J. Amy Thompson, MA, E-RYT 500, YACEP
Amy brings a wealth of experience and a deep reverence for the practice of yoga to our program. Her journey began in 2010 with the completion of a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at Samadhi Yoga Studio, marking the start of a lifelong commitment to the path of yoga.
Inspired by the teachings of Swami Kripalu, Amy went on to deepen her studies through a 500-hour YTT with Pranakriya, which she completed in 2016. She later expanded her knowledge with a 200-hour Kundalini Yoga YTT in 2019 and is also a certified LoveYourBrain lead instructor.
Over the years, Amy has led a wide range of classes-in studios, online, and in nature-and has facilitated international retreats, workshops, private sessions, and Teacher Trainings. Her breadth of experience and leadership in YTT programs make her a natural fit as a Lead teacher in the 300hr YTT.
Professionally, Amy holds a graduate degree and began her career as a therapist before transitioning into social work. She has spent the past two decades serving within the court system, working with traumatized children and adults in clinical and agency settings. Her deep commitment to social justice and supporting those in need continues to inform her work on and off the mat.
Amy is passionate about the physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of yoga. With gratitude for the practice and all it has offered her, she brings to her teaching a grounded presence, compassionate heart, and a belief in yoga’s power to transform.
We are honored to have Amy as a lead teacher in Samadhi’s Yoga Teacher Training program.
Sushma Reddy, E-RYT 500, YACEP
Sushma’s career as a yoga instructor began in 2010 immediately after finishing her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at Samadhi Yoga Studio. She has shared her expertise in various studios, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to each class. Though she has taught in numerous settings and places, she has always considered Samadhi to be her yoga home, and we are thrilled to have her in a leading role in our program.
Sushma completed a 300-hour Hatha yoga teacher training program in 2018, and has studied specialized areas such as Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga for Emotional Balance, Tantra Hatha Yoga for Chronic Pain, and Shamanism. She also completed a rigorous advanced Ayurvedic certification program in 2024.
Beyond the studio, Sushma extends her teachings to a wider audience through engaging workshops and enlightening lectures available on social media and YouTube. What sets her apart is the integration of philosophy into asana, creating a holistic and enriching experience for her students.
Whether it's through studio classes, Zoom sessions, or personalized one-on-one consultations, Sushma is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of her clients. She offers not just yoga classes but workshops, international retreats, and also individualized sessions encompassing yoga, ayurvedic practices, and life coaching.
Sushma brings a great deal of experience, a deep understanding of yoga and its many facets, and a commitment to guiding others towards a balanced and fulfilling life. This makes her an invaluable lead teacher for our 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Sarita Nanda, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, YACEP
Sarita Nanda is a yoga practitioner, E-RYT 500®, and C-IAYT Yoga Therapist. She has been teaching yoga since 2011 and yoga therapy since 2017. She completed her 200-hour YTT at Samadhi Yoga Studio in 2011 and her advanced teacher training in the therapeutic application of yoga in 2017. In addition, she is certified in Adaptive Yoga Therapy, Prenatal Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. She specializes in accent breathing (pranayama), Integrated Yoga Therapy, and the Vedic mantra tradition.
She has honed her skills through advanced pranayama training with Yoganand (Michael Carroll) and yoga therapy training with Marlysa Sullivan. Sarita feels honored to share the Vedic spiritual essence, the science of yogic breathing, and the wisdom of yoga through her teaching. She is grateful to continue offering her work through regular weekly classes, private sessions, workshops, continuing education and teacher training programs.
Sarita's yoga journey began in her early childhood, nurtured by a guru from an Ashram in India.
This deepened after her formal education with the ancient wisdom of spiritual knowledge at Swami
Chinmayananda school in India. Hence, yoga, for her, is a prayer (pooja) that guides her in living life to the fullest. She feels blessed to be trained by many master teachers from East to West. Their guidance has inspired and strengthened her self discovery journey, profoundly impacting both her personal and professional practice. She heartily embraces diversity, integrating her experience, knowledge, spiritual essence, and yoga's wisdom into her teaching to help students learn the transformative power of yoga. She believes in the principle that "living a healthy and happy life is everyone's birthright." Using yoga as a holistic approach, she guides and assists her students in becoming self-aware in self-care practice and, in the process, self-empowerment by applying yogic philosophy, tools and techniques.
In her free time, Sarita enjoys singing Vedic mantras, shopping, arts/craft, and healthy vegetarian cooking.
Nikki Arel, LMT, RYT-200, SEP, LMSW Nikki Arel is a LMT (licensed massage therapist) in CT specializing in Thai Massage with two offices. After gaining her RYT-200 through Samadhi, Nikki completed certification through Warriors At Ease to teach yoga to military and veterans with knowledge about adaptive and trauma-sensitive practices. In 2022, Nikki completed her Masters of Social Work and is a LMSW volunteering at Veterans Base Camp in Chaplin. Additionally, she works for The Wall That Heals and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, traveling with the mobile replica and education center. As of Dec 2024, Nikki completed her training in Somatic Experiencing(R). In her free time, Nikki loves to read, hang with friends and her dog, teach, and travel, especially when following her favourite band through the UK and Europe! Nikki posts on her business’s FB page (Essential Touch LLC) about her classes, her work, her trainings, and her travels.
Sharon Shanti, E-RYT 500, YACEP