Rolf Sovik, Psy.D.
Director
Rolf Sovik, Psy.D., began his study of yoga/meditation in 1972. A student of H. H. Swami Rama, he has trained in the US as well as in India and Nepal. He is the author of Moving Inward: The Journey to Meditation and co-author of the award-winning Yoga: Mastering the Basics. He writes regularly for Yoga International Magazine and serves as president of the Himalayan International Institute. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology as well as degrees in philosophy and music.
Mary Gail Sovik, M.A.
Director
Mary Gail Sovik, M.A., has studied yoga since 1973 under the guidance of Swami Rama and Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in guidance counseling. Her special interest is in teaching meditation and she has trained for this both in the US and in India. She serves as office administrator, coordinating daily operations of the Institute.
Our Teaching Faculty:
Matthew D. Barnack, CCN, MSACN.
Teacher
Matt Barnack is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (2010) who provides nutritional and homeopathy consultations on a part time basis. Matt’s educational background includes ongoing studies in Homeopathy and a Masters of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College (2009). Matt recently completed an herbal medicine program instructed by 7Song, a master herbalist located in Ithaca NY. Other studies include psychology, mathematics, and computer science. This unique educational background, combined with his experience in yoga and meditation, provides a strong understanding of the mind-body-spirit connection used to support healing and balance of the whole person, leading to improved health and well-being.
Jackie Bogdan, B.S.
Teacher
Jackie Bogdan began her study of yoga in 1992. Her dedication to her practice led to a period of living in residence at the Himalayan Institute’s home campus in Pennsylvania from 1994 to 1997. In addition to her classes at HI Buffalo, she also teaches yoga in the recreation department at SUNY Buffalo and at Rich Products. She holds a degree from Buffalo State College in graphic design and regularly contributes to the design of Yoga International magazine.
Mary Ann Bolles, M.S.
Teacher
Maryann Bolles began cooking with natural foods in 1979. She is a graduate of the Professional Teacher’s Training Program at the Natural Gourmet Cookery School in New York City and studied cuisine sante (healthy cuisine) with Christophe Buey in Southern France. Her teaching goal is to help students learn to prepare delicious, well-balanced meals using whole, fresh ingredients. Her classes combine demonstration and student participation.
Mary Dedrick, M.S.
Teacher
Mary Dedrick became a certified yoga instructor through the Himalayan Institute and has been teaching at the Institute since 1998. She also teaches yoga at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Gilda’s Club. She completed the Himalayan Institute’s 500-hour advanced yoga certification in India in 2004. Mary is the Director of Clinical Education at the University at Buffalo in the Department of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences. She is an avid cyclist, skier and loves to travel.
Janet Downing
Teacher
Janet Downing discovered yoga in 1975 and in 1976 met a master teacher of yoga, Swami Rama, the founder of the Himalayan Institute. The opportunity to study systematically with him and other teachers of the Institute led her to become certified as a hatha yoga teacher. Later she trained to become a teacher of beginning meditation. She has been learning ever since.
Wendy Dozoretz, M.A.
Teacher
Wendy Dozoretz, M.A., is a former French teacher and a longtime student of yoga, trained and certified in the tradition of the Himalayan Institute. She is proud to have been teaching for the Institute since it was established here on Delaware Avenue. Her classes provide a peaceful and nurturing environment in which to explore the connection between mind and body. Hatha yoga and meditation have enhanced her life and are integral to her health and well-being.
Tracy Draksic, M.A.
Teacher
Tracy Draksic, M.A., took her first class at the Himalayan Institute in 1998 where she was introduced to meditation and yoga philosophy. She completed the teacher training program in Buffalo in 2010 and is a registered teacher with Yoga Alliance. She enjoys teaching Indian cooking for the Institute and studying classical music with her three children. She received a B.A. in French Literature from Wells College and an M.A. in Linguistics from SUNY Buffalo.
Connie Gulino, LCSWR
Teacher
Connie Gulino is a clinical social worker in private practice. She began her study of yoga to assist with a pregnancy, and continued with classes at various settings, coming to the Himalayan Institute in 1992. She completed teacher training in 1995 and has since been teaching at the Institute. Connie is currently studying bio-energetics after completing a 14 year career in addictions and family addictions treatment at ECMC outpatient clinics.
Julia Kress, B.S.
Teacher
Julia Kress has been certified since 1995 by the Himalayan Institute and has her advanced certification at the 500 hour level. She holds a BA in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo and is a co-teacher for the Universal Yoga program that serves students with disabilities at UB. Her focus is on helping all students feel a stronger connection to internal states of being in order to further integrate mind and body, and live a more joy-filled life.
Stephanie Limoncelli-Vealey, B.S.
Teacher
Stephanie Limoncelli-Vealey is a wife, mom, and dedicated yoga instructor, who has practiced yoga for over 14 years. She is a former award-winning gymnast and gymnastics coach, with an extensive background in dance performance. Her deep interest in yoga led her to pursue certification at the Institute as a hatha yoga instructor. Stephanie teaches a variety of classes at the Institute and is on the faculty of the Teacher Training program.
Donna Mattucci, M.A.
Teacher
Donna Mattucci, M.A., has been practicing yoga for over twenty years. She was initiated in the yoga tradition by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait in 1993. She completed the Himalayan Institute Teacher Training Program in 2006 and has studied and traveled in India. She has a Master’s degree in Education from the State University College at Buffalo and a career in Elementary Education teaching students with special needs. Currently Donna is studying Homeopathy.
Clare Meyer, MBA
Teacher
Clare Meyer, MBA, and her husband moved to Buffalo 13 years ago and find it a great place to live. She received her yoga teaching certification from the Himalayan Institute, has been teaching yoga for ten years, and “just loves it.” She teaches 10 classes a week at various locations in Buffalo. When she is not teaching yoga she enjoys playing golf, reading, and numerous volunteer activities.
Kerry Mitchell, M.A.
Teacher
Kerry Mitchell has been teaching yoga at the Himalayan Institute since 1995. She is a graduate of both the Himalayan Institute’s Teachers Training Program and Meditation Training Program. International interests have led Kerry to a career in foreign affairs, with a strong pull to experience different lands, languages, and cultures. Counted among these experiences are extraordinary sojourns in regions of India and Tibet.
Carolyn Morell, Ph.D.
Teacher
Carolyn Morell, Ph.D., is a long-time student of yoga who began teaching in 2007. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Research from Bryn Mawr College as well as two Master’s degrees. After completing careers in social work and teaching, Carolyn retired several years ago from Niagara University to pursue other callings. In addition to yoga studies, she is inspired by family and friends, and by her connections to animals and the natural world.
Johnnie Piatz, M.S.
Teacher
Johnnie Piatz has loved “movement” her entire life. She was awarded scholarships to the American Ballet Theatre and School of American Ballet in New York. She discovered yoga about 10 years ago through an adult education program in Buffalo. This led her to the Institute where she began teaching after completing her teacher training in 2005. She has a special interest in postural alignment and on the balancing effects of asana on emotions and energy.
Sherry Robbins, M.A.
Teacher
Sherry Robbins is a poet who teaches creative writing throughout New York state and abroad. She has dozens of poems published in literary journals and anthologies here and in Spain and Portugal. Her newest book of poetry, Or, the Whale, was recently published by Blazevox Books. Sherry is a certified yoga teacher who did her training at the Himalayan Institute and has been teaching here since 2005.
Tess Schwartz, OTR/L
Teacher
Tess Schwartz is an occupational therapist who works with preschool children throughout the area. She has been involved in yoga for 12 years and completed her teacher training through the Himalayan Institute, both here in Buffalo and in Honesdale, PA. Originally from England she now lives in WNY with her husband and 9-year old daughter.
Carol Stein, B.A.
Teacher
Carol Stein, has taught yoga at the Himalayan Institute for ten years, following teacher training. Her interest in yoga began 30 years ago when classes were offered through the YWCA. She has a BA degree in English, and professional experience in journalism and non-profit administration. She has taught yoga in Amherst and Clarence, at Gilda’s Club, and at St. Joseph’s University Church. She and her husband have raised four daughters and have three grandchildren.
Kandy Svec, B.S.
Teacher
Kandy Svec has been practicing yoga since 2005. She has studied with a variety of teachers including Mary Gail and Rolf Sovik, Shiva Rea, Maria Garre, Sandra Anderson, Natasha Rizopaulus, and Sri Dharma Mittra. She incorporates yoga philosophy into her daily life by volunteering with numerous local non-profits. A graduate of the Cornell Hotel School of Hospitality Management and mother of two, Kandy is registered to teach yoga with Yoga Alliance. Kandy has continued to enhance her teaching abilities and knowledge by fulfilling the requirements for Certification as an Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist through the Himalayan Institute. This training enables her to work with students to enhance their lifestyle and wellbeing through ayurveda and asana.
Renee Szarowicz, M.S.
Teacher
Renee Szarowicz dabbled as a young person in yoga. After completing her education as an advanced practice nurse she began to use yoga techniques in her practice. Frequently, guiding a person to watch their breath, stretch, or focus their mind diminished their pain and anxiety. Board certified in holistic, psychiatric, and rehabilitation nursing, she completed yoga teacher training as well. She now teaches yoga full time and volunteers at several hospitals.
