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

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.
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.
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!

Cara Pabelko

Cara Pabelko

Yoga Teacher

About Cara

Cara began her 200 hr. Training at Hot on Bank in New London where she learned from Meghan Smith and certified Baptiste teacher, Kristin Vaughn.

Cara loved the Baptiste methodology because it was inclusive of every body type, and fitness level. She quickly fell in love with the practice and wanted to learn more.

Cara completed her Level one Training and obtained a teaching credential under Baron Baptiste in August 2019. She is now currently working on saving for Level Two.

“When I went to Level one Training, I had no expectations.” “I expected to learn the sequence and methodology on a deeper level.”

“My experience was so much different.” I now feel the series in my bones. And feel the reason behind each posture.”

“Baptiste has changed my life. And I teach this particular practice in hopes, to change others’ lives.”

Crissy Lussier

Crissy Lussier

Yoga Teacher

About Crissy

Crissy landed in yoga after searching for relief from chronic pain and stress. She has been amazed by the results both physically and mentally. She began practicing Baptiste power yoga and immediately felt drawn to the practice. She is inspired by the deep spiritual connection she feels while practicing as well as how that transitions off the mat. One of her favorite philosophies of the practice is how dealing with discomfort and breathing through postures during practice shifts into daily life stressors. Crissy is currently enrolled in 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Wild Essence Yoga School. She has recently received certification in Reiki level one and is seeking additional certifications in energy healing. She is a recent retiree of the U.S. Army after nearly three decades of service. Crissy looks forward to spending this time during her transition working in the healing arts so she can bring that to her practice as well as to her students.
Jennifer Lowney

Jennifer Lowney

TRX Instructor

About Jennifer

Welcome Jennifer Lowney as the newest member of the Get Bent team!  While she is new to the fitness world she has been serving Southeastern Connecticut in her Norwich and Colchester orthodontic practices since 1993.

Jennifer has been intrigued with exercise, nutrition and fitness for decades. She has  been a avid runner, cyclist and swimmer culminating in completing the Timberman half iron man in 2007.

When she is not working or working out she is cheering on her four daughters in their activities: Her oldest daughter Cassidy played boy’s football at St. Bernard’s High School and her triplet daughters are graduating this year from Norwich Free Academy where they run cross country and pole vault!

Her current passion is teaching TRX (Total Resistance Exercise) but she is also currently enrolled in general fitness instruction so that she can help all students, not just TRX.

Working full time and being a mom is a lot of hard work. It doesn’t leave a lot of waking hours for self-care.  She understands this first hand. Come to one of her  classes and she promises that it will be time well spent. She looks forward to getting to know the community with the new lens of physical fitness! But don’t forget to wear your retainer!

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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