About Hands to Heart
Jodi has been practicing yoga on and off since the late 80s. She was drawn to the practice as a way to stay toned and fit, but quickly realized that practicing yoga was much more than that, it also helped calm and focus her over-active mind, and relieve stress and anxiety, as well.
Once her children reached high school, it became easier to make yoga part of her daily life, rather than an on and off routine. She started practicing regularly, but still couldn't get enough! She eventually got up the courage to pursue certification in teaching yoga.
Jodi studied under the direction and guidance of Crystal Sullivan and Shelley Nyren at CrossRoads Teacher Training at Soul Space in Plantsville. She earned her RYT200 hour certification and continued on 300 more hours to become an RYT500, registered with the Yoga Alliance. She later added chair yoga, yoga nidra, and yin yoga certifications to her collection by studying at the Jiiva Center in Stratford and The OM Center in Watertown. She is also a certified Reiki Level II practitioner, studying under Reiki Master Elizabeth Zeigler at the Jiiva Center. She has the ability to use energy healing to help clients move beyond blockages in the energy wheels known as Chakras.
Upon retiring from a 31 year career as a Waterbury school teacher, she made her dream a reality by opening up Hands to Heart Yoga and Wellness. Hands to Heart is a peaceful space where this team of yoga teachers can give clients the opportunity to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as, between the individual self and universal consciousness.
Meet The Team
Lisa Dantino
Lisa's passion for fitness started at a young age and her love for yoga began about 20 years ago. Over time yoga became her saving grace. It always made her feel better; body, mind and overall state of well-being.
Registered with the Yoga Alliance, she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training in 2020 with Matt Giordano at the former Akasa yoga studio. She began teaching on line for Akasa and in person at CrossFit Reload in Watertown. The following year, she earned certification in Yin Yoga from The Om Center in Watertown. Lisa is also a certified Reiki Level II practitioner, studying under Reiki Master Elizabeth Zeigler at the Jiiva Center in Stratford. She has the ability to use energy healing to help clients move beyond blockages in the energy wheels known as Chakras.
Lisa's specialty is power yoga combined with Vinyasa Flow. Emphasis of this combination is on holding and decomposing the poses, stretching the body and moving with breath. This practice is perfect for the body and mind and is always a great workout.
Lisa is married and has two grown children. She recently became a grandmother to a beautiful, sweet baby girl! When not practicing yoga, she is an optician at New Insight, helping her clients see clearly, one set of eyes at a time! She enjoys motorcycle riding, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, and listening to her son's band play live music at various local venues.
She looks forward to helping you reach your physical goals in her power classes!
Sarah Garbus
Sarah is a life-long practitioner of Yoga. She earned her yoga teaching certification at The Om Center in Watertown in 2020. The following year she continued on to earn special certification in Yin yoga, also through The Om Center. Sarah's specialty is a beautiful combination of Vinyasa with meditation and Yin.
She believes that the physical practice of yoga, and more importantly, the spiritual practice of Yoga, is accessible for every soul. In her class you will learn to listen to your mind, heart, and body in order to connect with your divine inner light.
Physical practice in her class is fun, challenging, and silly at times. You will smile and laugh. You will also feel peace. Her soothing voice and comfortable approach to each asana bring the entire practice together.
When not on the mat, Sarah still teaches, but the subject is Social Studies and the audience is a lucky group of sixth graders!
Come share your energy in her class, as you learn and grow.
Allison Ferrier
Allison is a certified yoga instructor (Crossroads 200 hour RYT, Soul Space Yoga and Wellness, Plantsville, CT) and certified Yoga Alliance instructor since 2018.
She facilitates a free, community class at the high school where she is a full-time English teacher. The class serves teen students, teachers, and staff members and centers on a theme, music, breathing, and mudras to bring peace and inner happiness.
Ali also serves as a substitute teacher of gentle yoga at YogaSpace in Bethel, CT, and has taught classes at the Bethel Farmers’ Market for two summers. She has also taught classes at Ann’s Place in Danbury, CT which serves cancer patients and their families.
She recently completed her Reiki Level One training, with plans to continue to Reiki Two, as well. Ali's goal is to encourage self-care. By nurturing time, our breath, working on mantras and mudras, and by aligning with our inner divinity, we can all shine our light in the world and encourage others to do the same.
She began her love of yoga with prenatal classes when she was pregnant 17 years ago with her first child, her son Samuel. She continued the journey at Naam Yoga CT in Bethel, CT, loving this offshoot of kundalini yoga.
Allison has also completed a chair-yoga certification class as well as a ‘mindfulness for youth’ class, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. She created and is teaching a Mindfulness class at her high school (“Mindfulness Through Literature: Studying the Masters to Live your Best Life”), which she hopes to offer at other venues in the near future.
When off the mat, she is grateful for time with her family (husband, son, and two daughters), walks in town, hikes with her family, reading, meditating, and helping others. She authored her children’s book entitled Lily the Ladybug Lifeguard in 2020, inspired by her second child, Lily, following the theme of helping others with love and compassion, as we all need “lifeguards” to watch over us. Her second book, Empathetic Emmy, inspired by her compassionate second daughter, is also in the works.
Her passion is igniting the light and passion in others. You can find info on Allison by following her on Instagram at allison.z.ferrier. Hugs! ❤
