OUR INTENTION
To provide growth provoking experiences.
To empower by awakening the adventurous spirit.
To connect deeply and create community.
Founder
Theresa Sheremeta, M.S., CTRS, 500 RYT, 200 ERYT, YACEP
Hello! I’m Theresa and my love of water began at a young age, boogie-boarding and pretending to flip my mermaid tail while diving into the waves on Rhode Island Shores. I grew up playing on boards of all kinds, and shred a board every season of the year. Whether it is adventuring in CT or traveling around the US and Internationally, I always seem to find some water to play in (even if it’s just a puddle to jump in), but most recently it was a 6 month road trip around the US healing in hot springs.
When I began practicing yoga in 2009, I never thought it would be something I could do on a board. I completed my 200hr RYT in June of 2015 and my SUP Yoga Certification and Paddlefit Coach Certification in August of 2016. I received my 300hr RYT in October of 2018 and became a Master SUP Yoga Trainer with Stoked Yogi in November 2018. I also hold a master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation and have had the privilege of teaching yoga in many different clinical and non-clinical settings.
Yoga quite simply, saved my life. I began practicing yoga at a time in my life where it felt like I was losing everyone whom I was closest too. Friends drifted away, family members passed away, and I was struggling with my own identity. I was battling bouts of depression and was turning to alcohol to numb my feelings. My practice today consists of many different styles of yoga. It is not just for class on a mat, but is with me on every step of my journey.
In 2016 I was working full time in a Hospital 1.5 hours away from my home and I began to lose my practice. Long days in a fast paced/high stress environment paired with several hours of driving were wrecking havoc on my body, mind, and spirit. I decided it was time for a change. I found SUP yoga and started to think about how I could share this with others in a way that would allow me to continue to find joy in my own yoga practice. Hence, the creation of Soulful SUP & Yoga. Mother Earth is my guide, and I strive to practice and conduct these classes in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
Instructor
Chris Gunderson 200 RYT
With over 14 years of Yoga experience, Chris Gunderson earned the RYT-200 designation at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in 2019 and teaches a Kripalu-style all-levels class focused on a harmonization of breath and movement.
In addition to Kripalu Yoga, Chris’ practice has been informed by the generous teachings of Bria Tavakoli, Brian Kest, Rudy Pierce, Jurian Hughes, and Sri Dharma Mittra, among others.
Growing up in Boise, Idaho, Chris was blessed with an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Since moving East in the early 2000’s, his discovery of the benefits of Yoga have fostered a mindful approach to well-being, one he enjoys sharing with others.
As professional consultant, Chris guides companies through various aspects of their business. He is an avid skier, hiker, gardener and reader, living in the bucolic hills of Northwestern Connecticut.