Our Staff

Jane Viscolosi - Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Instructor, RYT 200

All of my life I have been involved in sports and other physical fitness activities – my whole family is athletic and competitive. Yoga was not on my radar screen…at least not until I read the book Power Yoga by Beryl Bender Birch back in 1997. I saw the ad in my SHAPE magazine back when I was teaching high-impact aerobics, body sculpting, spinning, and training for sprint distance triathlons. I read Beryl’s book and began practicing yoga in my basement (my health club was not interested in adding yoga to the schedule at the time). I continued my basement practice adding in Bryan Kest’s video ‘Power Yoga’. Finally, in 2002 I found Raffa Power Yoga in Cranston, RI. Christine Raffa brought Baptiste Yoga to the RI community. In 2004, I studied with Baron Baptiste and Christine and since then I have attended numerous BPYI boot camps, events, immersions, and classes in Boston while working my full time job. I eventually completed my Baptiste Power Yoga Institute certification in 2010. Another strong influence in my life, and in my teaching, is Ana Forrest. I completed Ana’s Advanced Teacher Training in the summer of 2006 and continue to attend Forrest workshops wherever and whenever I can.

In March 2011, I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up for the Anti-Gravity Yoga Teacher Training with Christopher Harrison. Since then I am loving teaching AGY classes. Working with this physical art form of exercise and working with courageous, adventurous and creative students is challenging and fulfilling. Personally I welcome the change for my joint systems (to suspend my body from a supportive hammock) it is such a healthy and exhilarating practice.

For almost 10 years I have been practicing and teaching the methodology of Baptiste Yoga. The physical practice (the conditioning, the challenge, the sweat) was all great but I was getting all of that at the gym. What I was not getting were all of the other benefits that are inherent to yoga practice; connection to breath, clearing of mind, and nurturing of spirit. Through these connections I have gotten to know myself and have been able to see myself in my relationships. Even more than that, I have learned to accept myself and to accept others, to listen to my heart’s messages, and to live in line with the yamas and niyamas. For me, these practices far exceed the physical practice but together they are transformational.

I left a demanding corporate job in 2004 to create a life that allowed yoga to be a big part of it. Currently I work full time in the Construction Industry in the field Health & Safety. I am an OSHA Outreach Trainer, Certified CPR Instructor, and Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist. My yoga practice continually reminds me to maintain balance - something I had struggled with for most of my life (all work and no play).

When I am not at my full time job, I am teaching yoga classes at Raffa (Baptiste Yoga and Anti-Gravity Yoga), and offering classes in my local community in Bristol, RI. I have led several thousand Journey Into Power yoga classes in RI. I have guided Baron’s 40 Days to Personal Revolution program, including the first ever Digital 40 Days program which allowed me to guide participants from across the globe. It is both an honor and a delight to work with participants in my classes and in these programs. Creating space and building community is what I am up to here in RI in a very BIG way. I am grateful for the opportunity to be on staff at Raffa Yoga.

When I am not at my full time job or teaching yoga I am spending time with my husband Larry and our yellow lab Zoe. I am honored and excited to be an ambassador for lululemon athletica, YogaAid/Africa Yoga Project and yogavibes.

Grace Delude

Grace Dulude is an experienced yoga instructor whose experience as a mental health therapist enriches both her teaching and her personal practice. Asana (postures) and pranayama (breath work) are valuable tools for maintaining both mental and physical health, and Grace's teaching style seamlessly integrates both of these aspects.

Grace was introduced to yoga thirteen years ago after experiencing significant chronic muscular pain after many years of vigorous physical exercise. After her first class, she became aware of the powerful impact yoga could have on her body. Continuing to practice, she soon became aware of the potential for her yoga practice to lead her into her higher, authentic self.

Grace has completed Ana Forrest's Foundational and Advanced Teacher Training modules. She has also studied with nationally known teachers like Brian Kest, Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, and Tias Little. Her personal style is a mixture of powerful postures and restorative breathwork, offered simultaneously within the framework of a deep, meditative flow.

Hugh Rossi

As a former combat Marine who fought in Vietnam I have always tried to find something to clear my head. When I first came home, I trained in martial arts,became one of George Pesare's black belts, and fought in New England and Kansas as a kickboxer. Later, I worked with Mother Teresa and her sisters in Kolkata, the Philippines and the South Bronx. In India, I became interested in yoga and eventually became a certified teacher. A few years ago I trained with Sri Dharma Mittra and received another teaching certification from him. Over the years I have trained with many yoga experts such as Anna Forrest and Bryan Kist.

As a 30 year high school teacher in Ct and another few in Providence I have looked to yoga to bring peace and calm into the classroom. This year I climbed Mt.Everest and could not have done it with out yoga and working the core,but the main reason why I practice yoga is that it soothes my soul.

Jessie Dwiggins

Jessie Dwiggins, RYT-200, is a Forrest Yoga instructor certified by Ana Forrest. She has found vitality within her physical body, freedom from emotional patterns that don’t serve her wellbeing, and zest for life through her yoga practice. Jessie’s classes emphasize healthy alignment and the exploration of breath, movement, and mindfulness.

Jessie holds a degree in nutrition and exercise physiology and she is a Wellcoaches certified Wellness Coach, Licensed Am I Hungry? Instinctive Eating Facilitator, and certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist. She is currently completing her graduate degree in nutrition, with an emphasis on mindful eating, at the University of Rhode Island.

Jessie believes in a holistic approach to wellness rooted in healthy behavior practices. She believes that yoga is a channel through which lifestyle changes become easier as the body, mind, and spirit integrate. She incorporates insights from her own self-discovery, yoga practice, and education to help create a meaningful life practice for students.

Sarah Kenny

Sarah began her yoga practice as a self-taught Ashtanga student over twelve years ago. The first day she stepped on her mat, a seed was planted that would one day eventually grow to push her into a life change.

During those years, Sarah has been blessed to have taken teacher training’s, workshops, and advanced studies with many renowned teachers including Manju Jois, David Swenson, Maty Ezraty, Chuck Miller, Tim Miller, Tiaas Little, Fiona and Julian Stang, Kino MacGregor, Tim Feldmann, David Vendetti, Lynne Begier, and Ana Forrest. After completing the Forrest Yoga Foundation Training in 2006, Sarah shifted her focus and teaching to developing a healing practice that embodied the spirt as well as the body.

Sarah has had a plethora of experiences in life including, social work and counselor, bouncer, office Guru, Rugby player and yoga instructor. She credits her training in yoga and bodywork for turning her fears, injuries and other life challenges into energy, joy, and fascination. With careful attention and deep knowledge of her trade, Sarah guides others on their paths toward empowerment, strength, and personal acceptance.

Richmond Dickinson

Richmond Dickson began teaching yoga in 2003 after completing a 650hr. course of study at the CORE Institute School of Massage Therapy and Bodywork. His teaching grew out of his love for movement and artistic expression, and his knowledge of structural alignment and movement mechanics. In 2004 he began studying Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Shiva Rea in three successive teacher intensives, the highlight, of which, was a 10-day immersion in Kerala, India - a life changing experience that taught him to enjoy every moment as if it were the last. That same year, Richmond began a Bachelor’s Degree program in Alternative Medicine, which he completed in the Spring of 2007.

In addition to Shiva Rea, Richmond looks to the teachings of Mark Whittwell, T.K.V. Desikachar, Sri Dharma Mitra, J. Krishnamurti, and Scott Blossom as a reminder of how he wishes to present this ancient teaching – to keep it fun, light-hearted, mind-full, introspective, and empowering. In his classes, Richmond offers an explorative approach to movement with a focus on the subtle shifts in the body’s patterns and posture, and he encourages students to find their own way by tuning into their unique sensational experience. Richmond teaches musculo-skeletal anatomy and kinesiology to entry level massage therapy students, as well as entry level and advanced yoga teacher trainees in New England and Florida, and he and his wife, Kate Greer, offer trainings and retreats through their Open Hears Yoga School.

“My ultimate goal is to provide a safe and sacred space where teachers, students, and clients can interact, grow, and heal, and, in doing so, learn from one another, and find freedom and ease in movement, and a posture that brings balance and peace to their day-to-day lives.”

Sara Brown

Initially Ashtanga certified in 2001, Sara began her actual practice with Bikram Yoga in '99. She went on to achieve her Pilates Instructor certification from Dolly Kelepescz in 2003. As a practitioner and instructor Sara has studied both the ethos and asana of Kundalini, Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusara, and Yin yoga. She has taught at numerous studios nationwide, attending on-going training and conferences. Teaching Ashtanga and other creative series, she aims to inspire all yogis to the next level, physically and spiritually. Sara teaches both classes and also Posture Clinics at Raffa Yoga, aimed at development of the beginning yogi and the more advanced student.

Other than her passion for yoga, Sara works full-time as a Counseling Clinician. She has worked in the field of Marketing before working as an Educational Psychologist. Sara is a Divemaster, a tennis and volleyball player, and a Henna Tattoo artist. She is also a writer and traveler. At heart Sara is a Yogi. She feels honored and feels blessed to teach, from which she gains a spiritual payment.

Julie Curreri

Julie Curreri is a certified registered yoga instructor and a certified Phoenix Rising yoga therapy teacher. Her extensive yoga studies include trainings with Baron Baptiste, Beryl Bender Birch, Anna Forrest, Tias Little, Seanne Corn, Elissa Cobb (Phoenix Rising) and Sarah Powers (Yin Yoga). In addition to teaching numerous yoga classes, she also works with local physicians and physical therapists designing yoga programs for injury rehabilitation as well as yoga therapy.

Her class opens with a centering meditation to set an intention and focus you for the practice. Then, you will be guided through a challenging Vinyasa yoga series combining flow with longer deeper holds and stretches. Class concludes with a seated reflection to highlight your mind-body experience on the mat. The course is accessible to all levels willing to sweat and explore their edges.