Linda Lalita Winnick is Owner /Creator of Shakti Yoga of Woodstock . She focuses on the cultivation of Shakti or Inner Power. A certified yoga teacher, with an M.A. in Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga Philosophy, Linda’s teaching of yoga integrates her over three decades of experience as a yoga practitioner and teacher with the principles of exercise physiology and the energetics of Ayurveda. Her classes reflect the attunement of time, place, season, and group dynamic. Unbound by a single lineage, Linda has developed creative sequencing of pranayama (breath work), Vinyasa Krama and Shat Karmas (cleansing techniques). This sequencing and her masterful demonstrations promote the growth of flexibility, strength, and efficient alignment. Classes are challenging and at the same time punctuated with laughter at her whimsical commentary. They can be adapted to all levels of ability and individual limitation. Shaping her offering with joy, Linda creates an inclusive space that challenges each person to feel free to do what they can to foster their own strength and wellbeing through the art of yoga.

Linda Lalita is owner of multiple Shakti Yoga Studios in the Hudson Valley New York. She was a popular workshop instructor at the Omega Institute for a decade. Linda trains yoga teachers in her methods. (200 Hour and Advanced 500 Hour) She is invited to teach in programs around the country and in Europe.

Who:Barbara Schofield

Where: Barbara lives on the outskirts of Catskill in Kiskatom which means the Land of the Nuts (literally). She currently teaches a “Relax and Unwind from the Week” 9:30 am Level 1 Friday morning class at Shakti Saugerties and a Thursday 10:30 am chair yoga class at the Washington Irving Senior Center in Catskill.

Training: She is an official “newbie” in Yogaland completing her 200 hour Shakti Yoga Certification July 2017; however, Barbara has a lifetime of movement experience that she delights in sharing with others. She is currently enhancing her knowledge base in Lakshmi Voelker’s “Get Fit Where You Sit “ Chair Yoga Program.

Why Barbara Teaches: Barbara has often used the body vehicle to smooth the wrinkles in the inner landscape and Journey towards a more harmonious union. Her passionate belief is that we are all in this together and yoga is for everybody. Her secret joy is to open that yogic door for the person that might have previously been too shy to step into a yoga studio and support that journey one building block at a time!!

Favorite Pose: Anjaneyasana – crescent or half moon pose named for the god Hanuman’s Mom, Anjani . It is a powerful deep lunge reflective of the strong feminine energy of the mother and the intelligent monkey servant energy of Hanuman. Barbara was born in the Chinese Year of the Monkey which marries with yoga’s mission of service to others.

Fun fact: Barbara has had a deep connection with the plant beings and Mother Earth which began as a very young child in Prospect Park Brooklyn, spending hours walking round the protruding roots of a hilltop maple and seated amidst these rooted anchors weaving clover necklaces.

Favorite Quote: “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” Dalai Lama

Who: Christina Steen

Where: Christina lives in Phoenicia, NY, and teaches at both Shakti Yoga Saugerties and Shakti Yoga Woodstock, as well as The Emerson Place, and The Yoga House of Kingston.

Training: Christina completed her 200 Hour certification with Shakti Yoga Studios in July 2017.

Offerings: Christina teaches Very Beginner, Level 1, Prenatal, and Kids classes.

Why Christina Teaches: She is inspired by yoga to live each moment more mindfully while keeping her body healthy and strong. Her introduction to yoga was a prenatal class she took when she was pregnant with her daughter 18 years ago. Christina has since fallen in love with yoga and she wants to share it with anyone interested in giving it a try. She is committed to making her class engaging and nurturing for all, and more challenging for those up for the task. She finds yoga to be a very personal, non-competitive practice. Instead of looking for a perfect pose, she hopes you leave the mat feeling more nourished and balanced within.

Coming soon

Who: Kirk Lawson

Where: For nearly the past 30 years, Kirk has had the honor and pleasure of dividing his week between the bustling metropolis called Manhattan and the energizing and serene Hudson Valley.  He teaches at Shakti Yoga Studios in the Hudson Valley.

Training: Kirk has completed the 200 hour Teacher Certification with Linda Winnick at Shakti Yoga Woodstock.    Having taught aerobics many years ago following some dance training and performance arts experience, Kirk is happy to be able to offer his insights regarding all that yoga has to offer to learners of all backgrounds.

Offerings: Kirk teaches Beginner Yoga and is particularly interested in meeting learners where they are to help them meet their goals.  With his background in and keen interests/passions with exercise of many forms, Kirk is also interested in helping athletes leverage all that yoga has to offer to help them succeed in their favorite forms of exercise.

Why: Yoga empowers us to help ourselves with a cadre of tools to align the mind, body and soul.   We can practice yoga anywhere, anytime  and without any peripheral stuff. All we need is ourselves: our body, mind, heart and soul.  Yoga is a personal and internal practice that supports us to excel in our own minds and bodies and can help us relate more successfully to the many external forces in the very busy world we live in.

Favorite yoga pose: Virabhadrasana II- Warrior II. We all have a warrior within us – a guide and protector to keep us alert, safe and prepared to succeed in spite of life’s many challenges. Yoga helps us keep in touch with and exercise our inner warrior and Warrior II pose activates it.

Fun fact: Apart from exercise, two of the greatest joys for me include cooking/entertaining and music.  I enjoy feeding the soul with food, wine and music.

Favorite quote: The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. —Ralph Waldo Emerson. I would add to that, aim big!

coming soon 

Who: Patricia Ferris

Where: I live in Saugerties and teach at the Shakti Saugerties studio on Wednesday mornings.

Ytt/teaching exp: I have been practicing yoga for twenty years, and finally decided to take the plunge and become an instructor. I finish my 200 hour yoga teacher training in June 2019. I am learning from none other than Linda Winnick.

Offerings: Level I class at Shakti Saugerties

Why: I tried yoga on a whim and fell instantly in love. It was a way to calm my mind, stretch my body, and feel connected to the world and the people in it. I want to share the joy and sense of peace that yoga provides to me with everyone who needs a little more joy and peace in their life.

Favorite yoga pose: Sirsasana (headstand) It’s my favorite pose because it’s fun to look at the world from a different angle. My dad used to do it all the time when I was little and I always thought it was so cool. It took me a long time to learn this pose. When I do a headstand now, it almost feels like I’m paying homage to my father.

Fun fact: I grew up in the South, as one of twelve children. As a result, I have a slight accent and not much need for personal space. I’m also a big crossword nerd.

Favorite quote: Live and let live.

Who: Nicole Buono

Where: Nicole is born and raised in Saugerties, NY, but is now living a town over in Woodstock. She travels often for her job, but feels extremely lucky each time she returns home to the beautiful Hudson Valley. Nicole teaches at Shakti Yoga Saugerties and Pure Mountain Yoga in Tannersville, NY.

Ytt/teaching exp: Nicole completed her 200-hour teacher training at Shakti in June 2019.

Offerings: (Tuesday 6p Level 1 at Shakti Saugerties) Very beginner, Level 1, and Children’s yoga classes at the YMCA of Ulster County.

Why: “It was love at first Sun Salutation” Nicole came to her mat 10 years ago at Shakti Saugerties, and was hooked instantly. Coming from an athletic background, Nicole was always looking for a challenge and yoga offered up that challenge for both her body and mind. Through her practice, Nicole worked through the challenges that arose and was able to connect her body and mind, something she strives to help her students achieve. Nicole hopes to spread love and happiness within her classes and show the world that yoga is truly for everyone. She likes to offer creative sequencing, with a touch of playfulness and a dash of inspiration. Her hope is that her students always step off of their mat feeling refreshed, nourished and balanced.

Favorite yoga pose: My favorite yoga pose is Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, bridge pose. In bridge, I feel grounded and connected to both the earth and my body. I could stay in the pose forever, especially with a block in the restorative version. This pose helps me to feel energized and is a great heart opener.

Fun fact: I am a crazy dog mom, to my very own recuse pup, Della, a German Shepard/American Foxhound Mix. I always say she was the one who rescued me!

Favorite quote: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who: Patty Mooney

Where: I have lived in the area for 20 + years. Like many, a transplant that was chewed up and spit out from the Brooklyn / NYC grind awhile back. At Shakti, in particular I am one of those cogs in the chakra wheel that help machine run smoothly. When another bolt or belt is broken or a match doesn’t have the muster the spark to fire; I step in.

Training: I completed the 200 hour Teacher Certification with Lalita in 2015 and I have been practicing at Shakti for the past 12 years consistently; that’s a lot of sun salutations! I have been teaching since 2015 at Shakti Yoga and do fundraising classes with the Saugerties Teachers Association, where the money goes to people in the community who are in need.

Why Patty Teaches: I practice and teach yoga because I believe in it, all components – physical, mental and spiritual. There is always another place to investigate. I try to emphasize this in my classes, offering the smallest piece of information to inspire students to take yoga off the mat and into their everyday lives. Yoga is a practice and life as well; we are never done.

Favorite yoga pose: My fave asana is Trikonasana, triangle pose. I love its structure and always find its dynamics satisfying with its potential to help me expand and explore the micro movements that create that structure. It inspires me to explore internally and not feel like a square or a circle.

Fun fact: I have been teaching art at Saugerties High School since 1998. I am also a practicing artist and when opportunity knocks, show work in the local galleries. I work with sculpture in wood, clay, metal, you can check out my artwork at www.pattymooney.net and feel free to buy something …lol. I also have a cool husband and cool dog and a cool motorcycle. I feel truly blessed.

Favorite quote: “When you have peace in yourself and accept, then you are calm enough to do something, but if you are carried by despair there is no hope.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

What Patty’s Students Say:“dynamic” – “inspiring and attentive”

Who: Rick Mumma

Where: After decades of working in book publishing, Rick is now living full-time in West Hurley and attending and teaching as many Shakti Yoga classes as possible. When not at Shakti on Sawkill, he prefers to be outdoors.

Ytt/teaching exp: Rick completed his 200-hour teacher training with Linda Lalita Winnick at Shakti Yoga in 2019.

Offerings: Rick is teaching Level I Fundamentals at 6pm on Monday in Saugerties and at 4pm on Tuesday in Woodstock; he is also teaching Level II Mixed Level Vinyasa at 9:30am in Saugerties. Check the current schedule for updates.

Why: The combination of the private interior practice in a welcoming community space is something that I value immensely – whether I’m in the studio as a student or a teacher. The challenge of the physical practice speaks to me, but I’m also more and more interested in Yoga from historical, philosophical, spiritual, and psychological perspectives. It is a deep tradition that can be studied over many lifetimes from many angles.

Favorite yoga pose: My favorite pose is always changing. Rather than a pose I can do relatively well, my favorite tends to be the latest inversion or arm balance that I am in the process of learning but have not yet mastered.

Fun fact: Having grown up in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, and New Jersey, I have never felt more at home than I do in the Catskills. Since moving here in 2010, I can’t picture myself leaving voluntarily.

Favorite quote: “If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don’t have to worry about answers.” –Thomas Pynchon (Gravity’s Rainbow)

Who: Selena Reynolds

Where: Selena lives in Mt. Tremper, NY and teaches at Shakti Yoga Woodstock,  Shakti Yoga Saugerties, and Menla Mountain Retreat. She also offers private instruction for both individuals and groups.

Training: Selena completed her 500 Hour training at Shakti Yoga Woodstock with Linda Lalita Winnick in July 2015, and her initial 200 Hour training through Woodstock Yoga Center with Alison Sinatra, Linda Lalita, and Barbara Boris in June 2012. She maintains a dedicated personal practice and continues to study all aspects of yoga both through personal study, her brilliant teachers, and staying involved in Shakti’s Teacher Training Programs!!

Offerings: Selena has been teaching locally since June 2012. She offers Vinyasa flow classes, Community classes, and Hatha, Beginner, and Vinyasa private instruction to support her students’ individual goals and levels of experience. She has also taught Kids Yoga series at local schools and studios. Her practices aim to help students develop stronger connection and cohesion within themselves through movement, breath awareness, concentration, and release of tension.

Why Selena Teaches:  Through her practice, Selena is gradually becoming more able to make sense of life on this planet and the intricacies of being human. She finds that the practice of yoga teaches her to stay balanced, open, and joyous, as she strives to act with love in every situation. (These situations usually involve cookie dough, handstands, and her three rapidly growing children.) Selena hopes to be an agent of joy, optimism, and reverence for life. Her classes are designed to leave students feeling nourished, balanced, rejuvenated, and empowered. She believes wholeheartedly that yoga is a vehicle through which we can embody our fullest potential in all areas of our lives, and contribute in an increasingly positive way to the healing of our relationships, our communities, and ourselves.

Favorite Pose: Adhomukha Vrksasana- Handstand!! Because she is a human who likes to play, and to feel her strength.

Fun fact: Selena has a black market vegan and gluten free cookie business called Mountain Baby Bakery.

Favorite quote: “Stop acting so small. You are the Universe in ecstatic motion. ” Rumi

Bio Coming Soon!