Teachers
Our teachers are amongst the most experienced in our region. Each of our instructors have studied at some of the most prestigious schools and with some of the most renowed and experienced teachers in the United States and the world. All have completed at least a 200 HR training and are commited to serving you on your path of practice.
Brooke E. Cannoot, MS OTR, CYT
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Brooke is distinct among yoga teachers. She is a yoga instructor who happens to also be a licensed Occupational Therapist. Being trained in a Western medical profession as well as devoting herself to deep study of hatha yoga, Eastern philosophy, and ancient healing practices allows Brooke to connect both worlds to offer her students a unique perspective on health and well-being.
Brooke believes that with practice, hatha yoga and ayurveda can unlock your own body's potential for self healing. She specializes in working one-on-one with clients to relieve pain, discomfort and symptoms that interfere with one's daily life. She is passionate about helping others to obtain Well-Being. She studies a unique form of healing the integrates the ancient practices of yoga, ayurveda and jyotish (vedic astrology) called Ancient Ayurveda. For more info on the Ancient Ayurveda, click here.
Brooke opened Dhanwantari Center in 2007 to share the healing benefits of yoga with the Michiana Community. She believes that anyone can practice yoga regardless of age, ability, and limitations. She is a member of the Independent Yoga Educators Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
She has been blessed to study with gifted teachers. Brooke completed her 200HR Yoga Teacher Training with Sarah Tomlinson. She is also a student of Sri Kaleshwar in the lineage of Dattatreya which includes the great saint, Shirdi Sai Baba and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. She is also honored to be connected to Philip Lipetz, Ph D who is one of Swami Kaleshwar's first Western students. Brooke has taught yoga at Indiana University of South Bend as part of their Health and Wellness department and at Culver Military Academy as part of their Spiritual Ministries.
Brooke is a life-long resident of South Bend, IN. She has two beautiful daughters, Gaia and Uma, a wonderfully supportive husband Kevin and she enjoys living in her hometown surrounded by the loving presence of family and dearest friends.
Barbara Coleman
Barbara Coleman received her Level I and Level II Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification at the Shambhava School of Yoga in Boulder, CO. She deepened her knowledge with additional certifications in YogaEd, StoryTime Yoga, Anjali Restorative Yoga, and the ancient practice of Yoga Nidra through the Bihar School of India. She is also an advanced student of Dr. Richard Miller who developed Integrative Restoration, iRest. A practitioner for many years and a teacher for six, Barbara brings enthusiasm and compassion to her classes for children and adults.
Elyse Muratore
Elyse fell in love with yoga & Dhanwantari while taking Brooke's classes as a student at Notre Dame. After a year away following graduation, she returned to South Bend to complete The Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga's 200HR Teacher Training at Dhanwantari this past summer and now enjoys teaching and living in South Bend. Yoga has completely transformed her life and she looks forward to continuing to spread the love through teaching!
Heather Dimon
Heather has had an interest in yoga throughout her life, which had consisted of taking a class here and there and practicing at home to DVDs. She really fell in love with and began her practice in earnest several years ago when she discovered Dhanwantari. Since that time Yoga has been a transformative force in her life and she is excited to share this with others! Heather took the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga 200HR Teacher Training in the summer of 2011.
Jamie Kuzemka
Jamie was first introduced to yoga 7 years ago at Indiana University Bloomington. In 2009, she began practicing more regularly at Dhanwantari. Jamie completed her teacher training from the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga the summer of 2011. Jamie is currently a 2nd/3rd grade teacher that loves the patience and transformation the practice of yoga provides. She would love to share the benefits of yoga on the mat with you.
Katie Rose
After practicing yoga on and off since her high school drama teacher introduced her to it, Katie began going to classes at Dhanwantari in the spring of 2010. Yoga helped her find a way to integrate not just a physical practice but a mental and spiritual practice too. Wanting to help others in the way that yoga has helped her, Katie completed her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification from the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga in 2011.
Marie Mitchell
Marie began practicing asana in her home in 2008. Driven by a desire to reconnect with her body amidst the backdrop of a busy career and life, Marie found herself increasingly interested in deepening her knowlege of the yogic arts. It was when Marie began practicing at Dhanwantari Center that her awareness of the practice's benefits extended beyond the physical. Deeply impacted by her experiences in Yoga Nidra, Marie's focus quickly shifted toward the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of her vinyasa practice. In 2011 Marie completed vinyasa training through the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga. She is eager to begin her teaching at Dhanwantari Center and share the gifts of the practice with the community.