Our Faculty:

Expertly guided, deeply human

Our faculty brings together seasoned yoga educators, anatomy specialists, meditation teachers, yoga therapists, and lifelong practitioners. With decades of experience, they blend traditional yoga wisdom with modern science, somatic awareness, functional alignment, and heart-centered mentorship.

Together, they guide trainees to become confident, skillful teachers who lead with knowledge, presence, integrity, and care.

  • A woman with glasses and shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a black sleeveless top, sitting cross-legged on a green yoga mat, holding a detailed model of a human brain while participating in a class or workshop in a room with a wooden floor and beige wall.

    Jane Stelboum, E-RYT 500

    Lead Teacher Trainer | Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Sequencing, Teaching Methodology & Somatic-Inspired Yoga

    With over 16 years of experience and 6,000+ teaching hours, Jane Stelboum is a cornerstone of Thrive Yoga. Trained in the ISHTA lineage, founded by Alan Finger—integrating the teachings of his father Mani Finger (a student of Paramahansa Yogananda and Swami Sivananda), and masters Swami Venkatesananda, Swami Nishraisananda, and Shuddhananda Bharati, she has mentored hundreds of trainees, transforming dedicated students into confident, authentic teachers. Jane specializes in building strong foundations in asana, pranayama, and meditation, with a particular focus on sequencing and teaching private sessions.

    As a certified Brain Longevity® Specialist and founder of Sarasvate, Jane brings a unique perspective on the intersection of movement and brain health. Her mentorship is defined by a balance of high standards and genuine encouragement, fostering a learning environment where curiosity thrives and teachers learn to lead with both technical skill and heart.

  • A woman practicing yoga indoors, sitting on a black yoga mat, wearing a gray tank top and black leggings, holding her feet with both hands in a boat pose.

    Alyson Gluecksmann, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500

    Lead Teacher Trainer | Yoga Therapy, Functional Alignment, Pranayama, Strength & Therapeutic Applications

    Alyson Gluecksmann bridges traditional wisdom with modern science. As an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist with a Master’s in Yoga Therapy from MUIH, she brings 15+ years of experience to modules on functional alignment, myofascial release, and nervous system regulation. Alyson empowers trainees to understand the "why" behind the practice, using yoga as a tool for resilience and strength.

    Her mentorship balances academic rigor with a sense of playfulness. Drawing from her own journey as a mother and endurance runner, Alyson helps teachers create inclusive, evidence-based student experiences while maintaining the vital human connection at the heart of yoga.

  • A woman with short dark hair wearing a black sleeveless top and red leggings standing in front of a colorful mural with abstract shapes, a brick pattern, and a profile of a face on a blue wall.

    Susan Mondi Bowen, E-RYT 500, YACEP

    Program Creator & Director

    Susan Mondi Bowen is the visionary behind educational programs at Thrive Yoga.

    Drawing from the ISHTA lineage—founded by Alan Finger and rooted in the teachings Swami Venkatesananda, Swami Nishreyasananda, and Shuddhananda Bharati and from the B.K.S Iyengar lineage, Susan designed the comprehensive training curriculum integrating  timeless yogic practice with contemporary science, and healthy lifestyle research.

    Her teaching reflects nearly four decades of personal practice and healthy living, more than 23 years of teaching and mentoring students of every level, and advanced study through the Harvard Medical School Executive Education program in Lifestyle & Wellness Coaching.

    Known for her ability to blend depth with practicality, Susan challenges trainees to think critically, teach skillfully, and lead with authenticity. Her mentorship extends beyond certification, inspiring graduates to preserve the integrity of the yoga tradition while confidently sharing it in a way that is relevant.

  • A woman with blonde hair in a yoga pose performing a split on a yoga mat, smiling at the camera, in front of beige curtains.

    Elizabeth (Liz) Elliott, RYT 500, MSN, RN

    Lead Teacher Trainer | Yoga Anatomy, Restorative Yoga & Teaching Assists

    Liz Elliott integrates clinical expertise with 20 years of practice. A Registered Nurse with a Master’s in Nursing, she serves as Thrive’s Yoga Anatomy Specialist, translating complex physiological concepts into practical tools for safe alignment and precise assists. Her approach, influenced by the ISHTA lineage founded by Alan Finger (integrating the teachings of his father Mani Finger, and masters Swami Venkatesananda, Swami Nishraisananda, and Shuddhananda Bharati), honors both the science of movement and the deeper purpose of restorative practices.

    With advanced training in Reiki, Sound Healing, and Yin, Liz creates a compassionate learning environment that encourages curiosity. She mentors future teachers to become thoughtful observers who combine technical, humble expertise with soul, ensuring they guide students with both skill and care.

  • A woman with curly hair and glasses resting her forehead in her hand, wearing a smartwatch, a ring, and earrings against a plain background.

    Meg Flannery, E-RYT 200 Studio Manager & Teacher Trainer

    Lead Teacher Trainer | Yin Yoga, Restorative, Somatics & Trauma-Informed Yoga

    Meg Flannery specializes in healing-centered education, focusing on Yin Yoga, Somatics, and Trauma-Informed practices. Since joining Thrive in 2023, she has used her background in Psychology and 1,200+ teaching hours to help trainees understand nervous system regulation and parasympathetic activation. Meg is the creator of Thrive’s Yin Yoga Certification program.

    Known for her warmth and accessibility, Meg’s teaching integrates breathwork, meditation, and sound healing. She empowers future teachers to create safe, supportive spaces where students can find stillness and transformation, meeting every individual exactly where they are.

  • A woman in a black tank top and pink pants giving a presentation about sequencing, with a large sheet of paper on a stand behind her displaying key points about side facing and forward facing sequencing techniques listed in red and black ink.

    Felicia Piacente, RYT 500, E-RYT 200

    Lead Teacher Trainer | Asana Lab, Alignment, Vinyasa Sequencing & Teaching Methodology

    A beloved mentor with over 17 years and 4,000 classes at Thrive, Felicia Piacente is known for her technical clarity and infectious enthusiasm. An ISHTA-trained practitioner (a lineage founded by Alan Finger, integrating the teachings of his father Mani Finger, and masters Swami Venkatesananda, Swami Nishraisananda, and Shuddhananda Bharati) who completed her 200 and 300-hour certifications at Thrive, she specializes in breaking down complex poses into accessible, safe components within the Asana Lab.

    Felicia’s gift lies in helping trainees develop a sharp observational eye and a confident teaching voice. Her approach is rooted in the belief that great teachers never stop being students, inspiring future instructors to lead intelligent, alignment-focused Vinyasa sequences with joy and presence.

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Nick performing bound side angle pose
purple lights in sound bowls. Mother Maiden Crone sound bath set up with metal bowls and candles
Group of women practicing yoga in a studio with wooden floors and a mural on the back wall, all in various poses with arms extended.
alternate nostril breathing
Knitting ladies with their new sweaters
A woman practicing yoga in a child's pose with a yoga block on her back, in a studio with other people and colorful decor in the background.
Two women assisting a person performing a yoga pose on a mat in an indoor setting with yellow textured walls.
weights yoga class with lunges and weights overhead
chest on bolster restorative
People meditating in a yoga class, sitting cross-legged on mats, with eyes closed and hands resting on knees, in a room with a large mural of a woman playing a musical instrument.
Liz doing the splits
A group of women practicing acro yoga together indoors on yoga mats, with some assisting others in balancing poses.
Hands on heart restorative rest
A group of people participating in a fitness class doing overhead dumbbell presses on yoga mats in a room with colorful abstract wall art.
Fascia
arial yoga class with inversions
ab hold on a block
sound instruments including the handheld bowl and the gongs in the background
A group of people participating in a yoga class, practicing a balancing pose on yoga mats in an indoor studio.