About Kasey:
Kasey is an Ayurvedic Health Counselor and Yoga Instructor (AHC, RYT200) having studied at the Kripalu School of Ayurveda & Yoga. She came across Ayurveda and Yoga in her own journey toward health, as she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 25. Refusing to settle for a lifetime of prescription medication, she looked for an alternative. Ayurveda and Yoga are that alternative and they have changed her life. She feels incredibly fortunate to have found these sister sciences and is passionate about bringing this healing and balance to as many people as she can. Her classes are always different, based on what is happening in the environment both in and out of the studio. Each class is designed so that every participant feels better when they walk out of the door than they did going in. She is forever grateful for yoga, for ayurveda, for her students and for the support of her husband, Steve, and two boys, Grady & Sam.
Contact: kasey@thebalancecenternj.com
ABOUT our fabulous instructors:
Lorraine Santandrea, RYT200
Lorraine fell in love with yoga while she was in college over 50 years ago. As a retired math teacher, she always wanted to be a yoga instructor but life got in the way. At age 69, she received her yoga certificate and began teaching at The Balance Center. In March 2023 Lorraine had a spinal fusion after many years of pain and suffering. She attributes her quick recovery to her yoga practice and training. As a result of her own experience, Lorraine is sensitive to others' pain and suffering which is evident in her compassion for her students. She finds joy in seeing her students' accomplishing something that they did not think was possible, applauding them all the way. She continues to learn and grow in her own practice which is incorporated in her gentle but sometimes challenging hatha flow and chair yoga classes. After experiencing many different yoga teachers and studios, she found her home at The Balance Center. Lorraine knows that Kasey has been the most important mentor in her yoga journey.
Her favorite quote:
It's not the destination, it's the journey. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Jenifer Plummer, RYT50
Jenifer’s journey with yoga began in 2019. As an avid runner, it wasn't until her college coach encouraged her to practice yoga that she realized how beneficial it could be for her. He suggested yoga to help Jenifer work on her balance and to stretch and strengthen particular muscles, especially her hips flexors. After college, she began to practice on a daily basis and connected to the other benefits of yoga, like relaxation, and feeling more grounded/centered in her body. She furthered her journey by becoming a RYT50, specializing in Yin Yoga. She really felt the difference with this type of practice, as holding these postures for long periods of time allows dense connective tissue to unwind, thus harmonizing chi (energy) in the body. Her favorite part about Yin Yoga is feeling the flow of chi throughout the body during a practice, which is enlightening and liberating. When she isn’t teaching yoga, Jenifer is an educator at a local high school.
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Rebecca Toscano
Rebecca teaches Total Body Conditioning and is dedicated to helping others to look and feel their best. When she isn’t teaching class or attending a yoga class at The Balance Center, you can find her in her 4th-Grade Classroom, or at home with her husband, Mike, and 2 boys, Michael and Joseph.
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Linda Marchese, RYT 200
Linda retired from teaching Physical Education, Health & Fitness at Delsea Regional High School in 2021. She is now teaching Silver Sneakers Yoga and Vinyasa/Hatha Yoga at Four Seasons Health Club and The Balance Center for Natural Health. She has many different certifications to utilize in her classes: Strength and Conditioning certification, 200-hour Yoga certification, 30-hour Yin Yoga certification, 25-hour Chair Yoga certification and CEC’s in Yoga to Improve Sensory and Motor Skills. Each of her classes includes training in strength, flexibility, balance, mindfulness and rejuvenation. Her goal is to share her passion for fitness with her students by creating classes that are fun and empowering. She loves helping people of all ages find positive change in their lives.
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Judy Adams, RYT
Judy discovered the joy and benefits of yoga over 43 years ago. After losing her husband in 2012, Judy occupied her time by immersing herself into health and wellness, working out, lifting weights, and attending several yoga and Pilates classes per week. When Judy decided to enroll in yoga teacher training, she was seeking more knowledge to deepen her own personal practice; however, she found that yoga has helped her learn patience, breathing, self-love and so much more. She discovered through yoga how strong she really was - not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Yoga provided her with tools to navigate a new stage in her life and she wanted to share her newfound sense of self with others. Judy recognizes that every human being is on a different path so her goal is to create a safe space for each student. She wants for her students what she's always loved about a yoga class - leaving the class feeling better than when you walked in.
Judy's favorite quote is by Ralph Waldo Emerson "Life is a journey, not a destination" because in yoga it is not the mastery of the poses that are the goal, but the increased awareness of your body, your breath, and your mind allowing you to experience life more fully through your movements.
Judy has taught Yoga at Inspira Fitness Connection since 2021. Judy's Yoga/Pilates Fusion class combines yoga poses with pilates movements designed to increase flexibility and enhance stamina and core strength. Her class is designed for all levels.