CHY teachers

ELIZABETH MOSES, Teacher & Founder

Practicing yoga over half her life, Elizabeth dedicates Crystal Heart Yoga to the students who continue to inspire her through 7+ years of teaching and those she has yet to meet. She strives to honor the rare opportunity to spend these last 7 years teaching and studying yoga as her full-time work.

Starting as a student of Ashtanga in 2001, yoga became a primary means of self-study, expression, healing, sharing, and ultimately led to teaching. Elizabeth did not seek out teaching, rather she felt called to the work when she was asked by her instructor to lead classes as a senior student in 2013 and her path became clearer—she then opted into her first formal teacher training.

Her relationship to the practice is that of both lifetime student, practitioner, and now, passionate long-time teacher. Elizabeth was asked to create her own class offerings the first year teaching and is fortunate to now have spent thousands and thousands of hours teaching yoga, usually ranging between 6-14 classes per week. Starting as Adjunct teaching Intro to Yoga at the local college in 2015 inspired further exploration into Yogic studies and lead to her enrollment in 2017 into the advanced IAYT program at Breathing Deeply Yoga Therapy. Elizabeth is an RYT with two separate 200hr certifications in both Vinyasa and Hatha lineages.

The creation of Crystal Heart Yoga studio in Corning is an answer to her question, “How can I best support my community and offer yoga seekers and practitioners a beautiful space for the practice?” After years of teaching in ‘cross-purpose’ buildings and spaces, the wish to have a dedicated space for quality yoga in Corning became manifest in 2019.

Jessica sands, Teacher

“I love to teach yoga because it provides a great sense of self, community, and health. Our practice helps us connect to ourselves and evolve. In this spirit, my classes have a strong focus on breath, alignment, and mindset. I hope to remind yogis that when life is challenging, yoga brings lightness and joy to life.”

Jessica first experienced yoga while traveling in India in college. While only an observer, a seed was planted in her that took hold and slowly grew over the following years. Within five years, while working in Turkey, she became friends Annie Anderson of PranaClimb and started a weekly practice. The increased strength, flexibility and balance that yoga brings to  the body was clear, and Jessica continued her small and consistent practice until during a huge life shift, she changed direction in her life and began studying yoga formally, full-time with Katie Manitas (Jivamukti) and Idit Tamir (Hatha). After she earned her RYT200 in 2008, Jessica taught all over Sydney as a small business owner who taught on-site classes. During this time she was an informal student of Simon Borg Oliver’s Yoga Synergy. She attended Donna Farhi’s workshop, Yoga for Lower Back Pain. These teachers have influenced her immensely.

Since then, she has taught different styles of yoga in Pittsburgh, Pa and Ithaca, NY, arriving at Crystal Heart Yoga with open enthusiasm.

When not teaching, Jessica continues to grow her own practice, enjoying the energy of diverse styles of yoga such as Kundalini, Jivamukti, and yoga nidra in addition to an intense power class from time to time.

“Yogash Citta Vritti Nirodhah”-  Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind- bliss.

                                            -Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2

Nicole Sweeney, teacher

Nicole grew up in Big Flats and spent 23 years in the Seattle, Washington area before recently returning to Corning with her family. Nicole ran and trained for races, including several marathons, throughout her 20s and 30s. When an injury interrupted her training she began exploring yoga classes at her local YMCA. In 2010 she tried her first hot Power yoga class and thus began a love of yoga that continues today. 

Being an athlete Nicole was initially attracted to the vigorous intensity of practicing vinyasa yoga in a heated environment. Over time she realized that the physical practice was just the beginning. By challenging herself physically while maintaining ease and composure with breath, she could finally quiet the mind and find the space between Self and thought. Along with running and weight lifting, Nicole committed to a consistent practice of Power and Gosh 26+2 Hot style yoga for several years before deciding to enroll in her studio’s 200 hour Teacher Training Program. Her initial goal was to learn more about yoga philosophy and deepen her personal practice, but she soon realized that she enjoyed teaching and guiding others. In January 2018 Nicole began teaching Power Yoga at the Ashram Yoga in Bellevue, Washington, one of the premier yoga studios in the Seattle area. Nicole’s teaching centers on the mind/body connection with a strong emphasis on breath, alignment, and focus. She draws from her experience as an athlete with injuries and physical limitations to connect with students facing similar challenges.

Nicole is excited to be back living in her hometown area and to bring her dynamic and transformative style of yoga to Crystal Heart. In addition to practicing and teaching yoga, Nicole practices Transcendental Meditation and is a wife, mother, animal lover, avid reader, and fitness enthusiast.