Teachers

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 Level I and II hatha yoga teacher certification at the Shambhava School of Yoga in Boulder, Colorado.  She is also certified to teach Anjali Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra (Bihar School of Kriya Yoga), as well as Yoga Ed and Storytime Yoga for children.  As an advanced student of Dr. Richard Miller who developed iRest Yoga Nidra, she enjoys sharing the power of visualization and deep relaxation with her students.  She is a Level II LifeForce Yoga for Depression and Anxiety instructor.  Barbara is currently completing a 500-hour advanced yoga therapy teacher training at the Green Tree School of Yoga in Elkhart, Indiana.  A practitioner for many years and a teacher for eight, Barbara brings enthusiasm and compassion to her classes. 

Elyse Muratore

Elyse started practicing yoga while studying in Australia in 2008.  Upon returning to Notre Dame, she wanted to continue her practice because she felt infinitely better when she spent time on her mat.  She stumbled upon Dhanwantari in the Fall of 2008 and well, never really left.   She fell in love with Dhan and continued to practice several times a week while finishing her undergrad.   After a year away following graduation, she finally returned to South Bend in the summer of 2010 to participate in The Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga’s 200HR Teacher Training at Dhan.  She has deepened her understanding of yogic philosophy with Dr. Philip Lipetz through the Dattatreya Lineage of Sri Kaleshwar of Penukonda.  She is now finishing her requirements to enter medical school.  Yoga has completely transformed her life and she looks forward to continuing to spread this love through her teaching and also in the future with her work in medicine.   She is dedicated to service and helping others and you’ll find her every month serving dinner at Hope Ministries as part of Dhanwantari’s Seva Team. 

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.  Heather's new class is Vinyasa on Wednesdays at 7:15PM.

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 2^nd/3^rd 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.  Jamie's new class is Vinyasa on Sundays at 9:30AM.

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.  Katie's new Vinyasa Class is on Mondays at 7:15PM.

Marie Zappia

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 knowledge 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. Marie's new class is Vinyasa + Meditation on Saturdays at 11:30AM.

Max Schaefer

Max began practicing yoga in his hometown of Kalamazoo, MI with the incredible Karina Ayn Mirsky of Sangha Yoga.  He stumbled into Dhanwantari in the Fall of 2008 and quickly became an integral part of Dhan’s family. While completely his BA in Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, Max practiced at Dhan nearly every day to keep focused and centered while enduring the college life. With strong encouragement from Brooke (Dhan’s director), he completed his 200HR Yoga Teacher Training with Sarah Tomlinson in the Summer of 2010. In January 2011, Max hit the road traveling cross country in search of the “ American Dream." He received a grant from the University to travel and blog about his experiences. Visit this link to read Max’s adventures.  Max is currently away from Dhanwantari studying Pre Medicine at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo.

Sam Boys

Sam Boys is a recent graduate of the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga. He is also Associate Professor of Philosophy & Religion at Ancilla College, a Spiritual Director, published author, musician, and member of the Sound Healers Association. His expertise is blending many healing modalities in his yoga teaching -- mythology, world religions, psychology, live drumming and didgeridoo -- which creates a unique yoga experience that connects us to our Authentic Selves and puts us in divine resonance with the Universe.  Sam is now teaching TGIF Vinyasa on Fridays at 5:45PM.

Stephanie Chrisman

Stephanie went to her first yoga class over 10 years ago, unsure of what to expect but looking for a way to slow the chatter in her mind. She found that and much more, hooked after that first class. She'd been practicing for several years before a workshop with Cliff Schuman, her first experience at Dhanwantari. There she found a style that truly fit and fell in love w/yoga all over again. She also found in Dhan a yoga center that felt like home, and has since been on a journey to both share her love of yoga and learn as much as possible. She took the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga 200HR Teacher Training, studied Yin Yoga with Jill Harman to deepen her knowledge and practice of Yin, and frequently travels to study and practice with other teachers. Stephanie's classes focus on the yogis and yoginis in the room, running the gamut from rock and roll playlists and challenging sequences to meditative music and slow flows.

Wendy Chapman

Discovered yoga 13 years ago in her living room. Wendy began practicing formally at Dhanwantari in the Fall of 2008. She was seeking a way to expand her understanding of the practice from beyond the physicality to the meditative and spiritual aspects. She completed her 200 HR Yoga Teacher Certification from the Sarah Tomlinson School of Yoga in 2010. Wendy has expanded her teaching practice and is now offering yoga classes within her Christian Faith community.