Green Mountain Athletic Association
Abbey lined up at the start of the Vermont City Marathon in 2010 with a subtle hope of running a PR. Although she had dabbled in marathon running for a few years, she considered herself, at most, a recreational runner. Her training was fueled by her kindergarten class, her runs timed by the Microwave clock, and her idea of a “warm-up” was the first mile or two of the race. She found herself, however, looking forward to her long runs. As a UVM Women’s Soccer and Hockey Alum, she once considered a soccer game as a long run. After a Spring of a few 20ish mile runs, Abbey crossed the finish line of the 2010 Vermont City Marathon as the first Vermonter with a sub-3 hour marathon time. Discovering a love for running and igniting a passion for competition, Abbey’s training has evolved... Read the profile >>
After moving to Vermont in 1998, Courtney started running to familiarize herself with her new surroundings. Growing up a non-athlete, Courtney was surprised to realize she enjoyed competing in local races. She ran her first marathon in 2000 in a time of 4:18. Through the guidance of friends and the help of a coach, she improved her running times, and was able to shave over an hour of her marathon time in one year, posting a personal best of 3:17 in 2001. After completing 13 marathons and numerous other distances, Courtney also began to “dip her toes” in the world of triathlon. The challenge of a new sport was just what Courtney needed to keep herself challenged and “keep her wheels spinning.” She enjoys the variety and total body fitness that triathlon provides. She has... Read the profile >>
Danielle Vardakas-Duszko E-RYT500/T-RYT500 BFA began dancing at age 3 in Philadelphia. She continued to study dance at the Philadelphia Creative & Performing Arts High School. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple University and the Tyler School of Art in 2001. Danielle fell in love with yoga at age 15 while dancing with a junior ballet company. Her practice continued to create balance in her body and mind through her professional dance career which included mainly Hip Hop and Breakin with a bit of Contemporary Modern. She now has certifications in Yoga 1 & 2 and also in Pilates 1, 2 & 3 from AAAI and ISMA . Danielle is a registered & experienced yoga teacher with her E-RYT 200/ T-RYT 200 hour certifications from Yoga Alliance in Hatha and Vinyasa from Cara Bradley,... Read the profile >>
I began practicing yoga over five years ago to complement my marathon training. I have completed 7 marathons including the Vermont City Marathon, the Chicago Marathon and the Boston Marathon. I PR’d at the Boston Marathon after two weeks of intensive training for my yoga certification….all that yoga helped me PR! I decided to become a yoga teacher to help athletes of all ages remain injury free and excel at their sport.I am also a running coach for Fleet Feet and have trained runner’s for half marathons and marathons. I am trained as a Kripalu yoga teacher. Kripalu yoga emphasizes the practitioner’s own personal experience and doesn’t force the body into any ideal shape. My yoga classes focus on areas where athletes (and all of us!) tend to be tightest- the hips,... Read the profile >>
John has been practicing and experiencing yoga for nearly 11 years. In his classes John interweaves a combination of humor, light-heartedness, and intensity - while maintaining a keen emphasis on celebrating the true joy of life! When not on the mat, John and his wife Jane Taylor can be found retaining their breath while rolling kayaks on Lake Champlain. Read the profile >>
Justina Wentworth, MBA, RYT has been involved with athletics and fitness for over 10 years. As a formal Physical Education Teacher and Coach she is passionate about the development of mind, body, and spirit through exercise. She is a well versed ACSM Health and Fitness Specialist and trained in a variety of fitness modes such as Yoga, Personal Training, Mat Pilates, TRX, Bootcamp and Spinning. As the Assistant Director of Fitness Programs at the University of Vermont and a Lululemon Ambassador Justina believes in continually expanding her heart and mind to benefit others who thrive to holistically improve. “The longest trip we will take on our journey is from our head to our heart.” Justina has a Masters in Business Administration from Plymouth State University and a Bachelors... Read the profile >>
About ten years ago, I took my first yoga class to complement a daily running routine and stretch out some tight hamstrings. Fortunately, I stayed with the practice long enough to experience something more than a good stretch. Yoga grounds me and wakes me up to the experience of life, to personal development, and to loving relationships. For many years, I looked outside of myself for happiness and success, only to feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety and self-doubt. There was no present moment; my life revolved around the future - always wishing and looking forward to the next best thing. Through the practice of yoga, I began to accept my life just as it was and I committed to being more present with my self, with others around me, and to the beautiful every day moments that I so... Read the profile >>
We met Malaika at Burlington Yoga, and from the moment we met her, have adored the passion and zest she brings to her life and to her yoga classes! Malaika grew up in Warwick RI, and has always been physical. A gymnast from the age of 3, she was also a Little League baseball player, one of the very few girls on the team. A torn ACL during a high school gymnastics meet and subsequent long recovery ended her competitive gymnastics career but allowed Malaika to discover many other things she could enjoy doing physically as well as with others. Today Malaika is an avid marathon runner, and her greatest race yet was in May of 2010, completing ‘The Great Wall Marathon’ in China in 6 hours and 33 minutes. Running far distances is a truly pure and meditative practice to... Read the profile >>
Sofi is an advanced certified Jivamukti Yoga instructor and LifeForce Yoga practitioner who has been teaching Yoga since 1997. Since her earliest experiences with the Yoga, Sofi has felt the profound transformative benefits of the practice and continues to use it on a daily basis to meet the emotional and physical challenges she experiences in her life. Sofi brings to her teachings the wisdom and psychology of Yoga philosophy derived from her many years of scriptural study as well as the ancient art of Vinyasa Krama - the sequencing of poses linked together with breath and intention in order to move the practitioner to greater states of happiness and freedom. Sofi is the Co-Founder and Director of the Vermont Community Yoga Project, an organization that brings the healing practices... Read the profile >>
