Dan grew up in Southern California and moved to Colorado after his time in the Marines. He began practicing Yoga primarily for the physical aspect. Soon he realized the mental and spiritual aspect and began better understanding the mind and body relationship including how to heal. He wanted to share this experience with the veteran community but didn't know how. One day, at yoga, a teacher asked him about his shirt which he told her it was from a veteran company. She asked if he was a veteran and asked if he’d heard of Comeback Yoga, which he hadn't. That started his journey to teach yoga to veterans; in hopes of sharing a practice that has brought peace to him, mind, body, and spirit.
RACHEL H.
Rachel is a 500-RYT, HI-LMT, partner, mom of 3, furmom to 3, and a life-long learner. She has taught yoga for 4 years, with approximately 1000 teaching hours. She attained her first 200YTT through the Yoga Center of Carmel and another through Monica Mesa Dasi, a senior teacher under Shiva Rea. She finished her 300YTT with Jason Crandall. She has been privileged to study with Max Strom, Jamie Elmer, and Judith Lasater. She has taught in churches, prisons, schools, hospitals, gyms and studios. She has taught Restorative, Yin, Gentle, Slow-Flow Vinyasa, Vinyasa, Yoga Flow, Power Yoga, Yoga Sculpt and SUP Yoga. Once a cardio bunny, turned gym rat to Crossfitter, she found yoga after a back injury. She is a certified Warriors at Ease teacher and iRest Level 1 Certification. She believes that we can better our movement incorporating yoga into our life through lengthening and strengthening muscles and breathing with intention. She asks that we leave self judgment off the mat, and do what feels good in your body, understanding we are all beautifully different.
TALIA G.
Talia began her yoga practice in 2009 and, over the years, has developed a continuously evolving relationship with self and mat. She initially enrolled in her 200-hour teacher training with the intention of deepening her own personal practice but emerged from it inspired to share her teachings with others. She completed her 50-hour Trauma-Sensitive training placing emphasis on creating an inclusive, safer space for all who seek it. Most recently, she is in the process of receiving her certification in Reiki healing and is inspired by integrating each of these pieces into a well-rounded experience for her students. Talia brings a calming and explorative vibe to all of her classes. She invites an expansive awareness of sensations in your body while also focusing on form, breath, presence, and observation of self in a sacred, safe space.
SARA E.
Sara began her yoga practice over 10 years ago while in graduate school in order to help cope with an anxiety disorder and stress. She finished her 200 hr yoga training in December 2019, and loves sharing yoga with others searching for life balance. She is also a board certified chaplain and has served as a chaplain for over 6 years.
TERRY C.
Terry Copeland comes to Vail yoga from Wisconsin where she was primarily a high school teacher for 40 years.
Her specialty was mental health/stress management, whole being practices and studies (tai chi, TKD 1st degree blackbelt, yoga, meditation, HeartMath educator, spiritual studies).
Not a Vet herself, she has family members and friends who are and she deeply respects and appreciates all Vets and those who commit to serve. When she had a struggling Vet rent the Vail home she now lives in, he could not find a yoga class that fit his needs. Soon after, she met Ned and Margot at the Estes Park YJ yoga conference. They connected her with Pat Hammon and Vail Vet Yoga was born. Terry absolutely loves the Vets in her Monday class and is so grateful to ComebackYoga for this amazing journey.
She and her husband have three grown children and four grandchildren all within a few minutes walking distance from them. Three dogs complete the family. Thus her free time is consumed by the kids, grandkids, dogs, skiing (taught for BC this year), tennis, swimming, biking, Pickleball, reading, and travel.
Terry teaches for Comeback Yoga in Edwards, CO.
DENYI A.
Favorite Yoga Poses: Empathy, Kindness, Compassion. I believe as we help others we are also practicing self love. Served 21 years in the Army, born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in the Bronx NY. Military Spouse, Football Mom, Half Marathon Runner and Frenchie Lover. Trauma Informed 200 RYT. Enjoys traveling, running, reading, Yoga, volunteering and meditation. Came to the practice searching for my own healing and resiliency and found that serving others was my strongest healing tool. Currently living in Orlando, Florida, working for the University Of Central Florida (UCF) as a Research Assistant developing a Health Care worker resiliency program.
MATTHIEU C.
VICKI B.
Vicki came to Comeback Yoga as a yoga instructor in 2018 with the desire of sharing her passion of yoga and meditation with others seeking a life of balance, wellness and ultimately living a life of joy!
In our own personal and unique way, we all search for meaning and purpose in our lives. Vicki believes that a regular practice of yoga and meditation is a tool to tap into your own authentic and unique power.
Vicki came to her love of teaching yoga in the military community, dedicated to a dear friend and veteran who struggled with PTSD for many years, where she personally witnessed the healing, body-mind-connection and amazing healing benefits of a regular yoga and mindfulness practice. As a yoga instructor Vicki brings every ounce of her enthusiasm, passion and caring energy to help support her students in a safe and fun way! Yoga has to be fun too – right?
Vicki has been a yoga student for 15+ years and a meditation practitioner for 20 years. She received her Yoga Alliance YRT 200-hour Teacher Training in 2016 and began teaching yoga in 2018. In addition, Vicki has taken numerous trauma-informed trainings including receiving her Warriors At Ease I Trauma-Informed Training certification in 2019. She has recently completed her iRest Nidra Yoga Meditation Level 1 Teacher Training March of 2021. Vicki teaches a variety of yoga classes at Comeback Yoga including the memory care unit at the Veterans Community Living Center, dementia support group, gentle flow and chair yoga within the Denver VA System.