SOUND MIND & BODY
203-878-9642

MEET OUR TEACHERS

Andrea Mullen, Formerly Director and Owner of Fitness & Yoga for Women, has been a group fitness instructor since 1985.
She was certified through the American Council on Exercise and obtained her Personal Trainer certification in 1998.  She completed training in aqua aerobics with the US Water Fitness Association and the Singapore Sports Council.
 
From 1999 to the present, Andrea has participated in Level I, II, III, IV, Senior and Prenatal Yoga trainings from YogaFit and has taken several courses at Kripalu and other studios.
While living in Singapore and New Delhi, India, Andrea taught at several clubs and private gyms.  Good nutrition advice and proper exercise techniques are incorporated into her classes, which utilize a combination of Hatha, Ashtanga and Yin yoga styles.
 
A graduate of Bryant College and the University of Connecticut, Andrea left her 9 to 5 profession in July 2002, to devote her time to teaching and learning.

Andrea teaches: yoga, cardio and strength training and does personal training.  She also runs weight management programs for adults and kids between 10-17 years.

Nancy Hammett, Director and Owner of Sound Mind & Body, is one of approximately 3,000 Nia teachers in over 45 countries world-wide, and has studied Nia almost since its inception, twenty-seven years ago.  She received her certification from Nia founders, Debbie and Carlos Rosas in 1999.  She adds that expertise to a long list of other recognized movement arts, including classical ballet, modern jazz, tap, ballroom and multi-cultural dance; acrobatics, gymnastics, yoga and karate.

As a professional dancer, Nancy appeared on the Chicago stage and throughout Europe.  She trained extensively at the Evelyn Lare studio of Chicago, the studio of jazz dancer and choreographer Gus Giordano, and the New York Academy of Ballet.   She was a member of the women's gymnastics team at Southern Illinois University, and received her yoga certification at the Kripalu Center in Lenox, Massachusetts.  Other certifications include ACE Personal Training, Zumba, Ageless Grace (for special populations) and Isshinrhyu Karate.  She is also an IDEA member. 

Nancy also teaches classes at Yale University, the New York Sports Club in Westport, the Jewish Community Center of Woodbridge and the West Haven Community Connections program for adults with special needs.   She is an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Graduate Institute, Department of Experiential Health and Healing, a Master of Arts Degree Program, under the direction of Bernie Siegel,

Nancy teaches: Nia and Yoga on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; and beginner Belly Dance by appointment.  Beginning in September 2011, she will be offering Ageless Grace on Tuesdays.  Ageless Grace is a movement class designed to be done in a chair.

Rosemary Feely-Tierney, owner of The Dancing Tree School, has been involved in the mind/body industry for over twenty-five years. During that time, she has taught children and adults in CT, NY and in North and South Carolina. Rosemary holds a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase (Purchase College), a personal training certification through ACE (American Council on Exercise), a Stott Pilates certification in mat and reformer, a yoga teaching certification from The Yoga Institute of Houston, Karma Kids Yoga in New York City and recently completed a 200 hr yoga teaching training with Elieth Ameni Harris ( Integrative Wellness).

A native of Danbury, Rosemary has appeared on television and in theater, and has performed in ballet and modern dance companies in the Tri-State area.  She has competed in International Style, American Style and Theater Arts ballroom competitions in the USA and Canada.

From 1983-2003, she owned and operated The Dancer's School, a dance/fitness studio with locations in New Milford, CT and Brewster, New York. While living in the South Carolina, Rosemary taught pilates, yoga, and ballroom at various spas and yoga centers and was the private pilates instructor for The Legend Dancers in Myrtle Beach.

Rosemary teaches Mat Pilates Wednesday and Saturday and is available for private pilates reformer sessions by appointment.  She also teaches specialty classes in Children's Yoga, Cardio Ballroom, and Ballroom.

Rhys Atkinson has been teaching yoga for over 13 years and practicing yoga for over 17 years. She has certifications from the Yoga Institute of Houston and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Mass. Rhys has taught all levels and students of all ages; 15 to 85 years. She also has experience teaching prenatal yoga. Registered with Yoga Alliance, Rhys has studied Kripala, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Ivengar Annsara and Bikram styles

Rhys teaches: is an alternating Saturday morning yoga teacher. 

Luisa Tanno has been dancing for more than fifteen years and has studied in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Her passion for dance led her to explore other styles of movement and she began to study yoga and alternative forms of fitness. Luisa is a certified personal trainer and a group fitness instructor and is currently studying to be a massage therapist. She is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Utilizing the foundations of dance, yoga and QiGong, her classes focus on exploration, self-expression and healing.

Luisa teaches Yoga for Everybody on Monday night.

Nancy Lorenti has strong desire to help others. She has achieved a healthier life style, combining her passion for exercise and fitness with self-improvement techniques which reflects Nancy's philosophy for success in life. She is happiest working with women in the health and fitness industry, as evidenced by her prior position with Fitness for Women in Orange, where she worked for 9 years as a weight loss counselor, trainer and manager.
She has been involved in helping numerous women successfully achieve their weight loss and fitness goals through her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, nutrition and basic exercise principles.  In 2006, she received her YogaFit Level l training and in 2008 Dancing Thru Pregnancy and After Dance. 

Nancy teaches Stability Ball, Yoga for Everybody and Sunday Cardio Sculpt