Teacher Training Instructors

Here are the instructors for your training:

Graham Schweig, Ph.D. has been a practitioner of yoga for 40 years. 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.

Graham’s scholarly study of sacred Sanskrit literature and his own heart-centered practice of yoga have led him to discover a secret calling within yoga that is revealed at the deepest level of yoga practice, a “secret love song,” that sings to each one of us. 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 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. He has been offering yoga workshops and contributes to teacher training at Chesapeake Hot Yoga, in the Hampton Roads area of Virgina, and has also offered seminars at Jivamukti (NYC), East West Living (NYC), Yogaville (VA), and international Yoga Journal Conferences, and many others.

Among Graham’s many publications, his first book published by Princeton University Press entitled, DANCE OF DIVINE LOVE, presents the ways in which divinity dances the dance of divine love in the hearts of his most devoted yoginis. 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. He has several more books in progress. www.grahamschweig.com

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.

Arianna Gallagher

The training program at Chesapeake Hot Yoga was entirely developed by Arianna and is a refection 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