The Infinite Light Yoga Teachers

All Infinite Light Yoga (ILY) teachers are trained and certified through the Infinite Light Yoga School. We will provide a quality yoga experience for every body, regardless of age, ability or level of fitness. Infinite Light Yoga classes are designed to lead the practitioner to an ever increasing awareness of union; becoming more comfortable with the living condition whether it is the mind, body or spirit.

The ILY teachers are committed to guiding and inspiring you on your journey to mental, physical and spiritual growth in a nurturing and non-competitive environment.

Each ILY teacher offers his or her own unique teaching style, personality and inspiration while collectively they all offer guided instruction in Breathing, Meditation, Postures (asana) and Relaxation techniques. To learn more about each teacher see their bio and class descriptions next to their names.

Meet the ILY Teachers

Tony Riposo, Director of Infinite Light Yoga, E-RYT 500

I have been practicing and teaching yoga since 1987. I studied extensively at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, and earned the certification title of Professional Level Kripalu Yoga Teacher, and I am a registered Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500. For 20 years, I taught as “Kripalu Yoga with Tony” before establishing Infinite Light Yoga. I bring over two decades of experience and devotion to the classes that I teach. My specialty is teaching the practices of yoga in an experiential way, seamlessly blending yogic philosophy, theory and practice as a form of self discovery. (more)

Dena Beratta, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

I have absolute faith that all people can find their lives forever improved as a result of a regular yoga practice. It brings me great joy to share in other practitioners’ yoga journeys, offering as much guidance and assistance as I can.

I took my first yoga class over 20 years ago, but didn't truly “get it” until I started practicing on a regular basis in 2007. That’s when I realized that I had found a place where I would always belong—within myself, where I felt complete joy and peace, and where I could recharge from the hectic pace and chaos of  everyday life. (more)

Ann Page, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

I have been practicing and studying yoga since 2005 and teaching the practice since 2009. Before I turned my love of teaching to yoga, I spent over two decades teaching people how to learn and open their minds.

I teach a wide variety of classes: Infinite Light Yoga’s “Multi-level classes;” my unique “Yoga for Children” programs (for any age group); and my most recent passion, "Yoga for Athletes." (more)

Becky Young, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

My journey to becoming a yoga teacher has been that of a lifetime. I began the practice of yoga almost 15 years ago in an effort to calm the re-occurring pain of a back injury I sustained from a horseback riding incident at age 16.  While I fell in love with yoga from the first class that I took, I still only went to classes on and off. Once I found my rhythm, I practiced yoga more often and noticed that when I faithfully did yoga, my back pain would subside. I also tried running and aerobics, but often found those forms of exercise only caused more pain and I would then turn back to yoga. (more)

Cindy Yaple, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

After exploring many venues for a holistic approach to wellness, I found yoga and it became my primary practice for spiritual and mental peace. Yoga offered everything I had been searching for to help bring balance to my life.

Becoming passionate about my yoga practice, I found myself drawn to becoming a trained yoga teacher so I could share what I found with the world around me.  I am currently a 200-hr certified Infinite Light Yoga teacher, a level 2 Reiki practioner and a Level 1 certified SomaVeda (TM) Thai Yoga Practioner. (more)

Tedra Needle, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

My beautiful yoga journey began several years ago when my husband introduced me to meditation. I found that it was a great help to calm the mind, but I felt like there was something missing.  I discovered what was missing after a doctor suggested that I practice yoga to relieve stress.  It was love at first pose!   Yoga provided everything that I had been looking for in all of the other physical activities that I tried.  It was amazing, and I became a “yoga addict!”  The more I learned about yoga, the more I wanted to know.  At first, I gained my knowledge through dvd's and books because I was not yet ready to embrace yoga in a group setting. (more)

Sue Valerino, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

As a physical therapist of 25 years and with advanced training in the areas of exercise physiology, orthopedics and geriatrics, pursuing a certification in yoga instruction was a natural progression of my education and training.

The foundation of my classes is a unique blend of yogic principles and exercise science; a venue in which I weave my knowledge and teaching together seamlessly in order to promote and facilitate optimal posture, alignment and movement patterns. (more) 

Michele Westphal, Certified Infinite Light Yoga teacher, RYT-200

Yoga has been an incredible journey for me, and along the way I have been blessed with many wonderful teachers and mentors. I started practicing yoga in high school, initially coming to the mat for physical health and weight loss. Throughout the years, my yoga practice has changed and evolved. It is this journey that eventually led me to Infinite Light Yoga. I began seeking a practice that integrated body, mind, and spirit, a path of enlightenment and all of the wisdom that yoga has to offer. I also wanted to find a way to integrate my passion for yoga with my work as a counselor and behavior specialist, allowing all individuals to benefit from the gift of yoga and mindful living. (more)

Shauna Teelin, 200-hour Certified ILY teacher, RYT-200

I came to the practice of yoga as an injured athlete; my physical therapist recommended it as a way to help me regain my range of motion. Yoga helped me with the injury, but its additional mind, body and spirit benefits have kept me involved in the practice since 2003.

At that time, I was a neuro-science pharmaceutical representative with a working knowledge of the mind-body connection from a Western medicine model. During my yoga teacher training, however, I personally experienced the power of uniting the mind, body and spirit (life force, breath). (more)

ILY Affiliate Teachers and their Studios

Yama Yoga Studio - Tully, New York

Charlene Hecht, DDS, RYT 200, is a licensed dentist and a registered yoga teacher. She received a strong anatomy and physiology education from Buffalo Dental School as well as complete and extensive yoga training and certification from Infinite Light Yoga School.

As a practicing dentist with a busy young family, Charlene finds that practicing yoga reduces her stress, makes her more flexible, quiets her mind, and changes her perspective so she can choose to enjoy her life in a meaningful way. (more)

Sangha: Center for Mind, Body and Spirit

George J. Moore, In addition to being certified as an Infinite Light Yoga Teacher, I am an Ordained Ministerial Counselor, Reiki Master-Teacher and Licensed Master Social Worker.

For me Yoga is a practice that creates an experience of the union of the physical, mental emotional and spiritual bodies. (more)

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