Sandra “SAM” Sather, MS, BSN, RYT-500, C-IAYT, C-IYSI, YACEP Founder of Dogwood Studio

 

Sandra “S.A.M.” Sather is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She is also an experienced registered yoga instructor (eRYT) with many other certifications and trainings, for example Certified Integrative Yoga for Seniors (C-IYSI), Functional Movement, Mindfulness, Yoga for Cancer, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, and Yin Yoga. SAM is a fascia enthusiast related to movement therapy for improvements in posture, chronic pain, and prevention of injury.

SAM has Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and later obtained her Master’s of Science in Education. Out of college SAM moved from Jamestown, NY to North Carolina. Soon after arriving in NC, she co-owned a local gym where SAM provided personal training to a variety of populations including seniors, athletes, to individuals living with disabilities. This was the start of combining nursing and wellness together to serve others. SAM changed her nursing focus to clinical research in the mid-1990’s and in 2002 opened her second business with her partner Chuck called Clinical Pathways, a small clinical consulting firm that works with companies developing new therapies to treat disease through western medicine. Meanwhile, she shifted her wellness focus to Yoga in the 1990’s. SAM opened her home studio, Dogwood Yoga Studio in 2017 to serve individuals and small groups in Yoga Therapy.

SAM’s long-term goal is to integrate her eastern and western modalities to help others by applying her skills in managing clinical trials toward organizing formal studies of natural therapies to prevent or mitigate disease. SAM and her partner Chuck live in Chapel Hill, NC, USA. She has two delightful grown children, Rob & Sarah.

“We all are very fortunate in the Insight Yoga Sangha to have Sam join our global group of endorsed teachers. With each teachers’ dedication and expertise, we look forward to connecting with you.”

~Sarah Powers, founder of Insight Yoga Institute 

 

Aviva Tulasi, M.A.T., C-IAYT

 

Aviva Tulasi is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). She has 1,000 hours of classical yoga training from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. She has completed trainings in chair yoga, gentle yoga, yoga for osteoporosis, trauma informed yoga and yoga nidra.

As a former high school science teacher, Aviva enjoys exploring the intersection of the health benefits of yoga, yoga research and science.

When Aviva completed her 200 hour YTT, she was given the spiritual name Tulasi (Sanskrit: तुलसी). Tulasi means “incomparable one”. In India, Tulasi is considered a holy plant and symbol of healing and protection. It is typically found in the center of a household and is used as medicine for the body, mind, and soul. Aviva change her last name to Tulasi as a reminder of the person she was striving to become. Aviva teaches yoga to bring Tulasi and all of its associated positivity into her students’ lives.  

Along with providing yoga for health and wellbeing, Aviva is a step-mother and the chair of Fuel Up at Perry Harrison School, a 501(c)3 charity non-profit food backpack.

Aviva is happiest when she is in nature, which is one of the driving reasons her family and she moved to the Chapel Hill area. She feels fortunate that she lives surrounded by trees. In her spare time, you can find her attempting to garden, hanging in the hammock or hiking with her family.

We are proud to have her as part of our team!

 

Amanda Dzengeleski, E-RYT 500 Studio Manager

 

Amanda is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher and yoga therapist in training. Amanda completed her first yoga teacher training at Wilmington Yoga Center in 2017. Through this program, her personal practice became an opportunity to be of service to others. She offers deep gratitude to each of the teachers who have influenced her practice and teaching along the way, the greatest of which have been her own life experiences.

Her experiences have gifted her a unique perspective and deep compassion for those navigating the complexities of life. Amanda has additional training in trauma-sensitive yoga, therapeutic yoga, and functional movement. Each of these modalities inform the way she approaches her work, as does her deep appreciation for a safe, nurturing connection. She is currently enrolled in a Clinical Yoga Therapy training program to deepen her ability to work with individuals living with symptoms related to their own lived experience. Amanda deeply believes that all beings possess an innate wisdom that blooms despite difficulty, trauma, illness or loss. She is dedicated to hosting a safe and inclusive space for students’ to honor their uniqueness and learn to listen to the wisdom of their bodies. 

In addition to her role as a yoga teacher, Amanda is the Co-Executive Director of Yoga Village, a Wilmington based non-profit that brings evidence based, trauma sensitive and resiliency focused, mindful movement programs to populations with limited resources.

Amanda lives in Wilmington, NC where she spends much of her free time by the ocean. She loves to travel and immerse herself in new experiences.