YOGA - Key Persons

Aly King is a newly-minted yoga teacher who trained at Body Karma Studio and gained her Yoga Teacher Training Certificate in August 2019. Aly has been refining her yoga practice for 10 years, and ultimately came to focus more thoroughly on the physical, spiritual, and emotional benefits of her practice over the last 3 years. Practicing yoga regularly with Cindy over the past 3 years has been one of the highlights of Aly's yoga career, and helped to inspire her to become a yoga teacher! Yoga is not only one of her passions, but it fits into her daily life of delivering health and wellness to others, as she works as a Physician Assistant. When she is both teaching and deepening her own practice, Aly enjoys Restorative and Gentle Flow Yoga most, and is continually looking to substitute for other teachers. Off the mat, you can find her hiking, biking, walking, and traveling with her canine-companion, Reilly.

Caitlin Pytlik, LMT is a licensed massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue massage, relaxation and sports massages. She has over two years experience with the Center. Her experience also includes Reiki and reflexology. Caitlin graduated top in her class with perfect attendance. Caitlin has a soft gentle voice and combined with the comfort of the massage room, her clients immediately relax. Caitlin works fulltime for Whelen Engineering in Deep River, Ct.

Job Titles:

• Psychotherapist & Certified Yoga Instructor

Cynthia L. Sarris, LCSW (the owner of psychotherapy and yoga center) is a psychotherapist and a certified yoga instructor and has been practicing since 1991. She dreamed of having her own practice and a place where she could provide other therapists an opportunity to go into private practice. She had that opportunity all those years ago and is now paying it forward. She then focused on how dynamic it would be to incorporate her love for yoga into her practice to offer clients other alternatives to heal. Now, massage therapy has been added to the practice. She feels once again that she is offering yet another alternative for clients to improve their lives. Cynthia has 31 years experience as a therapist beginning at a agency for abused children and then working for a psychiatrist in private practice. She became certified in Yoga in 2007 but has been practicing yoga since 1995. It has become apparent that combining the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and the meditative, spiritual and total wellness that Yoga offers made a lot of sense. Currently, she specializes in divorce by running two groups for divorced women at the Women and Family Life Center in Guilford. She also specializes in anxiety disorders, PTSD, depression, gender issues and generalized women's issues relating to self-esteem and empowerment. Cynthia's experience as a yoga instructor offers her clients a welcoming, calm environment in order to effectively deal with their issues.

Dana M. Pelliccio, LPC , NCC is a psychotherapist with 9 years experience. Prior to joining the practice over 6 years ago, she provided outpatient counseling services to children, adolescents and adults in both university and community agency settings. Dana's specialties include anxiety disorders, depression, adolescent issues, family communication, eating disorders, body image issues and cognitive behavioral therapy. Above all, Dana believes that the therapeutic relationship is the most important component in helping clients heal. After meeting with Dana, her clients feel a special bond with her that allows them to work through difficult issues.

Emily Samander is a therapist and joined the practice in 2020 with 10 years experience with a concentration working with young adults and older Individuals who suffer with anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorders, as well as counseling couples who are striving for healthier communication using cognitive behavioral therapy, with assisting clients in identifying their needs and behaviors and to explore healthy solutions.

Job Titles:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Steven Jack is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed to practice in Connecticut. He has 27 years of experience working in the mental health field. He earned his BA in Human Communications from West Virginia University in 1982. Steven attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Social Work earning a Master of Social Work in 1997. His approach to therapy includes elements of Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness training, Self-awareness training, confidence building and life skills training. Steve endorses and encourages a wholistic approach to healing. Attending to mind, body and spirit is essential for healing and continued well-being. Incorporating therapeutic massage, Yoga and Mindfulness can help to achieve optimum mental, physical, and spiritual health. One of Steven's favorite quotes is "Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance."- Bruce Barton In his leisure time, Steven enjoys hiking in the woods with his two dogs, camping, photography and playing guitar.