Shikoba Essex

WELCOME TO SHIKOBA, A PLACE OF JOY, HEALING & WELLNESS

Rustic natural items including a feather, shells, a woven ring, and leather pouch.

ABOUT SHIKOBA

What does SHIKOBA mean?

SHIKOBA is of Native American origin and means "little feather". SHIKOBA represents intuition, enlightenment, creativity and dreams. It means finding balance within two opposing forces, which intern stop confronting and start complementing each other.

Woman practicing yoga outdoors on a mat near the coast.

TEACHER Angela Stevens

Angela Stevens (BA, CH, RYT, RMT) has always been a healer and drawn to a spiritual way of life for as long as she can remember. There has always been this strong sense of knowing within her and a drive to help others and be of service.

Early on, she earned a degree in Psychology and went right into being a Social Worker after college. For 19 years, she worked for the state in various positions in our child welfare system. She served children and families with extensive needs and challenges. That work for her was soul stretching and led her to deep reflection on the relationship she had with herself.

It also allowed her an opportunity to tune in to what she needed to do to take care of her body, mind and spirit.

Yoga, Meditation, Hypnosis, Reiki and Chair Tai Chi became an integral part of her own self care and after seeing the benefits of these practices, she decided to obtain certifications with the hope to help others on their journey to wellness. These incredible practices shift our thinking, bring us to calm and let us tap into our unique gifts and strengths. They also allow us to get to the root of our issues and release past experiences that we may be holding.

She invites you to open up to these practices at her studio, SHIKOBA, and watch your own transformation unfold.

Woman in white tank top smiling outdoors by red flowers.

TEACHER Rose Eberle

Rose is a Registered Nurse and a devoted Yoga Teacher. She has taught Yoga both in Connecticut and Florida for the last eight years. She is well versed in caring for the body and strives to promote rejuvenation and relaxation for her students. She continues her knowledge of the yoga practice with regular attendance at yoga retreats and has studied with many gifted teachers such as Rodney Yee and Judith Hanson Lasater. Yoga is a top priority in Rose’s life and she truly enjoys sharing the practice with others..

Smiling elderly man outdoors wearing a black jacket.

TEACHER Jim Quinn

Jim discovered yoga 15 years ago when he finally accepted that his arthritic knees could no longer endure the pounding

of distance running. It was a discovery that changed his life. While

he was immediately delighted by the physical benefits of yoga, he

quickly recognized there was more going on, and he embraced the unity

of heart, lungs, breath, movement and spirit that create the mind-body

connection that is the essence of the practice. He completed his

formal teacher training in 2016, and has been a student ever since,

taking yoga adventures to Bali, Tulum and Peru, while exploring

studios and styles everywhere he goes. He is a regular guy who happens

to love yoga, and he brings this enthusiasm to his class. He makes his

living as a lawyer, is the father of two adult daughters, and lives in

Old Lyme.

TEACHER Grace Osora Erhart

Grace Osora Erhart brings her deep love for yoga and decades of experience to the mat. For Grace, yoga is a meditation in motion, and the physical aspects, though important, are simply a vehicle for personal growth and present -moment awareness. Putting special emphasis on pranayam (breathing exercises), she guides her classes through an energy clearing physical practice so that her students feel more balanced, stable and alive.

Grace's yoga training began years ago at Kripalu at the original Pennsylvania ashram, and she has since integrated her many talents into her teaching, including her roles as a Registered Nurse, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Level Three Dream Teacher in the Robert Moss School of Active Dreaming and Relax and Renew (R) level one trainer. She has studied with teachers such as Amrit Desai, Tom Gilette, Judith Lasater, Michael Lee and many more as it’s always important to be a student. Grace holds certifications in Vinyasa, Phoenix Rising Yoga, Meditation Instruction, and is a level 2 Reiki Practitioner.

SOUND HEALER Kristina Quinones

Kristina Quinones is a sound healer and interdisciplinary artist who creates immersive experiences that bridge the inner and outer landscapes of emotion and energy. Her sound baths offer a safe, sacred space to slow down, reconnect, and release what no longer serves you.

Kristina’s training is rooted in the Rigpa Master Sound Healing, the Tibetan concept of Rigpa a state of pure awareness, presence, and innate wisdom. This modality uses the vibrational tones of instruments such as crystal bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to guide the body and mind into a deep state of relaxation and energetic alignment.

As a devoted yoga practitioner, Kristina honors the breath as a sacred bridge between body, mind, and spirit. You’ll be gently guided to breathe with awareness, allowing the breath to ground your body and deepen your receptivity to sound. In this space, breath and vibration work together to support the nervous system, calm the mind, and open the heart.

Whether you’re seeking energetic alignment, emotional release, or simply a moment of sacred rest, Kristina’s sound baths invite you home to yourself, held by sound, supported by breath, and carried by presence.

Smiling woman sitting outdoors on a white chair.

TEACHER Colleen Rinaldi

Colleen is a certified occupational therapist who discovered yoga as a teenager through flow classes and has been deepening her practice ever since. She has completed both adult and children’s yoga teacher trainings, allowing her to serve a variety of different populations. She is passionate about cultivating balance and well-being through yoga, with a special emphasis on asana and pranayama practices. When she’s not on the mat, Colleen enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, exploring the outdoors, and expressing her creativity through arts and crafts. .

TEACHER Hannah Clark

Hi, I’m Hannah Clark. I’m an Essex local and Valley Regional graduate. I became a certified yoga teacher in March 2025 after training in Bali, Indonesia with the Niantic Yoga Academy.

My classes blend breathwork, visualization, and expressive movement to create an experience that feels grounding, creative, and deeply rejuvenating. I’m passionate about the power of yoga to help us reconnect with ourselves.

Outside the studio, I own Hannah Aubrey Marketing, where I specialize in social media marketing, photography, and videography. Growing up with Angela as a role model, it’s especially meaningful to now be part of this wonderful community.

TEACHER Elaine Lyria Pascal

Thirty years ago, Lyria was introduced to the ancient practice of Qigong, a system of gathering and circulating intelligent light vitality in the body to promote healing and enlightenment. She earned a four year degree in Healing Touch Qigong with Qigong Master, Damaris Jarboux as well as doing advanced studies in China, India and Bali and the United States. She opened Lotus Palm Healing, LLC in 2006 and has helped countless clients through individual sessions, heal from a variety of "health projects" including cancer, alcohol and drug addictions, chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, infertility, depression, anxiety, and more. Lyria is known for her knowledge, compassion, strength and humor in teaching, as well as her devotion and individualized effective homework tools for clients.

Currently, Lyria focuses on 2 forms of Qigong, the I AM Lotus Pearl, which she has adapted from her training and the Taoist 5, for beginners, created by Dr. Jerry Allan Johnson. These practices can be adapted for any student and still yield amazing benefits. She also created " The Breath of Gratitude" healing practice, a cornerstone of all qigong forms she teaches. Lyria used the Breath of Gratitude as part of her journey to completely heal from crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis, and no longer suffers from dizziness, low blood pressure, and allergies.