Teacher Training Instructors

Training instructors:

Arianna Gallagher, Owner/Director, E-RYT 500
Graham Schweig, Ph.D., E-RYT 500
Melissa Loyd, ATC, MS- American Heart Association Certified CPR Instructor
Lucas Johnson, DPT - Licensed Physical Therapist
Andy Aaltman, Licensed Physical Therapist
Amy Neville, Licensed Physical Therapist, FAAOMPT




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Graham Schweig, Ph.D., E-RYT 500

Graham M. Schweig, Ph.D. has been a serious practitioner of yoga for over 40 years. He is an author and translator of sacred yoga texts from the Sanskrit, a leader of yoga seminars and workshops, and a university professor of religion who teaches about the universal messages of the heart. Graham was part of the yoga explosion of the sixties, and from that time has traveled to and lived in India several times and learned yoga under the guidance of traditional teachers. He is founder and teacher of The Secret Yoga Seminars with Catherine Ghosh, which presents the classical yoga from the Bhagavad Gita, The Yoga Sutra, and the Upanishads, designed to enhance the yoga practice of any sincere practitioner.

Graham earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Comparative Religion, and his specialization is in the areas of the history and philosophy of yoga, the spiritual traditions of India, and the mystical traditions of divine love. He is an internationally sought out speaker and a regularly invited lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. For many years he has been offering yoga workshops, and contributes to teacher training at Chesapeake Hot Yoga, in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, and has also offered seminars at Jivamukti (NYC), East West Living (NYC), Yogaville (VA), and has been a regularly invited presenter at the Yoga Journal Conferences, among others. Graham was also invited to be the keynote speaker at Washington, DC’s first Global Mala, delivering the opening “Dharma talk” to about 400 yoga teachers and practitioners (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8VjEWsyWvg). Graham is also recognized by Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT 500.

His recent book from HarperOne, BHAGAVAD GITA: THE BELOVED LORD’S SECRET LOVE SONG, reveals hidden teachings on yoga that can powerfully enhance anyone’s practice and teaching of yoga. His first book, DANCE OF DIVINE LOVE: INDIA’S CLASSIC SACRED LOVE STORY, published by Princeton University Press, brings out in translation and commentary, a passage from the Bhagavata text that constitutes a vision of the most exalted arena within the yoga of the heart. He has several more books in progress, including an illuminating translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and the Bhakti Sutra. For more information on Graham and his activities, see http://www.secretyoga.com and http://www.facebook.com/secretyoga.

MELISSA LOYD, ATC, MS - American Heart Association Certified CPR Instructor

Melissa is a 2003 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. After graduation, Melissa worked at Loyola University-Chicago as an intern athletic trainer. She received her Master’s degree in Health and Movement Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2006. She has several years of collegiate experience as a certified athletic trainer working with football, basketball, soccer and baseball teams. Melissa is currently a clinical athletic trainer at Atlantic Physical Therapy and is head athletic trainer at Catholic High School. She is licensed by the state of Virginia and is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association. Melissa is also a certified CPR instructor through the American Heart Association.

Lucas Johnson, DPT - Licensed Physical Therapist

Lucas earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Old Dominion University in May 2007.  His clinical interests include biomechanics of the lower extremity and rehabilitation of the overhead athlete.  He received his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 1999, where he also volunteered as a student athletic trainer for the Terrapin football team. Lucas also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at Old Dominion University for select physical therapy courses and lab instruction.

Andy Aaltman, Licensed Physical Therapist

Andy is a Virginia Beach native and grew up in the Kempsville area. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Education from East Carolina University with an emphasis in Athletic Training and then a Masters Degree in Athletic Training from West Virginia University. He has ten years of experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer at the Division I collegiate level and has also served as an athletic trainer the Chicago White Sox organization at the Triple A and major league levels. He earned his Masters degree in Physical Therapy from Old Dominion University in 1995 graduated with honors. Andy served as a Teaching Assistant for Advanced Gross Human Anatomy in the Old Dominion University Department of Biology and is an Adjunct Faculty member at ODU in the Doctorate Program in Physical Therapy. Andy specializes in shoulder and elbow rehabilitation with emphasis on the throwing athlete. He has extensive knowledge and experience with throwing biomechanics and uses the latest digital technology to analyze biomechanical faults which may help to prevent injury and/or increase throwing velocity. Andy lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and three children and enjoys family activities and spending time on the golf course.

Amy Neville, Licensed Physical Therapist, FAAOMPT

Amy calls the Carolinas home, but has been employed at Atlantic Physical Therapy since 2009. She has over 13 years of physical therapy experience and has worked and lived in unique areas in Asia Europe, and on the west coast of the US. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Biology from the College of Charleston in 1994 and earned her Physical Therapy Degree from The Medical University of South Carolina in 1997. She completed The Kaiser Permanente’s Physical Therapy Fellowship in Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy, earning level III and IV manual certifications in 2002 and 2003 respectively. Amy is a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. She specializes in manual therapy and uses other evidence-based approaches to therapy to treat a multitude of orthopedic problems as well as treating spinal dysfunction.  In her personal time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family, running, and traveling.

Arianna Gallagher, Owner/Director, E-RYT 500

The training program at Chesapeake Hot Yoga was entirely developed by Arianna and is a reflection of her dedication in bringing quality teaching to Hampton Roads. Having studied with “the best of the best”, her teaching methodology mimics the process of learning that she experienced in India and the U.S. following strictly to the true tradition of yoga. Her focus is getting the best out of each trainee, making sure they become versed in their knowledge of Yoga so they can go on and pass their learning on to other students.

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Meet Arianna… Your Director

Like most people, Arianna came to yoga for physical relief from disease. Back in Japan, in early 1991, she found herself doing yoga for the first ... read more