Dharma Yoga North
ABOUT
Dharma Yoga North (Oswego) is a small quaint studio with old world charm located in Oswego, N.Y. overlooking the Oswego river. All classes are designed to help the individual reach their greatest potential by tapping into what is already within. Our beloved guru Sri Dharma Mittra is a living yoga master who is known as the teachers teacher and has dedicated his life to over 50 years of continued study, practice and teaching. Dharma's lineage stems from Sri Swami Kailashananda and along with his expertise he is known for his humble nature and lighthearted humor he brings to his teachings. Dharma yoga is a combination of Hatha Raja yoga and is classical in nature. All classes consist of pranayama (breath control), asana (physical postures), meditation and savasana (guided deep relaxation). Our sister studio Dharma Yoga Syracuse led by Saraswati Om offers extensive workshops and classes to further assist each individual on the goal of realization.
STAFF
Siobhan Rodrigues - Yoga Teacher, Director Dharma Yoga North
Siobhan was intrigued by yoga from a young age. She started buying books and reading about yoga long before her personal practice began. She started practicing yoga regularly in 2009 and quickly grew to love the positive benefits that yoga had to offer. Increased strength and flexibility, as well as a higher level of awareness, compassion, clarity and peace of mind were all gained through the yoga practice. She spent many years of her life as an Irish dancer and continues to teach a certified and sanctioned program for children and adults. Siobhan completed The Life of a Yogi Teacher Training through Dharma Yoga Syracuse led by Saraswati Om in 2017 and has also received instruction from Andre Ram and Durga Om. Siobhan is grateful to have found herself on the path of yoga with our beloved yoga master Sri Dharma Mittra. She is grateful for the continued guidance, love, and support she continues to receive from Sarawati Om and the Dharma Yoga sangha. She believes that yoga truly encompasses the body, mind, and spirit bringing positivism to ones life as well as to those who surround you. Siobhan continues her education in yoga ethic, yoga philosophy studies, and personal practice regularly. She maintains a sattvic vegetarian/vegan diet, enjoys gardening, being on the water and outdoors as much as possible. She has four children and believes in the importance of self care, investing even the smallest amount of time on ones personal practice daily can have a lasting positive effect. Siobhan feels the importance of helping others to connect with the higher self no matter where they are in life. She is eager to spread Dharma's teachings and build a sangha or yoga community.
Deirdre Smith - Yoga Teacher, RD, Nutritional & Health Coach
Deirdre was first introduced to yoga in her high school gym class. It was a short 3 week series, but it was then that Deirdre knew yoga would someday be a regular part of her life. It wasn’t until after college that Deirdre was able to begin a regular practice of yoga. She was soon hooked, taking classes at the CNY Yoga Center, now Dharma Yoga Syracuse. It was an exciting, evolving process. Starting with the beginner classes and eventually leading her to complete the 200 hour Dharma Life of a Yogi Teacher Training in 2010 and in 2014 the 300 HR Self-Realization Immersion with Yogi Andrei Ram.
Deirdre has much gratitude for the opportunity to study under the direction of Sarasawti Om at the Dharma Yoga Center and receive formal training from Sri Dharma Mittra and Yogi Andrei Ram. It has been through the Dharma spiritual family that she has met some amazing and truly gifted teachers that continue to inspire and influence her practice. Yoga has been an adaptive process for Deirdre, in which she has extended the knowledge gained in the studio, to her everyday life. She has found that yoga has the power to meet everyone’s needs, regardless of the individual. Deirdre is excited to be sharing the practice of yoga and in hopes that it may bring you health and happiness
Mary Jo Proprietta-Halpren - Yoga Teacher
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I was born and raised in Liverpool NY. I was raised by both parents, Angelo and Moody. I have two brothers, Joe my oldest brother and Stephen, my youngest. I graduated from Liverpool high school in 1979 and went immediately to SUNY Cortland. I graduated from there in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. I worked for a few years at George Junior Republic and then began to search for a graduated school. I had always known I wanted to be a therapist. It was time!
I moved back to Syracuse and started teaching English at the now defunct StratfordBusiness school. In 1986I began taking my first graduate classes at Syracuse University. It was awesome. I loved it!
I Finally committed to being a full-time student in 1987. And graduated in 1989.
I met my beloved husband ,Stephen in 1991. We lived together for 4 years then married in july of 1995. While he is not a yogi he fully supports my ventures.
I had two different jobs before coming to Oswego and Farnham Family Services. I started working there in 1993 and have NEVER thought of looking for other employment. It is the best job I have ever had. Fabulous people and a challenging mission.
I first started practicing yoga at YMCA in 1996 with a wonderful Kripaluyoga teacher named Sybil Gouchie.. I was immediately hooked. Yoga gave me a sense of peace and focus I had never known. I knew that yoga was filling a need in me that I never even knew I had. I began ay CNY yoga when the doors opened in 2001 and have been there ever since.
I did my yoga teacher training in 2014. It was absolutely one of the hardest, most challenging things I have ever done in my life! I was 54 years old and ready for a new challenge and needed a plan for retirement.
Sarasvati Om is the best teacher, my spiritual mother. I have learned more about myself and yoga than I ever imagined possible. I did my internship at Temple AdathYeshurn and have been teaching yoga there ever since. I am now honored to be a part of the Dharma yoga studio in Oswego with the very wonderful Siobhan Rodrigues. Namaste!
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Betsy Naselli - Yoga Teacher
Betsy Naselli has practiced yoga for four and a half decades and decided only last fall (2017) to become a certified yoga teacher through the Life of a Yogi Teacher Training at Dharma Yoga Syracuse ( where she has been a student since it's opening in 2001).
She has taught cooking classes over the past 22 years, generally in her own kitchen, but also through BOCES programs and in the homes of cooking students. She is passionate about teaching others how to use more healthful plant-based ingredients or to explore other dietary modalities ( raw, vegan, vegetarian or macrobiotic) in pursuit of improved health and happiness.
In the past she has had her own non-toxic cleaning business; sold water and air filtration systems and essential oils and has been a self-employed certified personal trainer. She has a degree from Syracuse University in interior design and decoration and has done many free lance design projects for clients.
Her interests include gardening, sewing, knitting and wool arts, painting and other creative expressions. She is a newly initiated beekeeper and also hopes to have a small flock of hens soon!
Yoga has been the thread running through all of this for her entire adulthood. Yoga has carried her through the rough patches-the yogic practices of breath work and 'letting go' buoying her when life was a challenge, and she enjoys the sheer bliss of feeling connected not only to the body, but to all that is, that the practice of yoga has facilitated for her.
As a personal trainer, she used to tell clients: “ If you have only time to do one thing, one type of exercise, make it a yoga practice because that will accomplish all you need.”
And, now, as a yoga instructor she is eager to be able to teach others the beauty and simplicity of yoga and to lead them not only to the blissful moments that yoga can elicit but also help them to form the supportive bedrock that a yoga practice can establish in one's life.
She has a small studio in her home where she teaches yoga and also has workshops and classes incorporating essential oils and crystals to help facilitate healing and various artistic modalities for personal growth and expression.
Betsy is very honored to become a part of the exquisite space that is Siobhan Rodrigues' Dharma Yoga Oswego Studio and to carry on the lineage of her beloved yoga teacher Saraswati Om and yoga master Sri Dharma Mittra.
Caroline Robertson - Yoga Teacher,
Acupuncturist, Spirit Messenger
Healing and being of service to my fellow humans has been my life path. At the age of 13, I began having spontaneous out of body experiences and Spirit communication, it took some years to understand and utilize this extra sensory perception. In my twenties I worked as a psychic healer in Seattle Washington and was directed by Spirit to further my education in a classical manner. I began my journey in Traditional Chinese Medicine at that point and had a successful acupuncture practice in Oswego NY for 19 years. During those years I trained with a variety of practitioners in the classical side of medicine and always the alternative side as well. I traveled and worked with many shamanic healers from South America and the Pacific Northwest.
The healings that take place differ from each individual depending on what is needed and what the person is ready for. Sometimes the loved ones will come through and give messages, sometimes energy and chakra work is need. May things can happen to help the client achieve their highest potential at that moment
Yoga has been a passion for Caroline Robertson since the age of 15 when the book Autobiography of a Yogi was given to her by her father. This pivotal book sent her on a life long journey of discovery. Along the way she has studied with many teachers including Yogi Bhajan, Mata Amritanandamayi and many others. A longtime meditator of 40 plus years she blends together the meditative state with the Yogic postures. She is also has 20 plus years experience as an acupuncturist. Classes incorporate classic hatha yoga and will begin with pranayama and end with a deep meditation that allow the student to awaken from within.
Danette Ward - Reiki Practicioner & LMT
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As a young girl I have always been aware of this amazing energy around me; rather it was through nature, people or animals. I was also aware of how I had a desire to help others heal in some way. I was quite about these energies and things I could see and feel and felt somehow peculiar about myself and was afraid to share my secret with others. I believe that God had lead me to Reiki so that I could better understand myself and my gifts in a loving way. As I have learned to develop and fine tune these gifts it is my hope and desire to share this amazing and beautiful energy with others in a profound way
Along with training in Reiki, Danette is a licenced massage therapist. Combined with both skills she is prepared and able to help you center and heal through your current journey of this life. She is fully prepared to help you with whatever you may need. Please go to the Reiki page on this website for further detail of her services.
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