Instructors
"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is 'Thank you', that would suffice." -Meister Eckhart
Claudine is a 500 hour RYT in Hatha yoga with Certifications in Warriors at Ease for Post Deployment & Trauma, Yoga 4 Classrooms, Childlight Yoga and Advanced, Karma Kids, Yoga Minded 4 Teens, Prenatal With Sue Elkind and Certified Barre above Instructor. She has had the privilege to train and study with Seane Corn in Spirit Speaks, Baron Baptiste of Baptiste Power Yoga, Sharon Gannon and David life of Jivamukti Yoga, Sadie Nardini of Power Core Yoga , Shiva Rea, Rolf Gates (500 hour) and many other great teachers along her personal journey. Claudine is also a Certified Ayurvedic Specialist with the Himalayan Institute and a Holistic Health Counselor with INN. She is also trained in level 1 Buddhism and a certified traditional Usui Reiki Master.
Claudine believes in living a holistic lifestyle and thinks yoga is a crucial foundation in this process. She feels privileged to teach the beautiful art of yoga with the hope that her students will use it both on and off the mat. Her style of teaching is a mixture of Vinyasa flow with a power yoga background. Claudine also likes to encourage a freedom of expression and exploration in the body and in the mind. Her goal as a teacher is to have her students grow in strength and flexibility in their body, mind and spirituality and to share passionate hearts as they open themselves up to their full potential and truly live in the yogic lifestyle.
In her spare time she is a foster mom for dogs, an avid traveler and enjoys spending time on her kayak and paddleboard. She loves surrounding herself with family, friends, her chickens and 7 dogs.
"It is only with the hear that one can see rightly; What is essential is invisible to the eye"
After practicing for several years, Patti enrolled in the 200 hr. Yoga Alliance approved in depth teacher training program at the Yoga Loft in Bethlehem PA under the direction of Carrie Morgan & Jessie Thompson. Patti completed the program in May 2013 and loves to share her love of yoga with students, who like Patti want to enhance their lives on and off their mats by experiencing a safe, fun, and well-rounded practice. Patti continues to further her practice attending workshops and yoga events. Patti has trained and received certifications in Restorative Yoga with Judith Curiel, Balanced Athlete with Johnny Gillespie and PIYO.
As Patti continues to learn from her teachers, through daily practice and from attending workshops, she looks forward to sharing her experiences with her students as they celebrate the physical and inner strength within us all.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” The Bhagavad Gita
Aly’s yoga practice started seven years ago and she has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the community that has emerged both on and off the mat. She decided to deepen her practice by taking Yoga Tree’s first 200 Hour Yoga Alliance approved Teacher Training under the direction of Elle Kaplan. She looks forward to continually expanding on those teachings, sharing them with students, while also growing with the studio and community.
Aly wants people to be able to come to their mats freeing themselves from the judgments they may have placed on themselves or the judgments felt from their environment. Her goal is for students to feel comfortable, so that they may focus on the proper alignment each pose. She believes if you put forth the effort to set the right foundation, you are then ready to settle into the ease of each pose, ultimately opening you up to make the mind body connection. Aly’s wish is that with time and trust, students will feel the same joy she has felt learning how yoga goes beyond the mat. She is a student of life guiding students to be true to themselves.
"Yoga is like music; the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life." ~B.K.S. Iyengar
Jennifer is passionate about the overall lifestyle that Yoga embodies;
as spoken of by Yogi Bhajan...a comprehensive lifestyle that allows the radiance of the soul to
shine in every facet of life.
Jen fell during a challenging 10 mile trail run which caused a shoulder injury that required surgery. (Of course she finished the race!)
That turn of events sparked her desire to learn posture modifications that allowed her to keep her yoga practice vital throughout the recovery.
Her desire to share those techniques with others, eventually led to her obtaining a 200-hour YTT certification through The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem in 2012.
Jen aspires for her students to share in the magnificent wonder of the human body and its many layers of flowing energy; in knowing that each breath and every day is a gift.
In her classes she encourages the exploration of movement through acceptance, discovery, laughter and everything in between!
Sharing in gratitude from her studies as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Sound Therapist and Reiki Practitioner.
In her free time you will find her outdoors among her wildlife friends, perhaps you will hear a gong on the wind or a didgeridoo serenading the birds.
“He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior” - Confucius
Diane completed her 200-hr YTT with the Himalayan Institute under June Hunt and has been teaching since 2016. For Diane, yoga became a gateway into a world of exploration, introspection, and profound awareness. Diane continues to grow & evolve through ongoing trainings & workshops & believes the path to self discovery is a lifelong journey. Diane has also completed Expand Your Power - 200 hr Baptiste Power Yoga teacher training, Baptiste - The Art of Assisting, Yin yoga, Restorative yoga & Yoga for Recovery - Transformation Yoga Project. She also became a certified Usui Reiki Master under Theresa Steltzer. Currently, Diane is pursuing her 500-hr teaching certification with the Himalayan Institute.
Diane is excited & honored to be able to share the beauty and power of the yoga tradition. She continues to be inspired by the students of this community and their love and devotion to the practice.
Diane resides in Perkasie, PA with her husband, Matt, and their two dogs, Ripple & Althea.
"Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present. and by each crime, and every kindness, we birth our future. -Namaste"
A mother, a wife, and a lover of life. Taking a playful approach to life, she has a passion for all things. Jenni is a true believer that Yoga is a practice of every second, of every day.
Jenni was introduced to the wonders of esoteric teachings by her parents and was immersed in meditation as a child. When Yoga found her and led her down the path of inward exploration, she didn't look back.
Jenni's classes are a mixture of an uplifting atmosphere, with a true intent to feel, and observe. Focus on breath awareness and alignment are big staples, while intertwining the deeper focus that our true practice requires. Meditation is never rushed nor ignored, and it is to be expected to practice Pranayama and/or Mantra. With a passion for the quicker, deeper asanas as well as the stillness and silence, Jenni enjoys offering a mix of classes. Vinyasa/Hatha, Restorative, Gentle, Beginner's, Meditation/Mantra, and Yoga Nidra are her favorite offerings and practices.
She will always be a student of Yoga and Meditation. Jenni has acquired her 200 Hour YTT Certification, Reiki II Certification, and merged it with her passion of leading a healthy, compassionate, and spiritually driven life. Jenni has acquired well over 100 hours of continued education, and is also on the journey of her 500 Hour YTT Certification, as well as taking her 200 Hour training for a second time.
Rarely finding her without a smile, she will most likely be outdoors, cooking, teaching about Essential Oils, or spending time with her family when she is "off the mat." Connecting with your inner child and finding the joy and love in all things, is the best way to feel gratitude and to BE happiness.
“Eventually it will become quiet enough so that you can simply watch the heart begin to react, and let go before the mind starts.” -Michael A. Singer
Lisa is a 500-hour RYT with Yoga Alliance.
She began her spiritual journey over 20 years ago as she began to look within herself to find connections with her mind, body and soul. This journey of discovery led her to yoga in 1999. In 2001, Lisa completed a “Yoga for the Special Child” training under the Sonya Sumar Method. She incorporated this new training into her daily classroom routine while teaching children with Autism.
For the past 19 years, Lisa has resided in Chalfont with her husband and 3 boys.
In 2018, after suffering from foot injuries and back issues, she knew she needed to return to the mat on a more consistent basis to heal her physical, emotional, and spiritual body. In her desire to deepen her practice, Lisa completed a 200-hour Teacher Training at Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary under Elle Kaplan and Claudine Schuster in August 2019. Lisa completed her 300-hour Teacher Training under Sally Delisle and Claudine Schuster at Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary in October 2021 and is a certified Yin Yoga Teacher under Childlight Yoga.
Lisa’s classes offer creative sequencing with themes and/or peak poses, opportunities to pause and check in with the self and the breath, and encouragement to make each pose your own.
When she isn’t teaching or spending time with her family and friends, she enjoys taking yoga classes and workshops from an array of different teachers, styles, and studios to help her personal practice and teaching grow. One of her favorite experiences was taking a yoga class in the South of France in French!!
Lisa believes it’s important to trust the process and to live your truth. To trust where you are right now at this moment, to have faith that things will be ok, and to just remember to breathe.
I have always enjoyed being on my mat, and have been practicing for several year now. My mat is my place to recenter myself and to find balance or answers I am searching for. I became a 1st time mother in 2016 and as amazing as that experience is my world changed in ways I didn’t think possible. My mat began to collect dust and I started to notice that there was a change in me. I joined a gym because I wanted to get back into some kind of workout routine but something was still missing. In 2019 I walked into Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary and fell in Love with the studio, what a beautiful space to be in. I slowly started getting on my mat more regularly and began to feel something inside of me shift but still wanted more. I saw the info posted at the studio about the teacher training classes and had a long conversation with Claudine about making the 6 month commitment. Deep down I knew it was going to be a hard journey but I also knew it was a journey I wanted to make.
In January of 2020 I decide to take the leap by enrolling in the 200 hr yoga alliance teacher training at Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary, a journey I will always be grateful for. I had no intentions of teaching, I was just going on this journey to reconnect to myself. But I was given the opportunity to start teaching shortly after I was certified and now I look forward to teaching in this beautiful studio that I fell in love with and also share my love for yoga with others.
"We don't find God. We dissolve and all that's left is God. -Krishna Das
I've been physically active my entire adult life always thriving on some measure of physical fitness. From aerobics six days a week in the 90's, to biking and eventually running and completing a marathon in 2002. Yoga was something I thought.... one day. Over the years my flexibility was waning. In January of 2017 a friend invited my husband and I to a yoga class. I ordered 2 yoga mats the very next morning.
You see, even with years of physical exercise I couldn't sit cross legged for 30 seconds without pain and discomfort. I was immediately hooked and couldn't get enough.
There was something deeper calling to me besides the poses, stretching, and breathing.
I was religious early in life, but now I am more strongly drawn to higher energy and power; and yoga connected those dots for me.
Little did I know that day in January that yoga would be my lifeline. In October 2017 my mom, my best friend, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Over the next 2+ years yoga gave me the strength I needed to be by her side every step of the way along with the peace and grace to face it.
I knew I wanted to do the 200 hour teacher training but had to wait until she didn't need me anymore. Unfortunately, I lost her on November 5th, 2019.
I graduated teacher training on June 27, 2021. I'm very new to being an instructor, so I consider myself an infant yogi in a very old soul. I plan to continue my training by completing the 300-level training in February 2022.
I am super excited to be able to lead donation classes for Shanteel to flap my newly created wings. I have also been offered the opportunity to take on the Tuesday Sunrise class at our beloved studio! Such responsibility is daunting but I intend to meet this with integrity, simplicity, gratitude, as well as being able to reflect all the amazing, knowledgeable, strong, gifted teachers that have brought me to where I am today. I also want to continue to make my mother proud of me, as I know she is close by and continuing to cheer me on even if from a distant sideline. Namaste.
"Without concern for results, perform the necessary action; surrendering all attachments, accomplish life's highest good."
Bhagavad Gita
Shani began her Yoga journey several years ago as a way to balance body and mind as well as to help with stress and anxiety. It didn't take long for her to feel the transformational effects of the practice, thus leading her to want to share through teaching.
In the Spring of 2020 she completed a 200 YTT through Yogasphere in Newtown PA. A thirst for even more knowledge and wanting to dive even deeper into all things Yoga led her to complete Shanteel's 300 TT in Oct 2021 bringing her to 500 RYT. In between that time she also became a certified Yin Yoga Instructor under Bernie Clark, and is a Reiki 1 practitioner through Prancing Peacock in Yardley.
In her classes she encourages students to honor themselves where they are allowing plenty of space for self exploration both on and off the mat. Her background in dance also makes an appearance through creative movement and sequencing.
Shani believes that we are always students first and there is so much to continue learning from one another.
When she isn't teaching, she loves spending time with her Husband John and three Dalmatians Hudson, Sarah & Welsey. Being in nature as much as possible is a must and of course working on her own personal practice of Yoga.
“Anything mentionable is manageable” -Mister Rogers
Hillery is an LMT specializing in movement based bodywork. Using face, pulse, tongue, and body-reading assessments to integrate holistic bodywork tools informed by Ayurveda, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Yoga, vitalist herbalism and clinical massage. With 18 years experience in functional and preventive wellness, she offers workshops and yoga clinics that expand beyond the massage table. Most importantly empowering folks to connect to their synergistic Nature inside and out, activating their capacity for self-health and natural movement.
Her classes integrate traditional vinyasa with movements that translate into moving more mindfully in our everyday lives and responsibilities. She is passionate about healthy aging and teaches skills and drills for supporting balance, proprioception, proper muscle recruitment, brain-training and internalizing body-awareness.
At a young age Hillery won a gymnastics scholarship that propelled her into a lifelong study of dance and movement. Dancing at The College of Wooster modern dance company in High School saved her young adult life, introducing her to African dance and planting
the seeds to go on to study somatic dance therapy and yoga forms like Continuum, Authentic Movement, Feldenkrais, Contemplative dance, Tibetan Heart Yoga, and Anusara Yoga. Dance therapy, yoga, and massage were integral to healing her own tailbone fracture, PTSD and fibromyalgia.
Her devotion to honoring Mother Earth and our relationship to Nature is the throughline to all her work. Especially informed by her forest dwelling years that came early, living in her Yurt off the grid for 10 years on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound. Hauling water, chopping wood and roaming the woods in silence.
As an Earth Care Provider and Protector, Hillery served as an Non-Indian human rights witness for Dineh elders resisting forced relocation from their homelands for coal extraction. She also participated in supporting tree-sits and saving old-growth forests.
Her activist days were hard and emotionally draining. That sent her seeking tools for transforming her grief for the habitat and indigenous losses on Mother Earth, gratefully finding two of her most influential teachers: Starhawk and Joanna Macy. Their teachings inform her practices through facilitating sacred circles for human discovery and seasonal celebration.
Having her clinic room located in the soulful refuge of Shanteel since Fall 2020, she deeply appreciates being part of this growing community that offers a special place to feel comfortable just being your authentic self.
“The success of Yoga does not lie in the ability to perform postures but in how it positively changes the way we live our life and our relationships.”-T.K.V Desikachar
Michele was introduced to Yoga at the age of 18. The deepening connection between the mind, body
and breath drew her in immediately. Yoga saw Michele through very trying times in her life, as well as the most beautiful times. Through her practice, she has come to know, honor and respect her true self.
Michele has been practicing at Shanteel since 2019. She knew she had found her home from the moment she walked in the studio.
In 2021, a friend had suggested that Michele consider taking the 200hr YTT at Shanteel. Although
Michele did not have intentions of teaching when she embarked on this journey, she remained open to any and all possibilities. Over the course of the six month program, Michele came to see all that Yoga had provided for her, and could not deny that she wanted to share that with others. She has embraced all opportunities to share the gifts of yoga with the community. Michele is enrolled and scheduled to begin her 300hr YTT in October 2022 at Shanteel.
Michele’s life off her mat is dedicated to raising her two children, Mason and Emlynn, alongside her husband and best friend, Eric. Together they enjoy spending time with family and friends, and are fiercely competitive when it comes to miniature golf.
“Be here now.” -Ram Dass
Jackie found her way to yoga in 2018 when she was pregnant with her second child and looking to have a healthier and more connected pregnancy. She knew she was hooked after that first prenatal class but could have never imagined the cornerstone that the practice, as well as the beautiful community of yogis that she has met along the way, would become in her life.
Through pregnancy, personal upheaval, covid, and so much more, yoga has become a place for Jackie to reconnect with herself, her body, and what she truly wants from her one wild and beautiful life. She likes to say that yoga catches her every time she falls, but it also helps her to get back up stronger, and with intention.
Jackie took the jump and completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2022 at Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary. She is excited to share yoga, and hopefully help people gain strength and flexibility not just physically on the mat, but also within themselves. Her classes focus on reconnecting with yourself and finding flow and balance within your own body, mind, and soul. Jackie is always looking to expand her knowledge of yoga and is signed up for Shanteel’s 300 teacher training program that will be completed in October of 2023.
When she is not on the mat, or frantically trying to keep up with her two young kids, Jackie enjoys dancing to the playlist in the grocery store, asking strangers to pet their dogs, and, when all the stars align, putting her nose in a book (preferably while on a lounge chair in the sun).
A Flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it , It just Blooms - Zen Shin
Megan completed her 200 RYT with Yoga Alliance in 2017 & is currently enrolled in her 300 RYT with Shanteel Yoga Sanctuary .
With Megan's soft & patient approach ,she loves to share her joy of yoga with her students . She teaches many types is yoga including restorative , Yin, gentle, all levels flow , vinyasa & chair yoga . You'll leave her classes feeling relaxed & grounded.
Megan loves spending time with her husband and 2 children & their many animals. She also loves going to beach, traveling, spending time with her friends & of course doing Yoga
“I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion - and where it isn’t, that’s where my work lies.” - Ram Dass
Dan found his yoga practice ten years ago while living in Grand Teton National Park. Since then, life and work carried him to the mountains of Vail, the vibrant and sun-filled city of Denver, and, most recently, to the comfort of home in Pennsylvania.
Through each location and life experience, yoga provided him with a throughline of grounding, vitality, connection, and peace.
Upon finding Shanteel, Dan knew unwaveringly that this was the place to complete his RYT 200-hr yoga teacher training.
Through the practice of yoga, he hopes each student might release their attachments, arrive to the present moment, and find compassion for themselves and others. His intention is to facilitate each students’ growth and exploration on their mat. Dan’s wish is that
maybe, with movement, students might also find stillness. Maybe, with effort, they too might invite ease. Maybe they find balance, maybe they find equanimity, and maybe they see things as they really are.
When not on his mat, Dan can be found moseying about the mountains or cooking and adventuring with family, friends, and his partner, Chris.
“When the senses are stilled, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect wavers not, then, say the wise, is reached the highest stage. This steady control of the sense and mind has been defined as Yoga. He who attains it is free from delusion.” -The Katha Upanishad
Recently certified as a 200-RYT in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, mentored by Shari Simon of Sun Dog Yoga, Doylestown, PA, Anneliese brings her love of the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice. She grew up around Ashtanga but fell in love once entering her own journey several years ago after committing to a basics class. Specific breathing techniques and focal points during this practice paired with movement allows one to enter a ‘moving meditation’ . It may take a bit to get there but, this is why it is called a practice… It can be hard, it can be different, and a bit of a struggle at first, but once you get it down… there’s nothing like it. By the end of the series you will be prepped and ready to get right up on your cushion and sit in silence for however long feels right for you. To Anneliese, Ashtanga yoga is an avenue to reach enlightenment along with the teachings of the 8 limbs of yoga (8 ways of living your life in the best way possible to reach the highest version of yourself you can be).
Aside from yoga, Anneliese loves spending time with her 2 year old Golden Retriever, Rocky. He’s her whole heart and soul and is one of the many reasons she wakes up happy every morning! Yoga, hiking, snowboarding, hammocking and just doing anything out in nature fuels her fire! She loves animals more than anything and would love to own a few goats and a farm one day to introduce goat yoga into her practice. She was a veggie farmer for 2 seasons and loves being outside grounding in the dirt all day with all the plants and bugs! Meditation is a big part of her daily life, sitting still for an hour or so a day has been something that really grounds her and she can’t wait to share it with the world!
It is her life’s passion and she is grateful and excited to be able to share this with you. Namaste
“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Martha’s Yoga journey began in 1998 when she began practicing at local studios, fitness centers, and at home. In 2016, her practice really deepened when she began practicing regularly and realized how wonderful it made her feel physically and emotionally. As she continued to practice over time, she felt drawn to try a teacher training program. In March of 2021, Martha completed a 200 Hour Teacher Training through Yogasphere in Newtown. Martha started to offer classes to her neighbors and to other studios. In 2022 she once again felt the pull of deepening her practice and what she could offer to other students. She completed a 50 Hour Teacher Training in Yin Yoga through Sally Miller Yoga. Martha looks forward to continuing her Yoga training with a 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training.
When Martha is not teaching yoga, she is a reading teacher at New Hope Solebury School District. She loves to read all genres of literature and has a deep passion for learning as well as teaching. Martha loves spending time with her husband John and her children. She has a love for being outside in nature and enjoys walking, biking, hiking, and gardening. Martha and her husband love music and John is a musician in a local cover band. Martha has two grown children who she cherishes. She also has a sweet senior black lab lady named Riley who she spoils without limits.
It is a deep desire of Martha’s to share the practice of Yoga with all people who are interested in Yoga. Her classes are accessible to all levels of Yogis. She looks forward to nurturing and offering the practice to all.
"What is to give light must endure burning." -Viktor E. Frankl
Michelle is a 200 hour RYT certified Kundalini Yoga instructor from Kundalini University with Guru Singh. She also has certifications in Sound Healing and has branched out to study Shamanic and Angelic healing practices as well as sacred plant medicines. Michelle has a passion for Ayurveda and has a working relationship with a local Ayurvedic doctor.
Her spiritual practice began over 20 years ago. After practicing predominantly Hatha, Vinyassa and various forms of Power yoga she moved to a new town in Southern NH 12 years ago and happened upon a Kundalini studio. She immediately knew this practice was her True North. While she enjoys all forms of yoga Kundalini has been her focus ever since and she was certified to teach in February 2022. She also speaks on the subject of a kundalini yoga at various events and conferences.
Michelle's sincere desire is to share the tremendous gifts of Kundalini Yoga with her students and bring this mystical practice to a wider audience. On a personal level Michelle has experienced profound energetic shifts, strengthening of the nervous system, expanded awareness and spiritual awakening through regular Kundalini yoga practice.
After many years living in Southern NH and then Fishtown, Philly Michelle has now returned to her native Lansdale, PA. In her spare time Michelle loves to travel, attend retreats, read, watch horror movies (good, bad, everything in between) and go to shows and Goth/80s/Punk/Darkwave dance nights. She listens to a lot of music and was a DJ in college. Michelle loves to spend time with her friends and family as well as her cat, Dr. Herbert West, Reanimator.