INSTRUCTORS

For more than a decade, Susan has passionately taught yoga throughout the southeast and abroad, having completed course work and practicums in professional Yoga Therapy which includes Prenatal Yoga and Thai Yoga Therapy in South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky.

A member of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association, Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists, Susan is one of only a few experienced registered yoga teachers in the region with more than 2000 hours of teaching experience and more than 800 hours of training.

Susan received her 200 hour training from Holy Cow Yoga Center in Charleston, SC where she was trained in the Integral lineage of yoga. She then received her 500 hour and Yoga Therapy training from Etowah Valley Yoga north of Atlanta, GA which is heavily influenced by the Iyengar lineage of yoga. Among all of Susan’s great yoga mentors and teachers, Susan also trained with Marlysa Sullivan who has served on the board of The International Association of Yoga Therapy. Susan has also attended workshops and/or classes with Erich Schiffman, John Friend, Doug Keller, Paul Grilley and Matthew Sandford. She also earned the designation of RPYT during her yoga therapy training, becoming one of only two Registered Prenatal Yoga Teachers in the state of Kentucky.

While at EVY, Susan trained with Michael Sitzer in Thai Yoga Therapy. Michael served as the core faculty member at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health for years and has studied in Thailand with Pichest Boonthume and also with Kam Thye Chow, Ken Nelson and Jonas Westring.

Shri Brahmananda said, “A miracle is a change in perspective”. Whether someone is just looking for the tools to live a healthier, more balanced life or is recovering from some form of trauma, the yogic path is transformational.

When I practice yoga it is a chance to get out of my head and the mundane of everyday life and connect breath, body and soul in the form of moving prayer to something transformative and divine. I discovered yoga in the early 1990’s and was immediately drawn to the timeless philosophy, while the asanas and pranayama helped my body recover from earlier childhood trauma. More than anything, I craved balance in a chaotic world and yoga was that for me. I began teaching in 2000, wanting to share with others the timeless tools of yoga. Whether practicing on the beach, in a studio, in church, a park, or alone, yoga connects us to something deeper, bigger, more meaningful, and to each other.

Over the years I have taught a wide variety of yoga students and have over 1,000 hours of study in pre-natal, kids, restorative, yin, chair, seniors, power, vinyasa, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, meditation, chakra yoga/meditation and recovery from trauma. I am 200 E-RYT in classic vinyasa and a Reiki practitioner. I live in Glasgow with my husband and two children where I love to cook delicious vegetarian meals, spend time with my four legged friends and teach and practice yoga and meditation in my home studio.

I am a 500 hour Yoga Alliance instructor who began teaching classes in 2019. Vinyasa is my favorite style of Yoga, but I also have training in Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, FitFlow and Corefirst.

 Psalms 28:7 

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

I have been practicing yoga since 1999. I started my practice with Heidi Crocker as a winter fitness activity during my lunch breaks when I was a counselor at SKY Community and Technical College then known as Bowling Green Technical School. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but after a few classes, I was hooked. I continued on with Beverly Veenker and Debbie Marquette as they expanded yoga opportunities in the Bowling Green area.

I started my teacher training in 2013 with Shanda Packard at Harmony Therapeutic Yoga and completed my 200-hour Yoga Alliance Training in 2014. I believed then and now that yoga is a perfect adjunct for counseling for those who can use yoga as a way to work through times of personal crisis and trauma, as well as a great way to become healthier in mind and body for anyone.

I am currently a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and will complete my 500-hour yoga training in November 2016.

I’ve been married for almost 10 years to my amazing husband. We have 2 cats and love to travel. I’ve always loved doing yoga at home. In May of 2023 I attended my first Be Happy class. I fell in love with the class atmosphere and especially the more active classes. My favorite classes are any that are held outside, like Lost River Cave Yoga, Goat Yoga and Sunrise Yoga. I started by getting my group fitness certification and immediately did my Corefirst certification. I taught Corefirst for a few months before starting my 200 hour yoga teacher training. I now enjoy teaching both Corefirst and yoga classes and helping others achieve a more active and flexible lifestyle!

“My love for Yoga began after attending my first class in 1998. As a fitness instructor, I was inspired with the realization that Yoga asanas incorporate all 4 elements of exercise wellness – strength, cardio, balance and range of motion. My passion is finding the right modification to make yoga work for everyone. I completed my 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training here at Be Happy Yoga. I have been a Barber for 32 yrs – married my client and best friend DeWayne in 1990. We have a daughter and 2 grandchildren. One of my favorite quotes is from Richard Faulds. True yoga starts with radical self acceptance. Observe the self without judgement. When the body knows that the mind is kind, it will open and release.”

In January 2004, I took my first yoga class taught by Beverly Veenker and she opened my eyes to the “Mind, Body and Breath” of yoga. She taught how the Breath is your focus and movement in Yoga; Breath is your life’s beginning and end. I continued practicing Hatha yoga and realized that yoga has brought calm, stability and strength to both my mind and body. After retiring a few years ago, I decided I wanted to teach yoga and completed my 200 hours in Integral Yoga under the supervision of Susan Polk in April 2019. Over the years I have practiced a wide variety of yoga: restorative, yin, power, vinyasa, chair, meditation, and Hatha and studied the Chakra. Through trauma Yoga has been my therapy. 

Originally from Cincinnati, OH, I began practicing yoga while getting my undergrad at the University of Cincinnati as an elective class. I loved the peace and relaxation yoga gave me, but lost sight of my practice for several years following college. After moving to Bowling Green in 2015 for work I had started to experience more stress and anxiety as well as back issues, so I returned to my yoga practice, starting to take classes several times a week.

Yoga has helped my physical and mental wellbeing and I wanted to share that with others by becoming a registered yoga teacher. I completed my 200-hour training with Susan Polk at Be Happy in July 2021 and am a RYT-200 and member of Yoga Alliance. Since then, I’ve taught over 100 hours and completed training in Yoga for Anxiety and Trauma Informed Yoga at Be Happy. Currently I am working towards completing Yin training and will be taking an anatomy and the practice of yoga training in January 2023.

When I’m not teaching yoga I enjoy painting, tai chi, weightlifting, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

 

Sheila Battenfeld came to yoga officially in 2007 as she was dealing with a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy. She believes yoga was an intricate part of her healing process. Having discovered yoga later in life, she has a deep compassion for those just beginning their yoga journey and those with physical limitations. Sheila completed her E-RYT 200 hour training with Susan Polk at Be Happy Yoga Studio. She is grateful to be part of this yoga community. Sheila is also a certified health and life coach and has a Masters in Education. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling. She is the proud mom of Butterbean, her chiweenie.

In 2016, I started my journey in yoga and began my practice at Be Happy Yoga & Salt Cave. I tried several different classes: beginners, yin-yang, slow flow, vinyasa flow, gentle, and restorative. I fell in love with yoga and how it made me feel. I was more relaxed after a stressful day and found an exercise that made my body more flexible and
comfortable to be in. It’s hard to say which class is my favorite because I enjoy them all!

After four years of practice, I decided to deepen my practice and started another journey in becoming a Hatha yoga instructor. In Moy of 2020, I completed my 200 hours in yoga teacher training under Susan Polk at Be Happy Yoga & Salt Cave. After completing my training, I introduced yoga to my sister. She suffers rheumatoid arthritis. She fell in love
with yoga and is so excited to experience the benefits of yoga through the breath, mind, and body. The best part of my journey is the reward of knowing I am able to help others find an exercise that is less abrasive to their body, make them feel comfortable in their own body, and help them reach a state of relaxation.

I received a certification in Restorative Yoga. I have interest in continuing to study other styles of yoga and bring them to the studio. Outside of yoga, I enjoy knitting, camping, hiking, cooking, and being with family who includes my husband, Andy of 34 years, 2 sons: Kyle and Joseph, and our granddaughter Emilia. I am a graduate from Western Kentucky University where I studied Communications Disorders and Early Childhood Education.