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Every body needs healing.
The Healing Space Yoga Collective was founded as a community of yoga teachers who believe in the power of yoga to heal and transform, and who have the desire to support all students in moving toward better health, well-being, and inner awareness. We aim to hold space for each individual to explore the practice of yoga and the impact that movement and breath can have on personal growth, inner and outer strength, and the deep work of healing and self-love.
Meet our Teachers
Shawna Rocheleau
Instructor ...
Nicola DiBenditto
Founding Instructor Nicola has been practicing yoga and meditation since she was 24. In 2018, she earned her Kundalini Yoga & SuperHealth: Yogic Science for Addictive Behaviors Certifications. Since then, she has been practicing and teaching locally. She is devoted to her practice and sharing her knowledge and healing qualities. She has personally worked with seasoned teachers in the yoga community including Guru Singh, Shakta, Mukta, and Guru Jagat. As a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, Nicola shares the authentic teachings and wisdom of yoga from India. Through intention, pranayama, and meditation, students leave her yoga class feeling relaxed and refreshed. Her classes will challenge you both physically and mentally while being varied for all levels. Kundalini Yoga classes include movement, mantra and breathing with demonstration and no hands-on assistance. Nicola is a full-time K-12 Special Education teacher. She earned her certification for Radiant Child Yoga and Yoga for Children with ADHD and Those Differently Abled in 2019. By implementing her practices in the classroom, she has gained a level of comfort teaching all children breathing and calming techniques. In her personal practice, Nicola is a guide and facilitator for her own healing and spiritual growth. She believes there is more than one way to process and clear karmic energy. Because of that, she regularly uses yoga, meditation, Reiki, singing bowls, and Shamanic teachings to support her.
Heather Jiminez
Founding Instructor Heather is a mom of two little ones and resides in Connecticut with her family. She has worked in Public Health for 16 years and is a certified families/pre-postnatal health coach as well as certified children’s yoga & mindfulness teacher. Her classes are engaging and interactive! The benefits of children’s yoga and mindfulness are: increase self awareness & confidence, improved social and emotional skills, improved focus and concentration, and skills to manage stress and anxiety. She believes that mind body movement/work is the key to well balanced children.
Carin Oppelt
Founder, Owner Carin was first introduced to yoga in 2014 when she began attending classes at Bloom Yoga in Southington, CT. She quickly realized how powerful yoga can be for healing the mind and body, and dove in head first (as she often does!) by completing her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Bloom in the Spring of 2015. She has a deep passion for learning and has continued to develop her education since, most recently completing a course in trauma-informed yoga. She has long felt a calling towards the healing arts and particularly enjoys working with individuals with a trauma history. She believes in the transformative power of yoga to cultivate personal growth and to create space for the deep work of healing and self-love. Her classes focus on mindful movement, connecting with the breath and body, and creating a felt sense of safety and joy. In January of 2023, Carin opened The Healing Space Yoga Collective. She aims to create a safe space for healing and is excited to share the space with other teachers in her community.