Meet Our Team

Kelly Harper

Kelly Harper

Yoga Teacher & Studio Coordinator

About Kelly

Drop who you’ve been told you are supposed to be; connect with your breath and gifts that are uniquely yours.  Kelly received her 200hr teaching certificate from the Mystic Yoga Shala under the guidance of Jim Conlan and Detchen Zezulka.

She’s had the pleasure of teaching at several studios in CT but her home is here at Get Bent in Norwich as the Studio Coordinator. Kelly teaches 6 classes a week and has seen amazing/inspiring transformations in students.

As you spend more time on your mat, notice that you are open to try new things, eat healthier, opt to spend time in nature and surround yourself with positive people.

My current favorite pose is a handstand.  Initially, I was afraid to leave the support of a wall. Now I do handstand all the time, anywhere I can.  Sometimes I fall-out and other times stay up forever :)… Yoga is a “Practice” not perfect; there’s freedom in that. Please join me on your mat, Namaste

Brooke Allen

Brooke Allen

Yoga Teacher

About Brooke

Brooke Allen is a musician in the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the United States Coast Guard Band. She received her level one TRX Instructor training at the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy in Petaluma, California. Brooke has years of experience in CrossFit, High-Intensity Interval Training, as well as Bikram and Baptiste yoga. She has a passion for traditional Ashtanga-style yoga and her yoga classes introduce a foundational series of poses meant to strengthen the core and improve healthy alignment and mobility in the body.
“Yoga is a vital part of my life for treating pain and tension in my body due to past injuries and stress. I love how every practice brings me into the present moment and quiets the mind, especially if I am totally focused on proper alignment and the quality of my transitions.
My favorite pose is probably Prasarita Padhottonasana because the combination of the strength in the legs required and the relaxation in the upper body is just what I need every day. It’s also just really satisfying to finally be able to rest the top of your head on the floor.”
Kathy Bouchey

Kathy Bouchey

Yoga Teacher

About Kathy

Kathy Bouchey has been practicing Astanga Yoga for the past 10 years. Yoga helped heal her mind and spirit as well as her body. She is extremely grateful for that healing and for her amazing teachers. Her students will explore all areas of yoga including Pranayama, Kriyas, Ayurveda, and the Yoga Sutras. Kathy is a dedicated, compassionate teacher with a passion for the yogic lifestyle. Her classes have the right blend of discipline, gentleness, humor, and spirituality. Kathy’s goal is to help her students become content with themselves and have an overall better understanding of who they are. Kathy is also a certified fitness instructor with certifications in many different disciplines.
Janet Barbour

Janet Barbour

Yoga Teacher

About Janet

Originally trained as a performing musician, Ms. Janet C. Barbour holds a BFA and MFA in Music Performance from Carnegie-Mellon University. Her lifelong interest in sports and yoga led her to pursue NYS Teacher Certification where she taught physical education and coached cross country and track. Her work in the public school system led to School District Administrator Certifications and the position of Assistant Superintendent for Business. After relocating from NY to Griswold, CT, Ms. Barbour joined the staff at Get Bent in Norwich and teaches Yoga Fundamentals and Fundamentals of Advanced Poses.
Molly Bushey

Molly Bushey

Yoga Teacher

About Molly

Molly has been practicing yoga since 2012 and has been in love with yoga since day one. Yoga has provided her with skills to take on challenges in her day to day life. A graduate of Samadhi Yoga Studio in Yoga Teacher Training in Manchester,  she hopes to share the love she has for yoga by offering assists, modifications, and up-levels to make each of her students’ practice their own.
Lynn Caffary

Lynn Caffary

Yoga Teacher

About Lynn

Lynn has always been a fitness enthusiast since an early age, but it wasn’t until six years ago when she attended her first yoga class that she found her true passion. Realizing how much Yoga has transformed her body physically and mentally, she decided to share her love and knowledge of yoga and became a Certified teacher in December 2017.  Please join Lynn for her Hot Power Vinyasa Community Classes as she is looking forward to helping others experience the many benefits a regular practice can bring to one’s Mind, Body and Soul.

Her favorite pose is Plank Pose… It engages every muscle, especially core! Not an easy pose but I feel very strong and confident when I hold this pose.

Nicole Conti

Nicole Conti

Yoga Teacher

About Nicole

Originally from Italy, Nicole moved to the USA 20yrs ago. Nicole admits that she was the “occasional yoga practitioner”, never fully committed until 6 yrs ago when she discovered the healing power of yoga in the search of “true being”. She discovered Baptiste Power Vinyasa four years ago and earned the 200hr registered yoga teacher (RYT) certification from the Mystic Yoga Shala.

She has also completed Level One – Journey into Power with Baron Baptiste as well as Art of Assisting, Advanced Art of Assisting, Being of Power and True North Alignment with the Baptiste Institute.  Nicole is a Wildlife rehabilitator for the CT DEEP. She loves nature, animals, gardening, hiking, and reading.

Her favorite pose is frog!

Susan Hyde

Susan Hyde

Barre Instructor

About Susan

Joining Get Bent in 2013, Susan is a Barre Certified instructor who enjoys sharing her love of yoga and a healthy lifestyle with others. Susan loves to travel, spend as much time as possible outdoors and in the water both hiking and paddle boarding, an avid skier and former instructor at Butternut Ski Resort in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.  She offers a challenging class with fluid movement incorporating props for muscle strengthening and lengthening and is open to all levels with modifications. Take time to take care of yourself, step out of your comfort zone and join her in class with her upbeat, energizing personality.
Melissa Krodel

Melissa Krodel

Barre/TRX Instructor

About Melissa

Melissa has been a fitness enthusiast since college. She has been a yoga student at Get Bent since we opened. Melissa is a qualified TRX Instructor. She has been taking TRX classes here, at Get Bent for the past two years.  Melissa is also a certified Barre Above Instructor.  Melissa hopes to bring a new level of fitness to Get Bent with Barre classes.
Danielle Newton

Danielle Newton

Yoga Teacher

About Danielle

Danielle is a RTY-200 who completed her training at The Yoga Shop of South Windsor and Old Saybrook. Specializing in LivFree Power Yoga, Danielle teaches classes to motivate individuals and encourage personal growth both on and off the yoga mat by delivering a challenging Vinyasa class that is accessible to advanced and beginning yogis. Danielle is currently pursuing her certification for Y12SR in the hopes of bringing the transformational practice and philosophies of yoga to those affected by addiction in the community.
 
At the age of 23, Danielle was faced with many physical challenges and was finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Given only one option, medical intervention and a lifetime of prescription treatments,  she decided to navigate the healing process with physical exercise. After months of experimenting, she found yoga. Within 6 months of regular practice, all symptoms of arthritis had virtually disappeared.  After years of suffering, there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. This breakthrough turned out to be more than a physical healing; the spiritual benefits were profound!
 
Danielle currently offers 3 classes on the Get Bent schedule; a 90-minute LivFree Power class, a 60 minute Community class, and a 75 minute All Levels Hot Vinyasa class.
 
“I’d have to say that my favorite poses are arm balances and inversions. Not because they look cool, but because the journey to, and the challenge of coming into these poses really help you redefine what you think you’re capable of. In so many cases we approach these poses with the attitude of ‘yeah, right!’ Or ‘not me!’. Yet, with enough encouragement and dedication, we can re-shape those thoughts into ‘yes I can!’ Or ‘look at what I am capable of!’ Discovering your full potential as a human, both physically and spiritually is really what yoga is all about for me
Jonathan Plympton

Jonathan Plympton

Yoga Teacher

About Jonathan

Jonathan began his Yoga practice 12 year ago, but it wasn’t until he found Hot Power Vinyasa at Get Bent did he fall in love with the practice. He found something in Yoga that he wanted to share with others so he enlisted in teacher training at Mystic Yoga Shala and completed 200hr YTT program. Jonathan has been teaching since 2013 and enjoys sharing this amazing practice with those who are open and willing. He understands the significance it has not only on Individuals, but  the rippling effect it has on communities throughout the world. He offers a practice that is fun and challenging, yet compassionate and safe, allowing students to expand in their own practice. Jonathan is currently teaching two classes at Get Bent and is a coordinator and trainer at the Finishing Trades Institute of Southern New England.
Kristina Powell-Raines

Kristina Powell-Raines

Yoga Teacher

About Kristina

Who is Kristina Powell-Raines? A 30-year veteran of mind-body disciplines. The author of Dynamic Body Transformation™ and Skinny Cheater Eating Plan™. Reluctant gardener. Admin at InventorShortcuts.com. Paul’s loving wife. Purmione and Tinkerbelle’s favorite pillow. Health and happiness go hand-in-hand, yes? If one must exercise why not also make it an expression of physical skill, mental strength and inspired intention. With this in mind, I aim to guide yogis in expanding and connecting their physical and mental selves. Teaching is also an opportunity for me to express my own practice more deeply. Examining ideas for future classes often leads me down a mind-boggling rabbit hole. Lucky me. If you’re of like mind and care to join us, lucky you. I am much obliged to the amazing teachers of several local studios: Get Bent, Barre Coast, High Street Yoga, and Mystic Yoga Shala, to name a few. Namasté
Raquel Brainard

Raquel Brainard

Barre/TRX Instructor

About Raquel

Raquel Brainard’s passion for fitness led her to make it a part of her career. She is a full-time Project Implementation and Training Manager at The Corridor Group. She is a Certified Insanity and Spin Instructor as well as Barre, TRX and Bootcamp. She has been teaching a variety of fitness classes in New London County since 2010.  Raquel offers a variety in her workouts which incorporate small isolated movements to fatigue the muscles, the large range of motion exercises to elevate the heart rate, and sequencing that includes the use of both the upper and lower body. Raquel enjoys traveling as well as the outdoors for swimming, running and other summer activities. Raquel also enjoys training her clients and wants to continue to grow and expand her education to help others meet their fitness and health goals. She hopes that her healthy lifestyle will help inspire others along the way to embrace what they love.
Tracey Zito

Tracey Zito

Yoga Teacher

About Tracey

Yoga has helped Tracey heal herself from being toxic. She was toxic to herself and suffered from depression and addiction. She has found peace within herself through yoga. The mind, body, and soul connection has changed her life forever. Yoga made a spark light up inside her and made her feel alive. To teach others how to heal themselves through yoga makes her inner light burn even more.
Elisabeth Prose

Elisabeth Prose

Yoga Teacher

About Elisabeth

It was love at first sun salutation for me about fifteen years ago. I was instantly fascinated by the spiritual, emotional and physical facets of yoga. To gain a deeper understanding of the special gifts of yoga, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training at Samadhi Studio in Manchester, CT in 2014. I feel honored to share the gifts of yoga with my students.The lessons I learn on the mat serve me well off the mat as a mom of six children, an endurance athlete and an English as a Second Language teacher at Windham Public Schools.
Laura Woodcock

Laura Woodcock

Yoga Teacher

About Laura

Transcend tumult and find clarity within at Get Bent in Norwich. Laura is a 200hr certified astanga inspired vinyasa instructor under the teaching of Cheryl Oliver and Scott Page of Authentic Yoga based in Montañita, Ecuador. Since 2016 Laura has taught yoga for a wide variety of age groups, from middle school students to 85 year old practitioners. She is an enthusiastic and energetic teacher that believes in the power of yoga to not only develop your physical body, but heighten your mental and spiritual self.

I hope you will join me for a class, and choose to embrace the bliss that comes from spending time on your mat!

Ready to Make a Change?

Get Bent in Norwich believes in an open studio community where we listen to the wants and needs of our students to create an interactive space of health and happiness. Join us today!

 

 

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