Meet the Group

Rita Stirparo, E-RYT 500, and Therapuetic Practioner: 

Rita is a lover of words, poetry, philosophy, and music.   Her path of yoga began while in grad school (a long time ago) when "my  roommate at the time, and dear friend, Michelle made me to go to yoga because my anxiety was high and I was driving her crazy with my "need" to get an A in every class.  After my first class, something was subtely different., and I felt and appeared, less anxious. Michelle would even notice if I skipped a week of class lol.   My mind started to calm and I found it a medicine for my stress.  My  desire to learn more about this impactful practice led me to obtain a 200 RYT from the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA back in 2011."  Rita noted she never intended to teach but her teacher said she was a natural and offered her a class upon completion of her 200 RYT.  Since then she has continued her study by reading, attending various  teacher trainings and workshops.  "I have been honored to train with the HI masters, Susie Hately of Functional Synergy, Corina Benner of Wake Up Yoga, and many other incredible teachers.  I will continue to learn more about the biomechanics of the body, the mechanisms of the mind, and the power of Prana.  Rita brings her joyful spirit, yogic wisdom, and playful heart to each class she teaches or lecture she gives. 

Dave Pusey LMT. ERYT-200

Dave is eternally curious about all the things! Davis is a corrective Massage therapist for 16 years and a movement therapist. He loves helping people understand how the body is built and how to move towards greater function. He’s been teaching yoga teachers for over a decade and one of his favorite thing is seeing Aha! Moments in peoples’ eyes.

Dave lives in Avondale Pennsylvania with his phenomenal wife, four amazing kids, loving Nana, and two bratty dogs.

Corina Benner is an E-RYT 500 yoga and embodiment educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience. 

Corina is the founder and longtime director of Wake Up Yoga in Philadelphia, and has trained hundreds of teachers, and continues to lead classes, workshops, teacher trainings, breathwork experiences, and retreats throughout the United States and internationally. Her work draws from decades of study in yoga, mindfulness, anatomy, contemplative practice, philosophy, and embodied inquiry, with significant influence from teachers including Cyndi Lee, Paul Grilley, and Michael Carroll.  She is known for teaching  soulful, poetic, precise, and frequently humorous offerings. Corina combines intelligent, creative sequencing with an invitation to listen closely and trust direct experience. Whether through movement, breath, or stillness, her work is less about perfecting a practice and more about what becomes possible when we inhabit our lives more fully—with greater presence, clarity, vitality, and connection.

Geetika Kumar (TIka), Ayurvedic practitioner, nutrition coach, herbalist, and wellness professional . 

Tika's background is in science, botanical medicine, and product innovation. Her unique approach to Ayurveda bridges ancient healing wisdom and modern scientific understanding, emphasizing personalized well-being, self-awareness, and practical integration into everyday life.

She believes Ayurveda is more than a system of healing—it is a way of living in harmony with oneself and nature. Her approach focuses on understanding individual constitution, honoring natural rhythms, and nurturing balance through mindful lifestyle choices, nourishing food, herbal practices, and a deeper connection between body, mind, and spirit.

Her passion for holistic healing extends into her travels, where she enjoys exploring different cultures, learning about indigenous and traditional healing practices, and discovering how communities connect with nature through their ancestral wisdom. She also finds joy in gardening, and cooking, viewing these everyday practices as opportunities to cultivate mindfulness and live in harmony with nature.

Through her work and teaching, Tika shares Ayurveda as an accessible, holistic philosophy that encourages conscious living, inner harmony, and a deeper connection with oneself and the natural world.

Thomas M Sterner, CEO and Founder of The Practicing Mind Institute, and an international bestselling author, lecturer and mentor/coach. 

With over 50 yearsof research into Eastern Thought, Neuroscience and Sports Psychology, he is

considered an expert in present moment function and mindset performance.

Learn to fall in love with the process of becoming more.