The American Yoga Academy,
a registered Yoga Alliance School, has trained over 300 students in its
yoga teacher certification programs and exposed thousands of additional students
in the various aspects of yoga through classes, seminars and lectures in the
workplace, board retreats and community events in the US and abroad.
Our Staff
The Academy's experienced instructors are
Registered Yoga Alliance Teachers. Each seasoned instructor offers a wealth of
knowledge about yoga and its application to modern day life.
CLAIRE E. DIAB
is the founder of The American Yoga Academy is an internationally renowned Yoga
Therapist, Fitness Specialist and Inspirational Speaker with over 27 years of
experience. She teaches throughout the United States and internationally with
Deepak Chopra. Claire is an Professor of Asian Studies at Seton Hall
University, teaching one of the most popular courses on campus: Zen and Yoga.
She is the Director of the Chopra Center Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga Teacher
Training Program, East and West Coast. Claire is currently working on her
Doctorate on Leadership and Spirituality.
Learn more about
Claire.
JENNIFER CAVALIERI Administrator and
Director of Sales and Marketing for the
American
Yoga
Academy. She has a BA in Marketing and has been
working in the corporate world for several years. After practicing yoga for many
years she received her yoga teacher certification from the American Yoga Academy
and now loves sharing her passion and excitement for yoga with everyone.
E-mail:
Jennifer@americanyogaacademy.com
HELEN DIAB
is the associate director of The American Yoga Academy. She is a licensed
Acupuncturist in New Jersey and New York. She holds a Master of Science in
Natural Sciences. As a certified Yoga Therapist she integrates Yoga Philosophy
with Oriental Medicine creating a unique style of teaching. Her classes are fun
and educational.
MARY ANN
GEBHARDT
received her yoga teacher certification from The
American Yoga Academy. She is trained and certified in Pre-natal, Postpartum
Yoga with Mary Barnes director of Yoga for Two in New York City. She studies
and trained in Ayurveda at the New York Ayurveda Institute. Her passion and
deep respect for yoga comes in part from her experience as a Medical
Technologist working in hematology and open-heart surgery where she witnessed
first-hand the powerful connection between mind and body in the healing process.
E-mail:
maryann@americanyogaacademy.com
DEVEN M. PATEL is a
Professor of Sanskrit and South Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
He holds a BA in English/Comparative Literature from Columbia University and a
Ph.D in Sanskrit language and literature from the University of California at
Berkley. He also spent several years studying Sanskrit
literature and philosophy with traditionally trained scholars in India. Devon
has taught courses on Sanskrit language, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian Philosophy
and Chinese Philosophy at Stanford, Rutgers, Hofstra and Seton Hall University.
He is currently writing a book about Sanskrit poetry.
Email:
DevenP@sas.upenn.edu.
PAMELA VANDENBERG-SMITH,
Assistant Director for the American Yoga Academy was born and raised in Holland.
Philosophy, spirituality, psychology, physical movement, nutrition and overall
health consciousness have always been at the center of her life. She has been
practicing yoga for more than 15 years. Now living in New Jersey, a former Miss
Holland is a Certified Yoga Instructor, happily married and mother of one.
E-mail:
pamela@americanyogaacademy.com
