The teacher training faculty at the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo is a highly trained group of experienced local instructors. We do much more than teach yoga. We live yoga. Our staff embodies a wide range of professional experience in fields like exercise science, international relations, linguistics and education. We also take our personal sadhana (practice) to heart recognizing that teachers can only effectively teach that which they know first-hand. You will find our faculty embraces the role of perennial student consistently pursuing advanced study within the Himalayan Tradition. Each of us is dedicated to sharing the best of our own experience in a deeply supportive, professional environment.
Julia Davis-Voss (formerly Kress), B.S., E-RYT 500, AYS, C-IAYT, YACEP
Program Co-ordinator
200 hour, 500 hour, CEU, AYS Teacher
My initial experience with yoga in the 1990’s at the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo led me to making a radical shift in lifestyle and moving to the Institute’s educational headquarters in Honesdale, P.A. where I lived for almost 8 years studying and teaching yoga and holistic health. I learned the art and science of Ayurvedic vegetarian cooking, as well as, yoga as a therapeutic healing art. In 2004, I returned to Buffalo and received a B.A. in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo. Shortly afterwards, I began my studies with Sue Mann Dolce and Matt Sanford and explored how to use yoga in a more accessible way – working with the Universal Design Yoga program at UB. I am currently serving as Administrative Coordinator and Senior Teacher for the 200 hour and 500 hour Teacher Training Program and the Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist Training Program at the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo.
Kerry Mitchell, M.A., E-RYT 200, RYT 500
200 hour Teacher
Kerry has been practicing yoga since the early 90’s and teaching yoga at the Himalayan Institute since 1995. She is a graduate of both the Himalayan Institute’s Teacher Training Program (200 and 500 hour) and Meditation Training Program. Foremost among her other programs of yogic study is the Living Tantra program with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. Following a 25-year career in international affairs, Kerry is now focusing her time and attention on the study and teaching of yoga and restoring a few of Buffalo’s wonderful old homes.
Sarah Guglielmi, M.S., E-RYT 500, AYS
200 hour, 500 hour, CEU, AYS Teacher
Sarah Guglielmi has been on a personal journey of healing and spiritual growth for over 15 years. She has taught yoga since 2002 in corporate, studio, and clinical settings. Originally drawn to yoga practice to relieve chronic stress and illness, Sarah has not only regained her health, but has discovered a spiritual dimension of life she finds rich and inspiring. Sarah serves on the teaching faculty of the Himalayan Institute headquarters in Honesdale, PA and holds the position of Professional Education Manager. She completed a Masters Degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Delaware and completed an eight-year engineering career with W.L. Gore and Associates, prior to joining the Institute.
Tracy Draksic, M.A.
200 hour, 500 hour Teacher
Tracy began her formal study of yoga at the Himalayan Institute in 1998. After many years of hatha yoga practice, she began expanding her interests into yoga philosophy & psychology, meditation, and Sanskrit. She completed the Institute’s teacher training program and became a certified instructor in 2010. Many opportunities followed for further teacher education in Toronto, Hamilton, and Honesdale, PA. Tracy currently teaches at the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo and Rising Sun Yoga in Amherst. Tracy manages the company web site at HIB and serves as a member of the teacher training faculty. Tracy received a B.A. in French Literature from Wells College and an M.A. in Linguistics from SUNY Buffalo.
