodily ills and achieving personal equilibrium and balance.
Maureen has been an aficionado of yoga for 15 years and has trained with Lillah Schwartz (Lighten Up Yoga, Asheville, NC) and Phyllis Rollins (8th Street Studio, Charlotte, NC). Both Lillah and Phyllis are certified in the prestigious Iyengar method, which emphasizes correct alignment of the total body within each yoga pose. This precision builds strength and stamina, balance and flexibility, as well as a new sense of well-being.
Maureen’s yoga journey has been a quest to relieve extreme stress and pain in her own life, which has given her a deep desire to share her gift with others.
