Our Studio Teachers
John Kortmulder
Yoga, Breathing & Meditation Instructor
Teaching therapeutic movement, breathing and meditation instruction, John's yoga classes focus on physical training and personal improvement, as well as injury and illness support, assisting participants with scoliosis, post traumatic stress, TBI, stroke, rehabilitation programs, and respiratory difficulties. Back pain, and stress relief have become an important focus.
In 2015, John opened the first yoga studio in Amherst County, Mindful Mountain Yoga, to offer daily classes from several teachers.
Past instruction includes yoga with local elementary schools, for intellectually disabled adult day support, and employee wellness programs.
Yoga instruction at the VA Hospital in Montrose, NY in 2006, a one year, 200 hour certified yoga teacher training at The Breathing Project, NYC, in 2007, working 4 years as rehab assistant with in-hospital and outpatient physical therapy, 4 years as ICU nursing assistant and hospital support for patients with mental health challenges (suicide ideation, addiction withdrawal, and dementias) helps understand many life situations brought into yoga class. John completed a 2 year Respiratory Therapy program and 1 year EMT certification.
Weekly sitting meditation and several week-long meditation retreats at Chung Yen Monastery, Carmel, NY, coincided with training several years as a marathon runner, finishing ahead of 30,000 other runners in the NYC Marathon, in 1997 and 1998.
John's interest in Oriental energy practices led to a year long QiGong instruction with Daria Fain (senior student of Mantak Chia, healer and Tai Chi master) in 2005; and in 2004, completing a Reiki healing certification.
Mentored as a student in the 1990’s and teaching weekly since 2003, John continues to learn, understanding body and mind through movement and mindfulness to promote personal health.
Ashtanga Yoga Instructor
Ashtanga Yoga is a specific set of asanas done in sequence. Trained in the Mysore style, Paige leads participants in a meditative practice that is also rigorous and challenging.
Paige studied at The Sun and Moon studio in Arlington,Va. In 2019 she moved back to India to complete a 200 hour YTT in Rishikesh at the Tattva Yogashala. In 2021 she moved to Amherst Va, where she serves as the Resident Fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts.
Training includes pranayama and meditation, and she occasionally holds “yoga boot camp” for individuals gaining a fitness level suited for the more advanced Ashtanga poses.
Paige Critcher
Dr John Alloway
Tai Chi / Qigong Teacher, Chiropractor (retired).
Qigong teacher and Natural Physician with over 30 years experience. Modalities of Electronic Acupuncture, Nutrition, Herbalism, Homeopathy, Aromatherapy, and Shamanic Counseling
Northwestern College of Chiropractic, Bloomington, MN graduated 1981 cumlaude Special Qualifications: Ergonomics,
4th Generation Herbalist, Certified Nutritionist, Homeopathic Physician, Shamanic Counselor (Fox Clan of the Algonquian Culture, previously with the Lenape of Delaware Tribe and Pocohontas Clan Bolling Family).
Anne-Alex Packard
Former owner of Laughing Yogi in Colorado, Anne-Alex Packard, MFA, has been a Registered Yoga Teacher since 1999, teaching traditional hatha, ashtanga, vinyasa, yin, restorative, and kundalini yoga styles. She brings to her teaching an extensive background in professional dance theater, movement education, sports and dance medicine, somatics and body therapies. She has worked with people with Parkinson’s Disease, and seniors in various fall prevention programs.
Tai Chi for relief from stress, for health and well-being, allows students of all ages and abilities to achieve the powerful inner feeling of Chi. This is a follow-along practice. No previous experience needed.
Gentle Yoga is a chance to decompress and rejuvenate, a laboratory to patiently discover your personal “sweet spot” in yoga poses and flows. Yoga, in ancient yogic scriptures, is said to be “skill in action” meant to serve each of us.
Anne-Alex is creating a permaculture/food forest project, called Tree Choir.
Qigong/ Tai Chi Teacher, Yoga Teacher
Julia Ayau
Yoga Teacher
Julia Ayau has a BFA in Dance from Ohio State University. Her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification is from Yoga on High Teacher Training and Ayurveda Institute in 2015. She is an Amherst native recently moved back to the area. Julia is applying for a physical therapy doctorate program.
Malcolm Dendtler
African and Caribbean Percussion Teacher
Malcolm teaches percussion with a variety of instruments, predominantly African djembe and Latin conga drums, emphasizing rhythm, technique, and timing.
From the heart of Brooklyn, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Malcolm began with the Carter Cadets Drum & Bugle Corp at age 13, and The Riversiders, a Brooklyn drum and bugle corp. Learned African drumming in street workshops from master Babatunde Olatudge and in sessions in Central Park and Spanish Harlem, taught by such Latin Jazz legends as Willie Bobo and Niki Morero. Completing studies at Ithica College, Malcolm began military service in Korea, performed military drumming in Change of Command Ceremonies. Malcolm moved to Lynchburg, VA, playing percussion with Unity Band (rhythm and blues), Charlie Walker Band (jazz), Lew Taylor's Jazmine Band, Carol Austin and Sound of Harmony (gospel), and Judy Watkins Infinite Praise Mass Choir. He played in the musicals Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables with the Lynchburg Orchestra's Pop Symphony and provided percussive support for dance classes at Randolph College and Virginia School of the Arts, for dance instructors Chuck Davis and his African Dance Troupe, Keith Lee, Marilyn Banks, Ken Boyd, Michael Hicks, and Jeff Moen, to name a few. As the Dance Theatre of Lynchburg formed, Malcolm was the Dance Theatre's musical director. Instructed at the Dance Theatre of Lynchburg and accompanying their Modern Jazz and Afro-Caribbean classes, as well as traveling with Dance Theater's Youth Dance Ensemble on Lecture-Demonstrations and holding percussion workshops in community centers.
Shout out to our former teachers :
Tim Griffin TAI CHI and QIGONG Instructor, Yoga Teacher (pre-COVID).
Azalea Faye Yoga Teacher (pre-COVID).
Bonnie M Black Yoga Teacher (pre-COVID).
Lakisha Morse Yoga Teacher