About Our Teachers

Elizabeth (Libby) Yokum, L.C.S.W., R.Y.T. 200
is a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) Yoga Alliance (200hours), She has completed the Professional Training, Internship, and Teacher Development Intensive in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at the Stress Reduction Clinic, University of Massachusetts and the Professional Training with continued teacher training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy with Zindal Siegal and Ferris Urbanowski. With Yoga teacher certifications from both Solar Yoga/ Universal Great Brotherhood and from Todd Norian, she offers Hatha Yoga classes in a mindfulness style.  In addition, Libby offers Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) groups and workshops and the LOTUS Program: a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Program for Women which she developed in recent years. Teaching both in and out of the studio, she has worked with various agencies and organizations throughout the Northern New York region. Libby is also a psychotherapist in private practice, working in the Plattsburgh area for over 30 years.

Luis F. Sierra, Ph.D., R.Y.T. 500
is a certified  Integral Yoga teacher, Registered Yoga Teacher(RYT) Yoga Alliance (500hours). He has completed both the Professional Training and Teacher Development Intensive in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) at the Stress Reduction Clinic, University of Massachusetts. In addition to his work at ADK Yoga , he works with individuals and  has taught at Third Age Center, SUNY; Vilas Home; Lake Forest; Pine Harbour; Hospice; caregivers and people in service professions; Cardiac & pulmonary patients at CVPH; and staff of several local companies and businesses. For ten years, prior to moving to the North Country in 2005, he had a private practice in New York City teaching Yoga, Mindfulness & Stress Reduction. Among his employers were:  Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Fordham Law School & NY Dept. for the Aging. He has worked privately with people of all ages dealing with heart disease, cancer, dementia, addiction/recovery, anxiety and other chronic health conditions. He also develops programs for businesses and organizations interested in contributing to staff well-being and productivity.

Our Substitute Teachers

Britt McDowell, C.Y.T 200
is a certified Hatha yoga teacher (200 hours Yoga Institute of Houston 2002) and a certified children’s yoga teacher (Level II Radiant Child Yoga 2006). Britt began her yoga studies and practice in 1989 at The Center for Aplomb and Yoga in Rochester NY (Iyengar tradition).Britt has studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and incorporates this orientation in her yoga teaching and in her work in her private practice in mental health counseling and art therapy. In addition to her teaching at ADK Yoga, Britt has facilitated classes and workshops incorporating yoga, mindfulness and expressive art making in a variety of settings in the North Country.

Danielle Seem
has been teaching yoga for 13 years. She holds a BA in Dance and teacher certifications from the Himalayan Institute and Yoga Kids International. Her yoga and meditation studies have been guided by respected teachers like Rolf Solvik, Sandra Anderson and Shari Friedrichsen. Danielle was initiated into the Himalayan tradition in 2001. She currently teaches yoga and meditation to adults and children with attention to pranayama and exploring the subtle body.

Maria Shavalier, Certified Yoga Teacher 200
is a practitioner of yoga for more than 15 years, and a former  dance student. Her  first yoga teacher taught in the Iyengar tradition and she  was quite drawn to that style with its emphasis on proper alignment. She  has also taken Ashtanga and vinyasa flow classes. Maria  received a 200 hour certification in June, 2005 in Richmond, Virginia  where she  taught  for 4 years. In August, 2008 she moved to Plattsburgh with her husband, Robert, and son, Gabe, and has  continued to teach yoga.  Her classes have  a flow and a strong emphasis on alignment, the former influenced by her dance background  and  the latter by the Iyengar tradition.