Our instructors

Meet our experienced and enthusiastic instructors:

Janice Baker Jan practices Iyengar-style Yoga combining lifestyle practices, physical poses, breath control, and meditation. She started practicing Yoga more than 25 years ago with the Himalayan Institute in Pittsburgh. Jan was trained as a Yoga teacher through the Southern Institute of Yoga Instruction teacher-training program in Nashville in 2001, qualifying her as a Registered Yoga Teacher through Yoga Alliance. She has taught yoga in the Indiana area for 10 years, sharing practices that help students to be healthy and happy. She has participated in workshops with a variety of yoga and meditation teachers and in 2009 qualified as a Relax and Renew Trainer with Judith Lasater. In 2010 she completed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program with Jon Kabat-Zinn. Jan is also interested in Mindfulness in Education and integrates mindfulness practices (gentle stretches and breathing practices) in her IUP classes in the Special Education and Clinical Services Department.
Stephanie Brilhart Stephanie has been teaching fitness classes in the Indiana area for the past five years and is certified in Fitness Instruction. Recently, she earned her certification in Pilates through FITOUR. She enjoys a wide range of fitness activities, especially running. An elementary guidance counselor at Ben Franklin Elementary in Indiana, Stephanie and her husband, Jim, are expecting their first child in February 2012.
Chris Cramer Chris Cramer first became involved in belly dancing in 1972 and has since been teaching and attending workshops for more than 35 years. In addition to offering classes in Indiana, she has taught in Kittanning, Butler, Punxsutawney, Ford City, and Slippery Rock, PA. She is the director of the dance troupe, SUVERNA, which was formed in 1982 and has performed at many venues, including the New Growth Arts Festival. A member of many Middle Eastern dance organizations, Chris has been featured in a number of publications, most recently the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. She lives in Ford City.
Caleb Finegan Originally from Galveston, TX, Caleb earned his BA (Spanish) and MA (Latin American Studies) at Vanderbilt University and his Ph.D. in History (specializing in Colonial Latin America) from the University of Florida. After living in the US, Spain and Bolivia for extended periods of time, he came to IUP in the fall of 2000. He is currently Associate Professor of History and Founding Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Student Leadership. Caleb has been meditating formally for over 4 years as a practitioner in the Shambhala lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Having completed more than ten meditation instruction programs, including most recently a 28-day mostly silent intensive retreat, he has recently become certified as a Shambhala Meditation Guide and Instructor. He is happy to share his experience at Sunflower Yoga Studio.
Jill Fiore, Studio Owner Jill first discovered Yoga thirty years ago but only began to deepen her practice after moving to Indiana from Pittsburgh in 1996. After finishing her Ph.D. in Literature and Criticism at IUP in 2003, she enrolled in a Hatha Yoga teacher training program with Kathy Elder on the Big Island of Hawaii and the following year traveled to Austin, Texas to The Living Yoga Program, where she completed the required 200 hours to qualify as a Yoga Register Teacher. Jill began teaching Yoga in 2005 and has since studied with teachers from a variety of Yoga traditions and styles. She has earned certificates specializing in Ashtanga Yoga, the primary series (with David Swenson), Pre-Natal Yoga (Yoga Matrika, Pittsburgh) and Children's Yoga (YogaKids® International). With the vision of bringing teachers and students of Yoga together to create a Yoga community in Indiana, Jill opened Sunflower Yoga Studio in February of 2008. It is her hope to continue sharing the life-transforming benefits of Yoga and inspiring new and experienced students alike.
Kaethe Mayer Kaethe is a certified massage therapist who has been practicing massage therapy since 2002. She received her training at Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy. Her emphasis is pain management for chronic and acute muscular distress through application of techniqes taken from orthopedic massage, neuromuscular work and myofascial release. Kaethe has also been practicing T'ai Chi for 10 years. She received her instructor certification in 2001 by Master Huang in Quito, Ecuador. She has been teaching T'ai Chi classes in the Indiana area for the past ten years and at Sunflower Yoga Studio for the past three. Her instruction focuses on movement and breathing to facilitate a meditative experience that combines body and mind.
Kasey Olcus Kasey attended Mount Aloysius College from 2006 to 2010 for the Pre-Physical Therapy and Physical Therapist Assistant Program. After graduating, it had only taken a few months of practicing yoga at a studio near her home town of East Brady, Pa until she realized she would love to learn more and become an instructor. She enrolled in a Manasaa Yoga Training course last year and will complete the program and have her official yoga teacher certification in July 2012. Kasey is currently a full-time employee in the Rehabilitation Department of Beacon Ridge Nursing Facility. You will see her subbing a variety of different yoga classes at Sunflower!
Kelly Pidgeon Having practiced Zumba at Sunflower for the preceding year, Kelly became certified to teach in February, 2011 at age 44. She believes that it is never too late to start a new exercise routine and important to take the time to take care of yourself. Students in her class range in age from 16 - 64. Kelly’s class is challenging and rewarding – come try it and see for yourself; you’l be glad you did! Kelly has undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently the Administrator of Beacon Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Indiana, PA and is active in many community programs.
Kristen Swope Kristen is a sophomore at IUP, currently studying psychology with a minor in Spanish. She received her license to teach Zumba Fitness in August of 2011 and began teaching a class immediately after. She has also been dancing and cheerleading for six years. Kristen is so excited to become a part of Sunflower Yoga Studio’s team. All levels of Zumba and dance experience are welcome- just listen to the music and follow the beat! She looks forward to moving, shaking, and sweating it out with you in her high-energy class.
John Glen Vandermark Glen "Papa Bear" Vandermark recieved his Reiki Master attunement in November of 2010 from Karuna Reiki Master Bonnie Bradley in his home town of Hop Bottom, Pa. He is currently a student at IUP. His Reiki journey has brought him to Sunflower Yoga and he is looking forward to sharing this beautiful gift he has been given. Because it is a gift, he doesn't believe in charging for a session. Donations are welcomed and accepted.