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Shawn
Shaw
has been involved in various forms of
fitness for over 25 years, and has been
practicing yoga for almost 30 years. She is the
proud mom of two wonderful children.
Shawn is a certified Power Vinyasa Yoga
instructor, has studied with Baron Baptiste in
his Boston and Cambridge Studios, and has
completed his Level I and Level II teacher
trainings. In addition, she has completed
teacher trainings and workshops with Yoga
masters David Swenson, Shiva Rea, John Friend,
Rolf Gates, Ana Forrest and Beryl Bender Birch. Shawn is an AFAA (American Fitness Association of America)
Certified Personal Trainer as well.
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"I was introduced to yoga as a teenager in 1979 as a way
to compliment my long distance running. I found that it
also calmed my mind and relaxed me. Years later an
abusive marriage left me alone and hurting with two
young children. Suffering from anxiety and depression, I
again turned to yoga and began to practice regularly. It
helped. But it wasn't until 2001 after having lost my
best friend (my Dad) and my job as a software
developer that I found the yoga that would transform me.
With my career over and my heart broken, I stumbled into
Baron Baptiste's studio in Cambridge and discovered this
transformative style of Vinyasa or Flow yoga that would
change my life. I realized immediately that this style
of yoga was exactly what my body and soul needed to
heal. With regular practice, my body became stronger and
healthier than it had with any other form of exercise.
In addition, I learned to love more openly, speak more
truthfully and live more in the moment. I also realized
that I found my new career. I wanted to teach, to bring
this beautiful, ancient healing practice to my
community. I completed teacher trainings and opened a
small studio in my home in 2002. With much support from
students and friends, I opened MYoga in 2005.
This journey has taught me to have faith. I now believe
that things happen for a reason. I've learned to put one
foot in front of the other and trust that "things will
work out exactly as they should. "
I am forever grateful to all of my teachers. In
addition to the ones mentioned above, Patricia Lotterman, Jene' Rossi, Elizabeth Huntsman,
Alyssa Sullivan, Gregor Singleton and Coeli Marsh have
been instrumental in guiding me on my path.
I humbly bow to each of them.
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 Tom
Slattery’s study of yoga was a natural
extension of his career as a dancer. He has had
the opportunity of studying with many great
teachers who have both educated and inspired him
to share the wonderful benefits of yoga with
others. Tom is a master yoga practitioner,
artist, and dedicated fitness advocate. He has
incorporated influences from several different
yoga systems along with his passion for dance
and movement of the human form to develop his
unique approach. He has been a
professional dancer for many years including
seven spent in Paris performing with a leading
cabaret. While in Europe he studied art and
design. His work as an artist has evolved with
his passion for yoga and the balance it brings
to his life. Tom strives to lead students in a practice
that is revitalizing, restorative, and
motivating. His supportive style of teaching and
enthusiastic sense of humor consistently leave
his students refreshed, thoughtful, and smiling.
He currently lives in Newton and maintains a
studio in Boston’s South end.
To learn more about
Tom's art and see some of his beautiful work, visit
www.crossyourtoes.com
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Anne Toupouzis
has studied various styles of yoga and
pilates for the last 10 years. Her desire and
passion to help others leave a healthier
lifestyle drove her to leave the “corporate
world” in 2001 to pursue a new career in
teaching yoga and pilates. When she walked into
her first Baptiste Style yoga class 2 ½ years
ago little did she know that this would be the
yoga that would transform her life. After
struggling with the asanas physically and
emotionally over the years this style resonated
with her. She realized it wasn’t about having
the perfect pose but learning to practice yoga
“on and off the mat”. She believes that yoga is
not only about the physical but also the
spiritual, something that she believes is
important in every practice.
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Anne’s passion for yoga and willingness to help
others find their true self is what inspires her
to teach. What we are looking for to be happy
and fulfilled with ourselves is inside of each
of us we only have to peel away the layers to
find it.
She has taken various workshops and classes
with yoga masters Ana Forrest, Seane Corne,
Baron Baptiste and John Friend. Anne continues
to work with her teacher Shawn, who has been her
inspiration and who has helped her to deepen her
practice and continue to grow as a teacher.
She completed her Level 1
and Level 2 Teacher Training with Baron Baptiste and her Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training in 2005 wth David Swenson. She is a fully
certified STOTT PILATES® instructor.
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Karen Mott, as a hospice nurse, has learned that if there are changes you want to make in your life,
the time do it is and always will be now. If not now, when?? Yoga has allowed her the space
to connect within, and has been instrumental in her personal healing, both physically and
emotionally. Shoulder surgery halted her yoga practice for several months, and she began
Shawn Shaw's teacher training program as a way to return to, and deepen her own practice. The yoga teacher training proved to be that and much more. Karen found teaching yoga was
a natural extension of her healing practices of nursing, hypnotherapy and reiki. The teacher
training and regular yoga practice helped her to heal her body, open her heart, and speak
with her authentic voice. Her desire to share the enormous power for healing of a
consistent
yoga practice with others has inspired her to teach vinyasa flow yoga with compassion and
grace. Her spirituality and connection to the Divine are instrumental in her desire to teach
from her heart. Karen has a special love for guided meditations, which she facilitates for
those who are physically or emotionally diseased, and has taught meditation classes for teens.
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Karen would like to acknowledge her deep gratitude for Shawn, and thanks Shawn
for leading her on the path of yoga. She has a great respect for Baron Baptiste,
and credits him for a life-transforming experience at his teacher-training boot camp.
She completed Shawn Shaw's Level one teacher training in May, 2007;
Baron Baptiste's level one training in August, 2007
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Erin E.
Christiano
is a licensed
mental health
counselor who
has been working
with children of
all ages for the
past ten years.
Throughout her
work with
children she
discovered that
she was spending
a considerable
amount of time
educating
children about
themselves and
their bodies.
Basic relaxation
skills, body
awareness, and
self-esteem were
topics that she
addressed with
children on a
daily basis.
Through
developing
individual
programs for her
students aimed
at increasing
self-esteem and
awareness, while
allowing for
movement and
exercise, Erin
has been
actively
involved in
assisting
children live
healthy and
happier lives.
Recently Erin
has completed
the YogaKids
International
Intensive
Training Program
and is a
Certified
YogaKIds Teacher
and Trainer.
Erin
is very
passionate about
the YogaKids
mission and
feels that the
combination of
traditional yoga
philosophies and
asanas,
presented in a
child friendly,
fun manner, has
a tremendous
positive impact
on a child’s
self-esteem and
learning. With
her skills as a
counselor, and
her yoga
background, Erin
is committed to
educating the
whole child’s
mind, body, and
spirit, while
creating a
connection with
the world around
them.
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Lisa Mair, in her lifelong quest for vibrant health, initially came to yoga for the physical benefits. She marveled at
how almost every posture simultaneously strengthens and stretches the body, viewing yoga as "the ultimate
fitness endeavor." As her practice deepened, she came to deeply appreciate the peace, joy, and insight yoga
brings to the mind and body. This expanded Lisa's concept of yoga and meditation to be "the ultimate in self
help."
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Feeling particularly joyful after one random class, Lisa resolved that she would learn how to do that
for people. That resolution led her to the Kripalu in 2004, where she completed her 200 hour teacher
training. Since then, she has been teaching regularly and completing additional teacher trainings
with Shawn Shaw, the Kripalu, Shiva Rea, Yoga Ed, and Circus Yoga. She also has done workshops with
David Swenson, Rolfe Gates, Desiree Rumbaugh, Beryl Bender Birch, and Todd Norian.
Lisa's other major passions are nutrition and martial arts. She has a Masters degree in Food
Science and Nutrition and continues to explore and get very excited about trends in health and nutrition
such as raw food, superfoods, and Ayurveda. She has been studying Shotokan karate for five years, and
received her first degree black belt in 2008. She loves that in karate, your reminders to stay in the
present moment are immediate and intense!
"Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakens." - Carl Jung
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Sarah Hill's
preventative healthcare routine is more than a short-term relief but rather an integrated way of life,
combining a healthy diet and daily exercise with massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic care.
Her journey to her ever-unfolding awareness of mind and body was triggered by her mother’s courageous
approach to her own illness. Sarah’s respect and caring for life was evident in her work with abused and
abandoned dogs at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. After a year of caring for and nurturing
traumatized canines, Sarah returned home to be with her mother, who had been diagnosed with leukemia.
She discovered her mother had made the choice to care for herself through holistic treatments and remedies
rather than with Western practices. Here is where Sarah’s journey to yoga really began.
In looking for ways to manage the stress and anxiety of maintaining her business, as well as way
to strengthen her body, Sarah took her first yoga class. The physical benefits of yoga were clear
to Sarah, but she soon found that the spiritual and mental benefits were just as prominent. Several
years into her practice, Sarah’s desire to deepen her understanding as well as the desire to share yoga
with others led her to enroll in Shawn Shaw’s teacher training.
Sarah’s passion for yoga is evident in every aspect of her life. In order to provide a better
understanding of overall health to those interested in this approach to life, she hopes to combine
an interest in integrative nutrition with the teachings of yoga. Sarah’s enthusiasm to begin this
chapter of her life is infectious and can be felt by those around her. Sarah considers teaching at
Metrowest Yoga to be a privilege and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with others.
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