Our teacher training team is made up of deeply experienced and highly dedicated instructors, each of whom has a longstanding relationship with Yoga San Kalpa. All members of our team are not only graduates of our 300-hour Yoga Therapy Training, but also bring a wealth of expertise from our additional specialized programs and years of teaching experience. Our instructors embody our school’s core values of integrity, tradition, and excellence.
Lora Ksieniewicz
Owner, Director of Yoga San Kalpa Teaching School
E-CYT 1200, IAYT Yoga Therapist, Comprehensive Peak Pilates
Lora Ksieniewicz has been teaching yoga since 2006, and has studied meditation and asana practice for more than two decades. Her yoga and Pilates classes focus on functional movement to keep our bodies safe, strong and healthy, using the poses as a way to access our minds and emotions for release, healing and greater ease in the present moment.
Lora holds a degree in Holistic Health at The University of Massachusetts Amherst, with a focus on the Kinesiology of Yoga. She has studied the history and philosophy of Buddhism and Hinduism at Boston University, through Antioch University, and at Mount Holyoke College. She spent several months at the Burmese Monastery in Bodh Gaya India, studying the history of Buddhism and it's various traditions from both an academic standpoint and as a practitioner. She is honored to have studied vipassana meditation with the venerable Munindra-ji, and was able to test his patience with her many, many silly questions. Some of Lora's yoga teachers include Claire Este Mcdonald and Gregor Singleton, Sarah Powers, Shiva Rea and Baron Baptiste. She has trained within the Sivananda Yoga tradition in the U.S, the Bahamas, and in Kerala India.
Lora was the Director of Flexibility and Recovery for National Championship Amherst College Men's Soccer and Puma Peak Performance Camps, having worked with the team since 2010. She has developed a specific sequence of therapeutic yoga postures for athletes that helps maintain pliability, reducing non-contact injuries, and improving both performance and recovery time. In addition to men and women's soccer at the college, high school, and youth level, Lora trains college athletes in football, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball, and hockey at Amherst College and UMass Amherst. She is a certified Functional Range Conditioning provider, and a Peak Pilates Instructor.
Lora is a Pro Ambassador for Jade Yoga. She has run retreats and teacher training programs in the US, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America.
Danielle Ayotte
General Manager Yoga San Kalpa Teaching School
Yoga Therapist CYT-500, Peak Pilates
During the pandemic, Danielle discovered Yoga on the Vine’s online Yin & Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, an experience that profoundly deepened her practice and inspired her to pursue advanced trainings. Since then, Danielle has become a graduate of the Yoga San Kalpa/Yoga on the Vine 300-hour Yoga Therapy program, the 50-hour Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra program, the 50-hour Advanced Yin Yoga program, the 50-hour Chair Yoga program, the 50-hour Pre/Postnatal Yoga program, and the 200-hour and 300-hour Buddhist Meditation Teacher Trainings.
Now serving as the General Manager of the Yoga San Kalpa Teaching School, Danielle plays a central role in leading both 200-hour and 300-hour teacher training modules, ensuring they reflect the school’s core values of tradition, excellence, and accessibility. She also brings her expertise to the Yin and Yoga Nidra Teacher Training, mentoring students in these transformative practices.
Danielle’s teaching philosophy emphasizes the integration of functional movement, alignment-based asana, and space for introspection, providing students with tools to navigate life more skillfully—on and off the mat. Her warmth, clarity, and dedication make her an invaluable leader within the Yoga San Kalpa community, empowering students and teachers alike to grow and thrive.
Shannon Larsen
Lead Instructor Martha’s Vineyard, General Manager Yoga on the Vine & Aligned Pilates Martha’s Vineyard
Yoga Therapist CYT-500, Peak Pilates
Shannon Larson is a highly skilled yoga therapist, dedicated educator, and integral member of the Yoga San Kalpa teaching faculty. A graduate of YSK’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, 300-hour Yoga Therapy Training, 50-hour Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra, and 50-hour Advanced Yin Training, 50-hour Chair Yoga Training, 50-hour Pre/PostNatal Yoga Training, and Buddhist Meditation Teacher Trainings. She is a resident expert in Ayurveda, offering both group classes and private yoga therapy sessions.
Since becoming Lead Instructor in 2019, Shannon has played a pivotal role in guiding our 200-hour and 300-hour training modules, where she shares her deep knowledge and passion for the transformative power of yoga. She also leads our Pre/Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training and assists on retreats such as our Vermont Silent Meditation Retreats and Sicily Yoga Retreats, enriching these immersive experiences with her expertise and compassionate approach.
Shannon’s journey with yoga began when a YOTV retreat inspired her to explore the practice more deeply. Teaching has since transformed her life, and she is passionate about making yoga powerful, accessible, and inclusive for every body. Her classes and trainings provide a safe, supportive space where students can connect with themselves and find relief from the demands of the outside world. Through her teaching and mentorship, Shannon empowers new teachers and students alike to discover the profound benefits of yoga.
Jillian Miller
Lead Instructor Western Mass, General Manager Yoga of the Valley & Aligned Pilates Pioneer Valley
Yoga Therapist CYT-500, Peak Pilates
Over the past 15 years, Jillian has trained extensively with Lora, completing Yoga San Kalpa’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, 300-hour Yoga Therapy Training, Yin and Yoga Nidra Training, and Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Training, among others. As General Manager and Lead Instructor of our Western Mass studios, Jillian brings her wealth of experience and dedication to leading 200-hour and 300-hour training modules, ensuring the programs are rooted in excellence and authenticity. Her commitment to the practice extends beyond the classroom—she also co-leads our transformative retreats such as our Peru retreat, creating opportunities for students to explore yoga and meditation in extraordinary settings.
Jillian’s teaching is infused with her passion for empowering students to discover the benefits of yoga, both on and off the mat. She believes in meeting each individual where they are, helping them uncover their inner strength and potential. Her dedication to growth, learning, and leadership makes her an integral part of the Yoga San Kalpa community. Jillian brings her dedication to yoga beyond the mat, using the tools of the practice to create meaningful change in the world. She works closely with refugee communities, and is a passionate advocate for social justice. Jillian takes a clear stand for equity and compassion, integrating these values into both her career, and her teaching career with the Yoga San Kalpa community.
Craig Ranucci
Senior Instructor Yoga on the Vine
Yoga Therapist CYT-500
Craig found his path in Yoga, where he quickly discovered a profound passion for the practice and its teachings. Yoga became not only his dharma but a way to connect deeply with himself and his community in a healthier and more robust way. Dedicated to making yoga accessible to all bodies, Craig approaches the practice of Yoga as our natural state—something we can all return to with guidance and awareness.
After completing his 200-hour training in hot yoga, Craig continued his journey with Yoga San Kalpa’s 300-hour Yoga Therapy Training, specializing in anatomical engagement, intelligent sequencing and the bandhas. He has also graduated from YSK’s 50-hour Yin & Nidra Training, Pre-Post Natal Yoga Teacher Training, and Buddhist Meditation Teacher Training. Now a mentor and leader within the Yoga San Kalpa community, Craig teaches 200-hour and 300-hour training modules, inspiring students with his knowledge, energy, and heartfelt commitment to sharing the transformative power of Yoga.
Craig’s classes are deeply embodied, both meditative and challenging, designed to leave students feeling nourished and alive. Off the mat, his love of movement, nature, and connection shines through in everything he does, whether it’s an ongoing commitment to community through teaching and hospitality work, traveling, or spending time with his beloved dog. As a teacher and mentor, Craig embodies the values of Yoga San Kalpa, offering guidance, support, and inspiration to all who join him on the path.