Friday, Aug 4

11:30am-12:00 PM: Check In
12-2:30 PM: Yoga Workshop
3-5:30 PM: Yoga Workshop
6:00-7:00 PM: Networking and Dinner available for purchase
7:00-10:00 PM: Relax (Kevin Karas & the Elevate Orchestra)

Saturday, Aug 5

8:30-9:00 AM: Check In, Breakfast available for purchase
9:00 AM-11:30 AM: Yoga Workshop
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Lunch available for purchase and Vendor time
12:30-3:00 PM: Yoga Workshop
3:30-6:00 PM: Yoga Workshop
6:00-7:00 PM Networking, dinner available for purchase and Vendor Time
7:30-10:00 PM: Song & Dance | Kevin Karas & the Elevate Orchestra

Sunday, Aug 6

8:30-9:00 AM: Check In, Breakfast available for purchase
9:00-11:30 AM: Yoga Workshop
11:30-12:30PM: Lunch available for purchase
12:30-3:00: Yoga Workshop
3:00-4:30: Closing Ceremony

An Exploration of Ananda (Bliss): Pranayama, Asana and Rest

Alexandra Krim | Friday, 8/4 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM

In this 2.5 hour experience, we will learn about and explore the various ways of attaining ananda, or bliss, while remaining at home in our bodies. We will practice ways of breathing, movement, and deep rest to shift our physical, mental, and energetic bodies. You may bring props to assist in your experience and a journal to record your discoveries.

Exploration of the Chakras: A Psychoanalysis of the Self Using Subtle Energy Awareness

Sara Syed | Friday, 8/4 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM

“As above, so below,” it is our inner world that creates our outer reality. Break unwanted, repeating cycles in your life by processing repressed energy within your chakra energy system. This workshop will provide you with the experiences, guidance, and tools needed to develop a deeper awareness of your inner state and energy systems.

Includes:

• An in-depth journey through each of the seven major chakras
• Sacred space and tools to help you process and release repressed energy stored in the chakras
• Meditations to help process blocked energy in each chakra
• Yin postures/a gentle asana to help open blocked areas
• One comprehensive workbook

Kevin Karas &  the Elevate Orchestra

Friday, 8/4 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

RELAX: Bring mindful awareness into a state of deep sleep, rest and healing by participating in an Elevate Orchestra Relax Performance, featuring a live Guided Sound Journey. The unique restorative session will include a series of gentle movements, restorative postures, a guided relaxation practice lying on your back, progressive muscle relaxation pranayama and a full body scan. The practice is accompanied by a performance of live ambient musical soundscapes, facilitating further relaxation into a spacious, peaceful sonic world.

Staying Steady with Energy and Focus

Margot Milcetich | Saturday, 8/5 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM

Her workshop includes a series of meditation exercises to help us shift toward altered states. We will examine value drawing from the Samkhya theory that underlies Yoga. Samkhya teaches the distinctions of fluctuating energy so that we can better observe energy and find a stable home in awareness. Bring a journal.

Victory: Claiming Joy in Challenging Times

Tracy Rhinehart | Saturday, 8/5 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Got JOY? Join Tracy in a contemporary conversation about the energetic currency of JOY. Discuss the philosophies of the classic and tantric lineages of yoga that have shaped our current belief systems as yoga teachers. And explore the present-day potential for joy that’s available through ancient practices of breath, mantra and movement. This opportunity is for those who are interested in re-thinking their assumptions and beliefs and will include an experience of embodied joy. Come curious and willing. Find JOY. Find VICTORY.

Embody The Goddess: The Dance of Durga, Kali, Saraswati and Lakshmi

Julie Norman | Saturday, 8/5 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Embark on a journey of Shakti-infused meditation, mantra, mudra and movement to discover the message and magic of yoga’s leading ladies. Each one offers timeless wisdom and guidance for our individual and collective paths. Expect to gain clarity and courage around your purpose, get your creative juices flowing and embrace the fullness of your unique life.

Song & Dance | Kevin Karas & the Elevate Orchestra

Saturday, 8/5 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

SONG:Enliven your spirit and open your heart by participating in an Elevate Orchestra Song Performance. With a range of genres from diverse cultures, here’s your opportunity to go with the flow through song and dance – allowing yourself to deeply and fully express yourself. Come as you are and leave feeling free, but also deeply connected.

DANCE: Expand your soul in this free-form ecstatic dance journey, allowing yourself to let the music move your body and free your mind. Come stretch, dance, sing and meditate in this safe and open space – happily celebrating yourself through individual expression and organic movement.

Teaching the Eight Limbs in an Asana Class and as Stand-alone Classes

Matt Lerner | Sunday, 8/6 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM

“There is a saying that Yoga is a work-in, not a work-out.” Authentic Yoga (emphasis on the capital “Y”) includes practices that systematically take you inward to discover aspects of your being that are more subtle than your physical body, such as, breath, energy movement, emotional and mental activity and even deeper aspects of “Self.” You probably already know and include many of these practices in your classes. This workshop will explore ways to include more of these teachings in your classes (and in your personal practice) so your students can experience more of the magic and power of Yoga.

Wield & Yield

Kristie Leahie Comsia | Sunday, 8/6 12:30 AM – 3:00 PM

A poetic, metaphorical and quite literal spin on some Yin and Yang representations of yoga and how they can translate on and off the mat. Expect a deep, fun and restorative practice while dancing around with the 8 limbs of yoga through meditation, conversation, pranayama and more. Bring an open mind, things to write with and some extra cozy props for yourself.

Closing Ceremony with Kevin Karas and Friends

Join Kevin Karas, the Elevate Akron Team, and Yoga Leaders in a closing ceremony to reflect on lessons learned and apply those inspirations to our lives beyond the Yoga Teacher Summit. Expect personal reflection and partner/small group conversations. This is a great way to get involved with Elevate Akron and tell us your ideas for the future of our nonprofit.

Margot Milcetich

Margot Milcetich started daily meditation in 1973. She immediately learned to teach meditation and hatha yoga and studied for twenty years with Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra (1932-2002). Margot has a Master’s Degree in Education from Kent State University, certification in Jin Shin Jyutsu, and a master’s certification from Integrative Yoga Therapy (IYT). Over time, she has hosted yoga retreats, established studios, trained teachers, and published philosophy with her husband Bill, Cloud Cover: a memoir (Amazon).

Tracy Rhinehart

Tracy Rhinehart, E-RYT 500, YACEP, CCYT appreciates yoga as a path to self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-empowerment.

Tracy received her 200-level teacher certification at Cleveland Yoga with Tami Schneider in 2010 and her 500 level certificate from Awaken Yoga with Jennifer Langsdale in 2013. She is a certified teacher of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan having trained with Guru Jagat,
Harijiwan, Tej and Gurujas at RAMA Institute in Venice CA. in 2019-2020.

In addition, she is certified in Trauma Sensitive Yoga from The Trauma Center in Massachusetts as well as Yoga for Kids from Rainbow Kids Yoga in Australia. Tracy is attuned as a Usui/Holy
Fire III Reiki Master.

Tracy holds a Master of Education degree from Kent State University. She taught early childhood special education in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools for 23 years. She created The Friendship Club, a summer program for children with special needs
which she operated for ten years. Tracy was the co-founder of Elevate Akron and served as Director of the 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization for five years.

Currently Tracy owns and operates Studio 108: Body | Mind | Soul in Independence OH where she teaches yoga, leads retreats + directs the yoga teacher training programs for Yoga 108: School of Yoga.

Matt Lerner

Matt is one of Ohio’s most experienced teachers of Yoga and Meditation. He has been teaching Yoga and meditation since 1976 and has been certified since 1984. He loves teaching traditional Yoga mediation, Yoga Nidra, as well as traditional asana classes.  Matt studied and worked under the guidance of Swami Rama at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, for six months in 1979, and another six months in 1982. He was a member of the Himalayan Institute Teachers Association (HITA) and completed all their coursework. In 1984, Matt was certified to teach Yoga by Behram Guard, aka Yogiraj Behrmaji. Behramji was also a disciple of Swami Rama. Behram had mastered Hatha Yoga in India under the guidance of B.K.S. Iyengar during the 1960s. Behrma received the title “Yogiraj” (“King of Yoga”) from Swami Rama when they met in the US.

Kevin Karas

Kevin James Karas, MA, E-RYT-500 is an international yoga professional. He specializes in yoga nonprofit leadership as Board Governance Manager for Yoga Alliance, CEO and President of Elevate Akron, and Board Member of SLS Yoga Center. He facilitates Registered Yoga School (RYS) Teacher Training Programs as the lead trainer at The Shaw JCC of Akron and Yoga Squared Akron. He consults with yoga studios, centers and teachers to co-create and improve their RYS programs. His multi-lineage approach is inspired from 15 years of study in the Sivananda, Integral, Sampoorna, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Mindfulness traditions plus many modern styles. His award winning 4-year graduate thesis explored the presence, communication techniques, pedagogy and contemplative practices of master yoga & meditation teachers. At Yoga Festivals, Conferences and Retreats, he loves forming heartfelt connections. He also loves yoga with live music experience and partners with many talented musicians such as Guided Sound Journey,  Elevate Akron Online and Elevate Orchestra: a 6-piece musical ensemble is releasing their first Meditation/Kirtan album in August. Please reach out to connect at [email protected] or at 330-592-0530.

Julie Norman

Julie Norman, BS (nutrition/dietetics), ERYT200/YACEP, Certified Health Coach. Julie delights in guiding clients through soul nourishing experiences that cultivate deep healing, vibrant health and joyful living. She’s a University of Akron alumni in nutrition/dietetics, a graduate of Bhumi’s Yoga (Ohio’s first teacher training program), and an active volunteer for Akron’s Big Love Network; an environmental health equity non-profit organization. Her career as a registered dietitian in eating disorders treatment and her own recovery inspired the creation of Body Karma Healing (BKH), a signature yoga-based program that helps folks find deep and lasting peace with their bodies, food and creative power.

Kristie Leahie Comsia

Kristie has been active in the community as a yoga professional since 2011 teaching a variety of yoga styles and populations, but always aiming to lead an experience fit for the moment and the people present. For Kristie, yoga is a state of mind, an invitation to unfold, a practice of showing up and an opportunity to increase the resilience required by life’s learning and loving opportunities. E-RYT 500, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Child Educator, Trauma-Sensitive yogi and more, her yoga roots started as a child and have brought an abundance to share.

Sara Syed

Sara received her first 200-hour teacher certification in 2014 in Costa Rica, and her 300-hour teacher certification in Mysore, India, in 2016. Sara is the owner of both The Studio Cleveland (2018) and Lakewood Yoga (2022). She hosts local and international retreats and teacher trainings in her favorite places includes India, Nepal and Costa Rica. Sara started offering yoga and meditation teacher trainings in 2018, at her studio in Cleveland, Ohio, and has successfully helped over 200 students become yoga and meditation teachers worldwide since. She attends a ten-day silent meditation retreat annually to continue her own spiritual progress.

Alexandra Krim

Alexandra Krim has been practicing and studying yoga for over 12 years, and has been teaching the practice for 7 years. Alexandra is a RYT 500, E-RYT 300, YACEP, and Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master. Her favorite styles of yoga include Restorative and Kundalini, as these practices help to soothe body and mind and allow the spirit to expand and open. Alexandra also teaches Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, and Pranayama. She is the owner of Saguara by Alexandra (jewelry + home adornments) and she is passionate about holding space for others through yoga, Reiki, and hosting retreats.