Pierre Couvillion - Director and Founder; Ayurveda, Massage and Yoga Lead Trainer
Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500, NAMA Certified Ayurveda Practitioner, NCBTMB Board Certified Bodywork and Massage Therapist, Sanskrit and Yoga Philosophy Teacher. Pierre is the founder and director of Santosha School. He began training in natural health care in 1992, working full time in the field in 2000; and has instructed at more than 100 schools in the US, Mexico and Canada, including the Ayurvedic Institute.
He holds certifications in: Ayurveda, Yang style T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Ashtanga Yoga, Synergy (Hot) Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Viniyoga, Craniosacral Therapy, Ayurveda Massage, Acupressure (Marma), Barefoot Shiatsu, Thai Massage, Tui Na, Sanskrit, and is a devotee of the Self-Realization Fellowship of Paramahansa Yogananda. Pierre also teaches Sanskrit and helps students develop a personal connection to texts like the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita.
Pierre does his best to continue the luminous work of his incredible teachers: Paramahansa Yogananda (yoga meditation); Dr. Vasant Lad (Ayurveda); Dr. Barry Green (BodyMind therapy, natural health care trainer); Tim Miller (ashtanga yoga); Kathy Green (viniyoga); Bataan Faiago and Chris Luth (t'ai chi ch'uan); Peri Ness (synergy hot yoga); Myriam Machado Baker (anusara yoga); Ray Castellino (birth and prenatal trauma); Edward Spencer (ashiatsu); the Acupressure Institute (oriental bodywork); Marshall Rosenberg (NVC); Kanta Masters and Dennis Holz (spiritual growth Source seminars)
Pierre does his very best to make spiritual living, which can seem difficult and esoteric, instead become simple, loving and practical. He is working to create a 4 year degree in natural health care so that young people may some day have a real profession in it.
Pierre meets the established requirements for education and experience and is registered with the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, the Yoga Alliance, and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the national organizations for these health disciplines. You can learn more about these organizations at: NAMA , Yoga Alliance , NCBTMB
Pierre is available for skype/facetime/voice Ayurveda consultations and advice. For these consults, schedule directly with him at pcouvy@gmail.com
Blythe Potter - Yoga Teacher RYT500, BAS, LE, CMT, BCTMB - owner Bargersville, IN branch online here
Blythe was first introduced to yoga by her favorite English teacher in high school whom she continues to be inspired by today. She learned to lead a basic yoga flow while studying dance at Ball State University but realized that her previous training and practice was insufficient during her first level one class Santosha. Captivated by the lifestyle and educational opportunities at Santosha School, she needed this curriculum to be a part of her personal and professional life.
Deanna Sapp - Yoga Teacher RYT500 - owner San Miguel de Allende, MX branch online here
Deanna is a passionate athlete, dancer, and ambassador to the beauty of San Miguel. Come enjoy a sweaty workout with her in Indy or Mexico. Sign up for a longer trip to Mexico and be inspired..
Kathy Mickel - Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer, Yoga RYT500, E-RYT500
Kathy brings decades of experience in personal development, and a career in the development of others, to her role as the school's academic dean and Teacher Trainer. She is also a devoted student of Paramansa Yogananda and a yoga instructor. She finds joy in the inner practices of yoga and brings those practices to her classes, retreats and life.
Shiela Dimof - Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer, Massage Therapist, Ayurveda Panchakarma Therapist, Yoga RYT500, E-RYT500, NCBTMB, CMT
Shiela has found a special home at Santosha as a yoga teacher and massage therapist. She draws from her background of living at a meditation retreat center, training in bodywork, and her fascination with Ayurveda. Her classes carry a nurturing, gentle and joyful feeling.
Melissa Moran - Yoga Teacher RYT500, mentor teacher
Melissa first began yoga as a way to relieve the stresses of a hectic life. Following several years of regular practice at Santosha, she is now continuing her yoga learning through the teacher training program. Melissa enjoys the welcoming community at Santosha, and looks forward to sharing her love of the practice as she begins to teach.
Dr. Shona Craig - Yoga Teacher RYT500, Dr. Physical Therapy
Yoga has been a part of Shona’s entire life on and off the mat. She has explored many types of yoga, meditation, energy work, bodywork (Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Manual Lymphatic Drainage), and spiritual practices. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy licensed in New York and Washington offering yoga therapy as a component of her physical therapy practice. She is a board certified women’s health clinical specialist and a certified lymphedema therapist. Currently she enjoys practicing Iyengar yoga and has studied with many senior Iyengar teachers. She loves developing a deeper understanding of the human being on the physical, emotional, intellectual, intuitive, and spiritual levels.
April Couvillion - Yoga Teacher RYT200, LMT
April brings years of dance training to her massage practice and yoga teaching. She loves thai massage, acupressure and playing music.
Nina Leung - Yoga Teacher RYT500, mentor teacher
Nina is thankful that yoga and meditation have helped her relax, play, feel and heal since 2009. She practices in living rooms, offices, parks, beaches, and at Santosha! She loves sharing this wonderful practice of internal exploration.
Jo Robinson - Yoga RYT500, E-RYT200
Jo’s zeal for yoga is matched by her passion for music, cats and sharing laughter with family and friends. When she met Pierre and began practicing at Santosha, Jo knew she had found her spiritual home. “It’s never too late to follow your heart and dreams”. She has done just that in becoming a yoga instructor at 57 and delights in being a loving den mother to the teacher trainees.
Kelsey Morgan - Yoga RYT200, 500 in training
Kelsey's path to yoga began as a way to round out her athletic routine. She soon noticed the peace yoga brought to her mind. Kelsey enjoys kindling a flame for yoga with her young daughter and the other children with whom she works. She teaches a physical yoga class that is light and playful
Allie Burns - Yoga Teacher RYT200
Allie started practicing yoga right after college as a way to be active. From the beginning she was curious about the spiritual aspects of yoga. Fast-forward to 2016 at a yoga festival in Hawaii: She had a transformational meditation experience that tapped into her energetic layer, and it left her wanting more. After coming home to Indianapolis, she was led to Santosha for meditation and found the teacher training as the next step on her personal growth journey. She enjoys using meditation and chanting to connect with the Divine and is excited to see where this education will lead!
Brian Kent - Yoga Teacher RYT200
Brian is new into yoga, beginning his practice in August 2019. He loves the universality of yoga as well as its holistic benefits across the five koshas. He finds joy and stillness while exploring the more subtle components of yoga. To balance himself from his job as an accountant at Ernst & Young LLP, Brian enjoys being outside, reading, listening to music and staying active by backpacking, hiking, biking and skiing as he travels across the world.
Nicolette Serrao - Yoga Teacher RYT200
Nicolette was introduced to yoga at the age of 2 by her inspiring aunt. She has continued to practice yoga with family and friends ever since. As a New Mexico native, she finds her happiness in the sunshine and outdoors. She hopes to teach yoga from mountain tops all over the world.
Christopher Caudill - Yoga Teacher in training
Christopher came to be a spiritual seeker through the physical asana practice of Ashtanga Yoga. He is grateful to have been guided to the practice of yoga which has brought balance and discipline into his life. He enjoys hiking, travel, gardening, drawing and painting.
Tanya Bergeron - Yoga Teacher in training
Hi, I’m thrilled to be in the Teacher Training program at Santosha in Indianapolis. It is such an amazing community, everyone welcomed me with open arms. It has helped me find the balance in my life that I was looking for. My husband and I recently moved to Westfield with our 2 beagles. We are originally from New Hampshire and we find Indiana to be much like the best parts of the Northeast. We love it here! When I’m not at work as a Dental Hygienist, I keep busy doing one of my other interests: free weights, cardio, biking, reading, crochet and most importantly spending time with my family, friends and dogs