Heartwood is the manifestation of a dream

Ginny East Shaddock is an ERYT-500 yoga teacher, RCYT (Registered Children's Yoga Teacher) a certified yoga therapist with IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists), a  Reiki Master and a trained Ayurveda Counselor from the Kerala Institute, India. She has a BA in Business Management from Eckerd College and  a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Lesley University. 

Her extensive background in dance, yoga and the healing arts have helped her create a multi-faceted school with an educational program that combines arts awareness, physical training and mind-body awareness for ever-broadening learning experiences. She is the director Heartwood Yoga Institute, and the founder of the Florida Reiki Association, as well as Yoga for the Balanced Child, a YA certification program designed to qualify teachers to share yoga with children ages 3-teen. 

Ginny has long been an advocate of the mind body connection. Formerly, Ginny had an extensive career in dance. After a few years performing and choreographing in NY, she taught at the Broadway Dance Center, Steps, Raoul Gelebert Studios , Steps, New York University, Vassar College and other facilities in New York City and was named one of the top ten teachers in NY in 1989 by Dance Pages Magazine. She traveled the country teaching for Dance Masters of America and other dance organizations, and created Kiddance, a newsletter and training program for youth dance education which was featured in Dance Magazine.  She was the director of FLEX Dance in Florida for 17 years until she felt it was time to retire from dance. Ginny transitioned to yoga and holistic practices in 2006, focusing her natural aptitude for teaching and program development to creating Heartwood Yoga Institute and associated programs.      

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David Shaddock is an ERYT-500 yoga teacher, c-IAYT Yoga Therapist, Licensed LMT and Cranio Sacral therapist and Reiki Master, as well as Thai Chi and shamanism enthusiast.  He is our "science guy" teaching anatomy, physiology and the science of  crystals, energy, and more. David is a licensed Professional Engineer in both mechanical and electrical fields, as well as having a bachelor's  degree in Information Technology. He is also an airplane, seaplane and hot air balloon pilot, a master gardener, a former paramedic, a musician  (guitar sitar, piano), wood crafter, champion canoe racer, writer, gourmet chef, and more - which defines his love of learning and passion for exploring life in all its diversity. 
 David's love of teaching shines as well, and he brings a great deal of that love and his omnipresent creativity to each of the classes he teaches. His medical background (he was one of the first five Certified Emergency Cardiac Technicians in Illinois, and one of the first privately registered paramedics there as well) allows him to lecture on anatomy and physiology, with special attention to inversions and prānāyāma. He has a particular affinity for Aerial Yoga and his  anatomy of inversion course is insightful thanks to his experience in medicine, flying and yoga. We thank David for is hard work and ingenuity, as his creative mind is the reason we have a  medicine wheel, labyrinth, amazing meditation areas, koi ponds and so much more at Heartwood. 

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Denver is a certified ERYT-500 teacher , C-IAYT (certified yoga therapist) and RCYT (Children's yoga teacher) with Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists as well as a licensed massage therapist in the state of Florida . She previously owned and operated Blue Mountain Yoga studio in Blue Ridge GA from 2009-2016 and is thrilled to be back in her hometown of Sarasota as director of the school and faculty member at Heartwood.

As a resident Massage Therapist, Denver offers customized sessions in Swedish massage and Ayurvedic bodywork and utilizes reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki, hot stones, sound healing and more for the ultimate healing experience.

The discovery of yoga has offered Denver the opportunity to connect with her mind, body and breath at a spiritual level that has transformed her life from the inside out. As a life long full bodied woman, yoga has helped heal Denver's relationship with body image and self esteem and her classes resonate with lessons of self awareness and acceptance.  Denver's goal as a teacher is to share yoga with people of all body types and experience levels and she believes that yoga has the power to change everyone's life for the better. She is the creator of Embodied Yoga, a program that uses yoga, breath work, journaling and self-love practices to encourage body acceptance.

Denver spent many years studying dance and voice. She attended the BFA program at UCF before turning her passions to yoga. She is a devoted mother, vocalist, creative silversmith jewelry artist and spiritual advocate. She is also Ginny Shaddock's daughter, and most likely, the successor of Heartwood Yoga.

   Rachel Belle ERYT-500, received both her 200 and 300 hour certification at Heartwood and also has an a degree in Surgical Technology form Southwest Florida College. She is currently studying to become a yoga therapist. Rachel came to yoga after a spiral through addiction which left her empty and reaching for more to life’s purpose. This was motivation for her to get to know herself on a deeper level through yoga. Her studies have brought her to a place in her life that she says is unimaginable. “It’s almost like I have lived two separate lives now”.  Her classes relieve stress and anxiety, improve balance and flexibility and increase an overall sense of calmness. She is a natural flyer, inviting beginners and advanced practitioners to enjoy the benefits of aerial yoga.   

 As a yoga instructor, Kim is passionate to share the healing benefits that yoga has brought to her life. Through her years of personal practice  she has witnessed the absolute serenity, stress and anxiety management, as well as the beautiful physical benefits of yoga. She contributes yoga as the catalyst that has guided and supported her through some of the most difficult and tragic times in her life.
Kim completed her training at Heartwood Yoga Institute and is a c-IAYT, ERYT-200 & RYT-500.  She maintains an active registration with Yoga Alliance and abides by its governing standards and practices.
Kim offers a calm and supportive atmosphere in her classes which include but are not limited  to: Restorative Aroma Yoga; Yoga Nidra, Gentle Yoga, Vinyasa Flow and Chair Yoga. She encourages open communication with her students so they can receive the most benefit from their yoga experience. She offers the  gift of healing touch and aromatherapy in her classes as well as inspirational quotes and poems.
 

 Bonnie is a RYT-500 Certified Yoga Instructor, focusing on integration of Yoga principles to support overall health and wellness with advanced certification in Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, Yin Yoga. She is currently working on certification in Yoga Therapy. Bonnie’s focus is on safe and effective yoga practices and principles.  Bonnie is also  our resident glass artist who created the chakra stained glass windows that adorn the studio.   She hosts a monthly introduction to stained  glass workshop where students can create their own sun catcher with yoga inspired designs. 

In addition to her contributions to our yoga trainings, Bonnie is a leader of our monthly Women's Circle.  

 Adrienne Lerfald is an RYT-500 Certified yoga teacher & Reiki Master who is also in process to become an IAYT Yoga Therapist. She loves to add energetic awareness to her classes by integrating mudras, essential oils, pranayama, meditation and other practices to her asana (physical postures and sequencing) for a truly embodied yoga experience. Adrienne also has a company called Love’s Parden Yoga  & Boutique that offers yoga, workshops, & creates mindful art and wellness products.   

 Hannah received her RYT-200 certification from Heartwood. She was drawn to yoga after a long road of depression, anxiety and addiction. Finding a practice in yoga has taught her how to walk with more peace and tranquillity in her daily life and she strives to draw a sense of reclaimed inner power in to all her classes. With a balance between approachability and opportunity for a challenge, it is her hope you walk out of her classes feeling calm and accomplished. Hannah has plans to complete her 300 hour teacher training at Heartwood and continue on to yoga therapy. 

Jen Brown “Zen Jen” is a Certified Yoga Instructor, E-RYT 500, Registered with Yoga Alliance. She is currently attending advanced teacher education to become a Certified Yoga Therapist at Heartwood Yoga Institute and is a proud member of the Alternative Balance Professional Group.

Jen specializes in the 50 Plus population, she has extended training in Balance, Flexibility & Trauma Informed Yoga. She is additionally Certified in Restorative, YIN, Senior & Chair Yoga. She also holds a Certification for Meditation Instructor and is an Energy Healing Reiki Master. Jen Brown brings Awareness to the Service of Others as a Teacher of Presence and is a true Self-Love advocate.

Jen's classes are Gentle, Restorative & Healing. 

 As a recent graduate of Heartwood's 50+ 200 hour YTT Immersion program, as well as an always on-the-go manager in the IT world, Michelle enjoys sharing the happiness, calmness, and general sense of peace that she has found through yoga, meditation, and breathwork.  

 Linda is a Registered Yoga Teacher RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance with completion of yoga training at the following Yoga Schools: Heartwood Yoga Institute, Kripalu Yoga Center, and Silver Lotus Yoga. As a result of prior sport injuries, Linda has concentrated her yoga training on adaptive and therapeutic styles of yoga. The aspect of yoga being like a "moving meditation" without angst and pain became more apparent and something she wanted to share with others. She believes in adapting the yoga practice to the student rather than the student struggling to adapt to the practice. 

She has continued her studies with Dr. Ganesh Mohan, Leslie Kaminoff, Amy Weintraub and Lakshmi Voelker. Linda finds much gratification in teaching and seeing students progress in their yoga practice, helping them work toward correct asana (pose) alignment, breathwork and mindfulness on and off the mat.

Linda attended George Washington University and the University of Maryland. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology.

Linda lives and teaches yoga between Lakewood Ranch Florida and Washington, DC.