Carolyn Hazel, E-RYT-500, YACEP, CMT originally came to yoga as a busy mom of three boys, looking for a way to relieve stress. The moment she set foot in the studio she knew it was where she belonged. Wanting to deepen her own knowledge as well as share with others, Carolyn enrolled in Glenmore’s very first teacher training program. Now as a busy grandma she continues to teach, working mainly with more gentle populations and older adults both at the studio and assisted living facilities in the area. Carolyn is also a massage therapist as well as a lead teacher in Glenmore’s Teacher Training Program.
Kim Leibowitz, Yoga Therapist, E-RYT-500, YACEP, teaches Level 1, Level 2, Tibetan Rites and Ageless yoga. Kim developed Glenmore’s Yoga for Chronic Pain program based on her personal experience with chronic pain and how yoga can mediate its effects. Kim first came to the mat in 2001 after years of trying many unsuccessful remedies to ease muscle and joint pain and fatigue. Now she is committed to helping others find significant pain relief through yoga. Kim is a certified E-500-hour instructor and a registered member of Yoga Alliance and a certified Yoga Therapist offering private consultations. She is also a trainer in Glenmore’s 200-hour and 300-hour teacher training programs. Since 2000, Kim has also owned and managed MarketWorks VA, LLC, a boutique marketing and advertising agency.
Sarah Thacker, MA, Yoga Therapist, ATR-BC, E-RYT-500, YACEP, is a 500 Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and has been teaching yoga with Glenmore since 2005. Sarah has been faculty in the Glenmore Yoga & Wellness Center Yoga Teacher Training Programs since 2011. Sarah is a Holistic Health Coach trained by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and offers an integrative approach to wellness through her unique combination of training and skills, helping others create a healthy, balanced life through stress management, coping skill development, mindfulness, creative expression and nutrition awareness. She is also a registered and board certified art therapist. After college Sarah began using yoga as part of the therapeutic process while working with homeless women in Brooklyn, NY. Returning to Richmond, she worked as an art therapist with emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.
Sue Agee, E-RYT-500, YACEP, RN, loves sharing the many gifts a continued practice of yoga may bring, striving to help students discover greater ease of body and a deepened peace of mind. Sue completed her 200 and 500 hour yoga training at Glenmore and continues studies at the Himalayan Institute. She enjoys teaching a variety of workshops to yoga instructors and students and is also certified in Traditional Thai Massage, Foot Reflexology, and YoKids K-12. She tries to live her yoga every day and continues to practice, read, train, learn and discover. When she doesn’t have her nose deep in a book on philosophy and meditation, she is still trying to train her therapy beagle to behave. Sue teaches Levels 1 – 3 and Yoga on the Ball and Philosophy and Meditation in Glenmore’s yoga teacher training programs.
Clarissa (Chris) Riely, RYT-500, started practicing yoga about 18 years ago. She was diagnosed with a genetic lung disease in 2011 and has severe COPD. Her physician told her that doing yoga and walking has so far been successful in keeping her off oxygen. Her favorite quote is “if there was a drug that could mimic the effects of yoga, it would probably be the world’s best-selling drug”. Chris teaches Yoga for Better Breathing in Glenmore’s training program, ageless gentle and level 1 classes at Glenmore as well as on the Northern Neck. She’s known for her grandchildren’s jokes that bring groans and smiles to her students.
Sandy Axelson, RYT-500, found yoga more than 15 years ago as a mindful, stress reducing addition to her regular fitness program. Sandy received her 200 and 500 hr therapeutically focused yoga teacher training at Glenmore. She has also received additional certifications in Chair Yoga as well as Accessible Yoga. Sandy believes that yoga is for every age and every body and loves working with her students on their yoga journey. Sandy holds a BS in Education from VA Tech and a MS in Consumer Economics from Florida State University. Sandy teaches the Yoga for the Pelvic Floor in Glenmore’s training program. She also teaches Chair Yoga through Glenmore’s online teaching program.