Our Yoga Instructors
Our Owner and Founder
Susan Garguiolo
Susan’s mission for Creative Wellness is to create a space where people can create health, wellness and well-being in a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere. Creative Wellness is a place to educate one-self through classes, workshops, seminars and events. From nutrition and cooking classes and individual counseling, to the quieting of the mind through avenues of mindfulness, meditation and yoga, our holistic health practitioners will provide you with guidance to restore balance.
Susan believes it is critical to address the source from which all activity arises - our inner world.
Her Yoga classes include:
Gentle Basics, Gentle Peace, Slow Flow, and All Levels Hatha
She looks forward to being part of your journey as you travel this path in life.
“If we can learn to turn our attention inward we can clarify our relationship to our self and shift our relationship to the world around us.”
With over 30 years of study in the holistic field and a thirst for knowledge, Susan has nurtured and realized her dream of opening a Wellness Center.
Through her own journey and those of her clients and students, Susan seeks to remove the effects of stress, anxiety and physical pain by encouraging education through yoga, mindfulness and deep relaxation techniques. Her classes and workshops teach others to become present and learn how to react to repetitive thoughts. She has spent years guiding and coaching individuals to work with both their minds and bodies through moment-to-moment awareness - strengthening the muscle of our attention. In the years of working in these practices, she has learned to cultivate a deeper level of concentration, patience and compassion along with increased creativity.
Becca Greiner
Becca has been teaching yoga for over 10 years, blending movement, breath, and mindfulness to create a deeply grounding and transformative practice. As a mom of two boys—one with special needs—she understands the power of yoga as a tool for resilience, balance, and self-care.
One of her favorite quotes: “Learn to listen to your body, so you don’t have to hear it scream”.
Becca teaches All Levels Hatha Yoga on Saturday mornings—in studio or on Roycroft Campus lawn in warmer weather.
“It is my hope that my clients find inspiration to help them find peace in their daily life more often. It means the most when a client shares they have been struggling and coming to class was ‘just what they needed’ because they heard something or felt something that moved them.”
With a background in mental health, Becca incorporates grounding techniques, visualizations, and self-exploration into her classes, guiding students toward a deeper connection with themselves. She decided to teach because yoga has been an essential practice for her own mental well-being, and she is passionate about sharing its benefits with others. Whether on the mat or in daily life, Becca believes in the possibilities of the mind and body to heal, grow, and thrive.
Allison Higgins
Allison received her 200 hour and 300 hour Yoga teacher certifications, and her 3 wisdom training certification from the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo, and is registered with Yoga Alliance.
When asked about her classes: “In my classes I strive for a sense of one-on-one connection, in order to guide students inwards. My goal is to have all students feel safe and comfortable, so modifications are always offered for students who have lower mobility or who love a gentle practice, as well as options to modify for more strength or challenge when students are feeling it. In my hatha classes, I draw on both western and eastern knowledge and practices developed in my yoga training and professional background as a masters level, licensed mental health counselor (LMHC).”
Allison teaches All Levels Hatha on Sundays.
“Yoga is about bringing together the body, mind and spirit.”
Tara Laurenzi
Combining her knowledge of the human experience through body work and yoga, Tara is highly effective at teaching her clients and students how to adapt their practices to suit their needs and honor their limitations while increasing their potentials.
Her practice and instruction is inspired by imagination and nature, two places she receives great inspiration from. Through the art of meditation, she continues to transform her own life and loves to support others on their meditation journeys.
As a coach, she also guides people who are ready to learn about transforming their lives through personal vibration, neurology and somatic explorations.
Tara teaches Iyengar based yoga.
“You are worthy of your own labor of love. Endeavor. I will help.”
Tara Laurenzi has been using transformational modalities to assist people in increasing the quality of their lives since she started practicing massage therapy in 1998. After a decade of personal practice, she was invited by her teacher to start teaching Yoga in 2007. She’s received many teacher trainings from Open Sky Yoga, under the Iyengar based instruction of international master teacher, Francois Raoult.
A writer and teacher at heart, she relishes in conveying reflections about the human experience through written word. As a mother and the matriarch of her family, she enjoys the simple pleasures of nurturing her home life, her friendships, and is ever vigilant on her Self discovery journey.
Jill Peterson
Jill is certified in several forms of yoga: Yin, Gravity Yoga, Restorative, Gentle, Vinyasa, Hatha, Buti, Aerial Yoga, Yoga Trapeze, Trauma Informed Yoga, Hot Yoga, Kids Yoga, Partner Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Adaptive Yoga, and Belly Dance Fitness. She completed an advanced yoga teacher training, RYT 500, in 2021.
She is hoping to bring her joy of movement and art to the students at Creative Wellness.
Jill teaches Gentle Restorative on Monday Nights and Soul Flow on Thursdays.
“I love to teach yoga because I get to share this magical practice that has been so transformative in my life with others and watch them experience their own transformations.”
Sashi Racho
Sashi has been practicing yoga for over twenty years and holds a 500 hour teaching certification in Vinyasa yoga. Her classes are challenging, yet carefully sequenced with attention to alignment. She aims to create a supportive and playful environment where students can expand their awareness, push their boundaries and feel empowered. Sashi believes the highest form of teaching is to be a student and she continues to learn and be inspired by her fellow teachers, students, community and the world around her. When not on the mat, you can find her hiking, cooking, cheering for the Bills and laughing with family and friends.
“Every shape your body makes on the mat is already perfect. We all need to show ourselves a little more kindness.”
On Wednesday evenings, Sashi teaches Vinyasa flow yoga. She also teaches an Introduction to Vinyasa workshop. Vinyāsa' in Sanskrit means to "place in a special way" (vi + nyasa), and breath is a foundational component. Movement and breath link together creating a sense of flow as you explore a variety of postures and build internal heat along the way. Classes change from week to week providing consistent variety. Props are always available to support you and any balances or inversions offered will be broken down and guided. Everything we do is optional, and you are encouraged to modify and rest as needed.
Amy M. Sheehan, MPT
Amy has a background in healthcare and enjoys sharing with others the ability to empower their own health. She was inspired to become an instructor to take a deeper dive in her own self-practice and bring yoga to others.
Amy took the 200-hour training with Felicitas at Healing Waters in WNY in 2012. She teaches a Gentle Flow and Yin style yoga.
Amy Teaches “Gentle Flow and Restore” and “Slow Flow Gentle” yoga classes on Sundays
“I want students to leave my class feeling happy with a smile and grateful to themselves for taking time for their self care. Honor your body—progress not perfection.”
Stefanie Simonetta
Stefanie teaches a Hatha Style class with emphasis on movement with breath.
When asked why she chose to teach yoga: “I teach Yoga to bring calm and spaciousness to yogi’s through asanas that increase flexibility and strength. As a retired high school teacher, I continue to enjoy interacting with people to inform and guide, meeting them where they are.”
Stefanie is a 200-Hour certified instructor. She teaches a Gentle Peace Yoga class on Tuesdays mornings.
Stefanie’s favorite quote:
“When the choice is to be right or to be kind, always make the choice that brings peace.” Wayne Dyer
Kundalini Yoga and Sound Healing
Carrie Evans
Carrie teaches Kundalini yoga, meditation, mantra, and sound healing, as well as other healing arts modalities, including crystal and herbal magic and tarot and oracle card readings in a "real world" way—to shift cycles of chronic stress, anxiety and depression through a deep connection of self and the cosmos and storytelling.
Carrie began practicing Kundalini Yoga when she was going through what she called “debilitating grief and anxiety,” and it taught her how to project and direct her energy, face her fears and heal her heart. “It was powerful, quick, expansive, and completely transformative.”
“I love to see your eyes bright after class. I love to see you inspired. I love to see you full of life. I love to laugh with you. I love when you let go. I love that you teach me. I love to be in community with you. I love to make magic with you.”
Carrie Evans is a Certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor and Sound Healer. She has been teaching since 2009 after her training in Kundalini Yoga from the luminous Siri Narayan Kaur Khalsa Fuda in Buffalo, NY. Her 7 years experience as a board certified massage therapist informs her classes & services with a background in anatomy, physiology, somatics, and an intuitive relationship with the mental/ emotional body. Combining sound science and kundalini yoga technologies, she is passionately committed to your empowerment as you discover your tools of healing, express your highest potential, and engage fully in a magical life.
Qi Gong Instructors
The Art of Effortless Power
Susan Balogh
Susan teaches Qi Gong (pronounced Chi-Gung and translates to “energy work”) in group classes or private 1:1 sessions (in-home or studio). She is also a happiness mentor, Reiki Master/Teacher, EFT coach, and Breathwork/ Meditation instructor. She loves to share anything that has been life-changing for her, and has been doing so since 2010.
“Improving your health and happiness doesn’t have to be hard. The effortless practice of Qi Gong offers profound life-changing benefits. It empowers you. It uplifts you. It gets you moving. It gets your stagnant energy flowing. At times it’s meditative and gets you breathing deeply. Regular practice can improve your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Thoughtlessly and effortlessly. It’s quite amazing.”
Susan was trained and certified in Qi Gong in 2016 by Master Lee Holden and has been teaching ever since, along with other self-healing modalities. The gentle practice of Qi-Gong is often said to replace stress with vitality. Learn to coordinate your breath with flowing movements and “knock” on key pressure points to increase energy and relax you at the same time. It is considered the parent of tai chi, yet it mostly involves faster movements, and is actually fun!
Fitness Instructors
Sarah Seneff
Sarah Seneff is a group fitness coordinator and personal trainer. She teaches a wide variety of classes for all levels, including Flow, HIIT, and Combat Cardio. When asked what her favorite thing was about teaching group fitness: “I love the accountability with the class and versatility of the workouts. We always have so much fun! I truly enjoy what I do here and am so grateful to be a part of the Creative Wellness family!”
Sarah began her fitness career 13 years ago and has lived in East Aurora for almost 8 years with her husband and their blended family of 8 kids.
Sarah’s classes are generally on Wednesday morning, Thursday evening, and Saturday mornings.
“My hope for every person that comes through our doors is that not only will you feel healthy and whole when you leave but you will also feel welcome and included in a safe and loving environment, and you’ll be excited to come back for more!”
Creative Wellness Group
658 Main Street, East Aurora, NY 14052
716-310-6268
Email: CreativeWellnessGroup@hotmail.com
PARKING on Main Street