North Fork Yoga Shala in Greenport boasts an inspired team of informed, compassionate Instructors that share a depth of training, experience and integrity that sets us apart as a studio. We are dedicated solely to the teaching of yoga, and as a result our focus and quality of instruction is second to none. At the helm is our founder and director, Claire Copersino, beloved Yoga Teacher on the North Fork since 2000. Many of our instructors began their yoga practice with Claire years ago and were then inspired to complete their own teacher trainings in a variety of settings and styles. Our instructors training and experience is broad, diverse and on-going and includes, but is not limited to, the following styles: Vinyasa, Kula Yoga Project, Anusara, Jivamukti, Ashtanga, Baron Baptiste, Iyengar, Kripalu, Shiva Rea and Cyndi Lee. There is a real authentic connection amongst us all that sweeps our beloved students up into the glow and it is common to see one or more of our instructors attending their fellow teachers classes. Our family of instructors at North Fork Yoga Shala continues to reflect the growing impact we are having on the community of Greenport and the North Fork. It is a privilege for us to serve this community and help share and spread the teachings of yoga for the benefit of all.
Her first teacher training was completed in 2000, during a month-long intense live-in YTT at Kripalu Yoga Center in the Berkshires, Massachussets and since then she has been fortunate to study with a wide variety of yoga luminaries and complete some intensive study and trainings that have deeply informed her practice, what she teaches and frankly the art of living a more informed, mindful land joyous life. She lives each day as a student and is a firm believer in the never-ending refinement and art of daily living that can lead to a delicious, co-creative life experience.
Claire’s classes are ever evolving, and are deeply inspired by her own studies, experiences and the variety of people, places and materials she is exposed to. Yoga is, by definition a spiritual practice, and Claire effortlessly weaves relaxed humour, poetry, spiritual teachings and inspiring stories into her classes. She is known for keeping it real and urging her students to be easy about it, take the pressure off and find their practice within the context of what is offered. She is profoundly appreciative of this practice, the opportunity to share it with others and how much that experience gives to her and the ever-evolving North Fork Yoga Shala family that continues to grow in Greenport.
Namaste.
Movement, moving myself in space through yoga, sailing, cycling and helping others regain their ability to move and the study of movement has always been a great joy and challenge.
Yoga teacher training came at a time I was ready to change directions, providing an opportunity to knit these strands of my life together. Every day is new and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to deepen and strengthen my ties to yoga and the yoga community and to share my journey as I continue to learn and to share what I love. Beth Beavan
The heart of yoga for Christine is the fact that it is a constant practice in which, every day, every breath, every pose and sequence is a new experience. Being connected to one’s body through mindful movement is a commitment to wholeness and to honoring our true selves. She loves composing each class based on the requests and needs of the individuals present while encouraging the balance of ease and strength.
Jeannette discovered kids yoga after attending classes with her daughter and loved every single minute of it! With a love of music, movement and children, Jeannette completed her training at Karma Kids Yoga, in 2013 certified to teach children ages 1-12 years old. She believes that sharing the practice of yoga with children early on gives them a valuable “toolbox” that will grow with them throughout their lives. Jeannette holds a BA in Communications from Adelphi University. She worked in advertising for 12 years as a video editor cutting commercials and corporate videos. During this time, she discovered the practice of yoga. It was exactly what her body needed after sitting in a static position for many hours a day. She became hooked and knew this was something she’d be doing for the rest of her life.
Jeannette feels blessed to share her love of yoga and to be teaching children yoga! She loves to sing, be goofy and play! Her favorite yoga poses is Virabhadrasana 3 or Warrior 3, because it makes her feel strong to balance on one foot. It’s also a really great way to get to an exciting yoga adventure. Jeannette looks forward to seeing you and your kids on the mat!
Concluding that her love for Yoga played an valuable role in her personal health and well being, Iris became a certified yoga instructor to be able to further provide self-healing practices to her clients and community, allowing them to use inner wisdom as their guide. In 2013 Iris travelled to Costa Rica to study under Marianne Wells. Also influenced by B.K.S. Iyengar, Marianne guided Iris to teach Hatha yoga in a way which focuses heavily on alignment in each posture. This self examination in each posture allows the student the opportunity to bring each pose further in a gentle way. The self knowledge of alignment further assists the student in carrying themselves through daily life.
Of late Iris has taken a special interest in using yoga as a therapy in recovery from addiction, bringing the Yoga of 12-Step Recovery program to the North Fork. This program is used to move trauma through the body as it reprograms neuro-pathways, so the student can use yoga practice as a tool for relapse prevention.
The diversity of Iris’s education and training makes her uniquely qualified to guide people to perfect health.
She received her Hatha RYT200 from Open Sky Yoga in Rochester with Francois Raoult who decends from the Iyengar lineage. Meg has traveled and practiced yoga and the movement arts all over the world including Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Costa Rica. In Costa Rica she attended CAMP, (Cooperative Arts Movement and Play). There she learnt how important it is to incorporate a playful attitude into our lives. As adults we lose the desire to play and experiment with our bodies and others mostly because we become overly concious of how others view us. So, expect lots of play and laughter when you are in Meg’s classes. Meg loves water and finds peace when ever she is near it. She spends her spare time paddle boarding, snorkeling, cleaning up local beaches, writing, dancing, and making art. We are all divine beings, and everything we desire is within us.
If you would like to follow along on Meg’s adventures follow her on Instagram @meg_themermaid_yogi
She loves rebels, music, arugula, dancing with total abandon, poets, tulips, her toes forever in the ocean, biking and of course, Glitter. She has had the outrageous privilege of being the cosmic mom and creatrix of Lotus NYC/BK for 17 incredible years. nyc.laughinglotus.com
Wade also has had the privilege to study under Richard Freeman , Heidi Fokine and most importantly Richard Rosen. It was through Rosen that the pranayama work became paramount and continues to be a source of exploration.
Upon completing his first 300 hour training he jumped in with both feet to teach. Subsequently, Wade completed another 200 hour training under Heidi Fokine and looks forward to more training augmenting his teaching abilities.
Wades goal is to make the art of Yoga accessible to folks who might not otherwise consider it. A native to the North Fork , Wade grew up as a commercial fisherman on the Long Island Sound and is all too familiar with the rigors of hard labor and how in affects the body , mind & spirit. Using a the eight limbs of Yoga in totality, he hopes to help people who currently have or have previously had the same experiences.
Graduating in 2008 from StonyBrook University , Wade is a recipient of a New York state secondary education teaching degree and bachelors degree in history.
He has also completed classes at the Lee Strassburg school of acting and has some 30 years of stage experience .
Wade is very honored to be part of the Yoga Shala family and looks forward to sharing the practice!
