River Cummings is OTY’s Director of Teacher Training. She began her yoga studies at the age of 20 when, due to a teenage career in horse jumping, her increasing pain and residual structural stress prompted healing intervention. Over her 17 years in the field, she has been privileged to study yoga under world-renowned teachers and lamas in the U.S., India and Tibet. 

Through yoga River has helped herself and many others regain health and a passion for life. The intelligence, humor, curiosity and compassion she brings to her teaching reveal a true love of yoga. River offers private yoga therapy sessions as well as yoga instructor trainings, workshops, retreats and group classes throughout the Americas and in Europe. She also serves as Director of Education for YogaAway.  

River holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry from Emory University and did her Ph.D. work in Chemistry at Seattle's University of Washington. River later went on to earn certification in massage therapy. She is a dedicated long-time yoga student of Gary Kraftsow in the lineage of T.K.V. Desikachar and T. Krishnamacharya and is certified both as a Yoga Instructor (500 hours) and as a Yoga Therapist (500 hours) by the American Viniyoga Institute. River is registered as an ERYT-500 by the Yoga Alliance. Check out River's website at www.yogawithriver.com

Michael Lloyd-Billington will be teaching the Philosophy portion of the training. Michael has been a student and teacher of Eastern Philosophy for over 25 years.  He received his degree in Philosophy & Comparative Religion from Hampshire College, where he had the opportunity to study with such renowned scholars as Robert Thurman, Dennis Hudson, and Taitetsu Unno.  A certified Integral Yoga Instructor (Levels I, II, and III), Michael has worked with thousands of students from around the world and has lead numerous workshops on Yoga philosophy, meditation, pranayama, and other aspects of the Yogic path.  From 1997-2000, he served as Head of Yoga Teachers’ Training at Satchidananda Ashram, an internationally-renowned certification program. Check out Michael's website here: www.alternativepersonaltraining.bravehost.com

Valerie W. Potter is leading the Anatomy portion of the training. Val has been studying the human body since 1978.  Starting with a Bachelors of Science degree in allied health and wellness from the University of South Dakota she continued her education at Colorado State University completing a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology in 1992. Her interest in spine stabilization started early as her thesis study centered on core strengthening concepts and exercise design.  After working for several years in the field of sports medicine, athletic training and personal fitness she went on to earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Creighton University in 1997.  Always interested in human movement patterning, she received numerous certifications and advanced training in manual therapy, Pilates, Egoscue Method of posture analysis and movement dysfunction and the Old Town Yoga Viniyoga Teacher Training.  Her interactive style of teaching, patience and enthusiasm give students a solid understanding of human anatomy while correlating to yoga asana.

"I have recently completed the Old Town Yoga's 200 hour training program.  I had the advantage of knowing River before this endeavor, but never failed to be amazed at her absolute knowledge of her subject.  The classes were information, fun and exhilarating.  The group of people completing this course with me was of the highest caliber.  We never failed to help each other in whatever way possible.  In addition, our teacher never assumed that we "didn't get" something.  While correcting our homework (yes homework) if it appeared that we "didn't get it" she assumed that she hadn't presented the information clearly enough, and as a result reviewed whatever it might have been. This resulted in a huge  amount of knowledge being passed down through her to us.  Needless to say I am very pleased and satisfied with this experience." ~M.M. 

"How fortunate I feel to have experienced the Viniyoga Teacher Training at OTY. I've practiced various traditions of yoga for eight years and feel there couldn't have been a better program for my needs. Jake assembled a collaboration of great teachers, the 'Hub" of which was River, whose depth of knowledge of Yoga, Philosophy, Meditation, and Pranayama would be hard to match." ~M.B.

"This experience has been transformative for me on many levels. In addition to the deep personal growth the training has provided for me, it has greatly enhanced my ability to serve my students in many ways and on many levels. My students and I will reap the rewards of this training for years to come." ~H.G.

"This training has deepened my knowledge on an intricate level. The level of wisdom and the manner of articulation regarding the information passed on has surpassed any of my other yoga trainings." ~B.G.