Soul Source Center for Conscious Living brings together a group of highly talented and skilled, instructors, practitioners and staff who work collaboratively to bring our community the best in conscious, holistic services and education.  We are run by a Core Leadership Triangle of 3 dedicated women who's bio's you can read below (the first 3) and a larger Leadership Group of about 20, who constitute "friends of" the SOUL SOURCE community and skilled practitioners associated with SOUL SOURCE.

Read about us below! 

(keep scrolling down using the scroll bar on the right note: the scroll bar is faster than the arrows above and below it). Please contact us if you have questions! We are here to help!

SOUL SOURCE'S Core Leadership Triangle

Suchitra Davenport  Leader/Counselor/Healer/Teacher/Celebrant/Creator   Suchitra Davenport offers vision and inspiration, the art of manifestation and much group leadership experience to Soul Source, Center for Conscious Living.  She is a well-respected soul-based counselor and healer in the Media/Rose Valley/Swarthmore area. She returned here in September 2007 after five years of adventurous work in New Zealand and was inspired to initiate SOUL SOURCE, Center for Conscious Living, working with Clair Oaks, founder of Soul Source Yoga and many others, including Jan Detrich, to shift the purpose and form of the studio to a wider educational and group service model.  She implemented the current co-operative leadership paradigm of the Center and serves as one of the Leadership Triangle.  Suchitra created and teaches a foundational series of Meditation and Wisdom classes designed to bring students into greater consciousness and empowerment, so that they begin to live life from the inside out and to serve humanity as inspired leaders within their own spheres of influence.  Besides teaching ten of these classes a week, she also works with private clients of all ages through SOUL SOURCE Counseling/Healing Service and teaches a variety of workshops at the Center.    She is a Registered Flower Essence Practitioner with the Flower Essence Society of North America and is trained in several healing/counseling/teaching modalities.  She has been greatly influenced through her study of the Ageless Wisdom, particularly through the Arcane School and group studies of the work of Lucille Cedercrans.  She also leads Full Moon Meditations and is a Celebrant who facilitates sacred ceremony. Art and creativity are also close to her heart;  she taught art at The School in Rose Valley for many years and at StoneFire in New Zealand, The School Down Under, a school she helped to create. Art and poetry and a love of nature are integrated through her classes and workshops.  She is the mother of Setha Davenport, who is a sustainable agriculturalist, eco-teacher, fiber artist and musician living in New Zealand.  Suchitra’s passion and purpose is to help others to remember…to awaken to higher consciousness and freedom and to find joy through service, thus seeding a more sustainable, peaceful and compassionate Life for all on the planet.

To email her suchitra@soulsourcecenter.com. 

Click here for more info about her work.

Gloria Bonsall-Shepard

Joins the Core Leadership Triangle at Soul Source!







Gloria Bonsall-Shepard has taught at The School in Rose Valley for thirteen years and previously worked with children at a variety of environmental centers. Her enduring passion as an educator is to help children and adults discover and use their natural abilities in ways that create joy in their lives and the world. Other personal and professional interests include educating for sustainable living, fostering environmental and social justice, gardening, and meditation.

Her years at The School in Rose Valley inspired and shaped Gloria's teaching. More recently, two years as a meditation student at Soul Source Center for Conscious Living have expanded her world and inspired her to find new ways to give back. Gloria is now beginning to work with adults and families, teaching about parenting, gardening, and sustainable living at Soul Source.

Gloria has begun her work of overseeing the organic garden and offering monthly conscious parenting classes beginning in February. She has also begun working co-creatively with the natural environment at Hillwood Farm and in her new role as a member of the core leadership triangle. Gloria brings a unique perspective and an earthiness to our endeavors that will undoubtedly be deeply appreciated in the months and years ahead. We welcome Gloria to Soul Source with all of our hearts!

WEEKLY  SVAROOPA YOGA INSTRUCTORS at SOUL SOURCE

Victoria Fanning - Beginning/continuing Svaroopa Style yoga

Victoria started taking Svaroopa yoga classes in 2005 at Soul Source, shortly after their doors had opened - "My personal life was very unsettled at the time and the only thing I could think was “there has to be another way.”   There were many challenging decisions to make.  Stress was at its peak and I was feeling it physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Svaroopa yoga had been suggested to me by a counselor.  As I followed through with weekly yoga classes I began to notice subtle changes taking place.   My physical and emotional body were responding.  I was more relaxed, my shoulder and neck discomfort went away, I was more flexible and most amazing was I was able to “quiet” my mind.  There was peace in my world.  There was peace within me. 

The benefits of Svaroopa yoga have proven to be very powerful to me.   There really is something to be said about “softening” the body and “quieting” the mind.   There is such a thing as “total bliss”.  There is a deeper sense of awareness that awakens from within.

I am a registered nurse and have been practicing for 30yrs.  I have practiced only traditional medicine; however, I have chosen to extend my healing modality by practicing an alternative style to health and healing which is Svaroopa Yoga.  I recently graduated from Yoga’s Foundations Class and have been teaching beginner classes at Soul Source for several months.  I am currently enrolled in Master Yoga’s Teacher Training Level l &2 classes.  I look forward to sharing with you all that I have learned and continue to learn."

Victoria is available for private yoga classes in addition to her scheduled weekly classes at Soul Source

Contact Victoria at victoria@soulsourcecenter.com

Lisa Holmes—Beginning/Continuing Svaroopa Style yoga

Lisa first became interested in yoga while studying at Temple University in the late 80's and has practiced a variety of styles of Hatha Yoga over the years. Lisa was introduced to Svaroopa yoga in 2004 at the Rehoboth Beach Yoga Center, and recognized almost immediately the physical and emotional benefits of this style of yoga. “The benefits of the Svaroopa style of yoga have had a profound impact on my health and well being.  Practicing Svaroopa yoga has provided tremendous improvement in back, neck and knee pain.  Svaroopa yoga has also allowed me to move through stressful situations with awareness and acceptance.  It is awesome to have the power to heal oneself through the practice of yoga!”    Lisa experience with the many benefits of daily yoga practice along with her love of teaching empowered her to embark on the path of teacher training in 2005.  Lisa has completed in excess of 200 hours of the Svaroopa Yoga Teacher Training program.  Lisa continues teaching at Soul Source Center for Concious Living!  In addition to teaching yoga classes, Lisa is also an Embodyment Therapist, offering personal sessions upon request.
Contact her at lisa@soulsourcecenter.com

OUR OTHER FABULOUS PRACTIONERS

Clair Oaks RYT 500, CSYT 

Founder of Soul Source Yoga (2003)

Co-Founder of Soul Source Center for Conscious Living (2008)

Musician, Musical Meditation,

Lead Svaroopa Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist,

Certified meditation instructor

One of the original SOUL SOURCE  Core Leadership Triangle members, in 2010 Clair announced her resignation from this position, to focus on her service work as a musician and to spend a bit more time with her family. Clair joyfully welcomes Gloria Bonsall-Shepard to take her place as the 3rd point of the Leadership Triangle at SOUL SOURCE (see Gloria's bio above).

In addition to her skills as a Lead Svaroopa Yoga Instructor, Clair is a singer, and musician offering sacred music/chanting practice/concerts on an ongoing basis at SOUL SOURCE and other venues locally and beyond, such at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in the Berkshire Mountains, Rehoboth Beach, Washington DC, Boston, Connecticut, Atlanta and more.  In addition, for several years, Clair and her son (percussionist, Elijah Tucker) toured as a part of kirtan leader, Wah's band (well known chantress) up and down the east coast and internationally.

Clair has recorded a number of CD's, mostly music, and one yogic breathing CD for use by students to assist in their home practice of yoga/meditation/kirtan/chanting.  Visit www.clairoaks.com to learn more about the band, and hear/purchase her work.

Clair and her band, a wonderful group of dedicated and talented musicians, are available for leading kirtan at other yoga studios or for other groups and events. To arrange a kirtan or concert for your group/students, contact her by clicking here.

Clair's CD's of Sanskrit Mantra are used in yoga classes and body work around the globe - use the links below to hear why.

Listen to CD's & Purchase Clair's chant cds/music.

What do those letters and numbers after Clair's name mean?

RYT = Registered Yoga Teacher through the Yoga Alliance, a national Yoga Teachers' Registry established to recognize and promote teachers with training that meets the designated standards at two levels of training, 200 hour and 500 hour levels. And CSYT = Certified Svaroopa Yoga Teacher. She is also an Embodyment Therapist, a deliciously relaxing/healing bodywork that uses the same principles as Svaroopa Yoga.  

Clair first became interested in yoga in 1975. Since that time, she has practiced various styles of yoga and meditation.   Her yoga career began in 1995 after receiving her first yoga therapy certification.

Clair met Rama Berch (now Swami Nirmalanda and creator of Svaroopa® Yoga) in July of 1995. Since that time she trained extensively with Rama and was for years, a part of the Master Yoga Teaching Institute faculty, which trains Svaroopa Yoga teachers. She also served on their Board of Directors for 5 years. She is trained in Svaroopa Yoga Therapy and Embodyment Therapy (body work associated with Svaroopa Yoga) and has been teaching yoga classes since 1997. Clair has had over 500 contact hours of Svaroopa Yoga teacher training and over 900 hours of advanced Svaroopa yoga teacher training and is currently among a small group to be recognized as Lead teachers of Svaroopa Yoga.

Clair's dream of having a studio space dedicated to yoga, healing and transformation was realized February 1, 2005 when the doors of Soul Source Yoga opened at 631 Fairview Road, Swarthmore!
Clair's passion and respect for yoga continue to fuel her study and inform her workshops and private sessions which she conducts at SOUL SOURCE, Center for Conscious Living.

Contact Clair at 610-690-3620 or clair@soulsourcecenter.com.

Lucille Francesco

Reiki Master, Registered Dietician, Celebrant and founder of

Healing Presence







Lucille has always had a focus in her life of caring for others. She is a registered dietitian, Reiki Master, celebrant and a longtime student of the ageless wisdom. She is a mother of two and a grandmother. She has also had many years of business experience in the health care field, both as director and advisor.

Healing has always come quite naturally to Lucille and has led her to study several healing modalities over the years. She has practiced prayer and meditation for twenty five years and has experienced her own healing from fourth stage cancer. This was a turning point in her life and expanded her understanding of healing and her compassion for those who suffer and who can often be confused about how to facilitate their own healing process. She feels called to work with those who need healing and support.

She has been a participant at Soul Source, Center for Conscious Living and a practitioner of Svaroopa yoga for over five years and has taken Embodyment training. She considers healing to be one of her spiritual gifts and has chosen to focus her energies to be of service by offering a healing practice, HEALING PRESENCE, at Soul source, Center for Conscious Living. Lucille feels strongly that all of her varied life experiences have given her an understanding of the challenges of illness and health care in today's evolving world and that her spiritual practice, study and inner work has prepared her for this healing service. 

Healing Presence offers clients a unique experience of intuitively led healing which Lucille has cultivated on her own. Lucille serves as a conduit and instrument in the healing process, allowing each client to receive the healing energy or Healing Presence, and clients are empowered to use their own intuition to participate fully in their own healing. 

To learn more or schedule a session, email Lucille

or call 610-361-0457.   

deliver me yoga

Sarah Hill and Alice Dommert hardly imagined launching deliver me yogawhen their friendship began in 1988. They were both designers, Sarah a graphic designer and Alice an architect, who shared a love of design as well as an interest in the workings of the body and mind. In early 2008, after a twenty-year friendship, they founded deliver me yoga,a wellness practice focusing on yoga, meditation and massage.

A Certified Massage Therapist since 2002, Sarah moved to the Swarthmore area in 2005 and connected with the Soul Source community. Known for her healing massages, she meets her clients where they are-body, mind and spirit! At the beginning of each session Sarah collaborates with the client to develop a treatment plan specific to their needs. Massages can include techniques from Swedish massage to reflexology. Sarah has studied in India and plans to travel to Thailand this year to study Thai massage.

Alice Dommert has practiced and studied yoga and mindful meditation since 2001. She incorporates into her classes for adults and children numerous styles of yoga combined with meditation and breathing exercises. Working with individuals and groups of all abilities, in their homes, workplaces and schools, Alice focuses on helping each student enjoy and benefit from their yoga practice.

The evolution of Soul Source Center for Conscious Living, parallels the evolution of deliver me yoga. After becoming part of the active Soul Source community during the last few years Sarah reflected, "as the conversations about how we would evolve continued, it became clear to us that our home base would be sharing space with Soul Source at their new location. We share similar philosophies and we are excited to be part of the community of extraordinary individuals."  

deliver me yogawill offer massage and small private yoga classes in their Swarthmore studio and their studio space in Media as part of Soul Source Center for Conscious Living. They will also continue to reach out to adults and children to deliver on-site yoga, meditation and seated massage to work, school and home environments.

Sarah and Alice can be reached at: sarah@delivermeyoga.com & alice@delivermeyoga.com or call 215.870.7775.

Jessica Shapiro - Five-Element Acupuncturist Jessica is a Licensed Acupuncturist who studied and received her certification at Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, Maryland. Since graduation she has been in private practice in Maryland however recently returned to the Philadelphia area where she was born and raised.  Jessica happily treats people with all kinds of health concerns however she has a special interest in working with individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, or social issues, and couples who are experiencing infertility. Jessica hopes to help clients learn to observe their own body and symptoms and learn from them. She believes that the body is wise and that symptoms and dis-ease show up as hints from our bodies. Her approach is holistic and constitutionally based, focusing on increasing the good feelings in clients lives, and allowing their bodies to guide their healing process. Jessica not only plans to offer her acupuncture services, but hopes to lead workshops or give talks at Soul Source in the new year. To schedule an appointment with Jessica or learn more about her services, email Jessica or call 215-839-9170.    Sandra Emmanouilides Certified Holistic Health Counselor, founder of Whole Health Circle and Whole Health Project Change doesn't happen overnight. It's a gradual process. Ten years ago, in 2000, I was living a double life working two jobs in the city. By day, I was an esthetician, extracting toxins from my clients' faces and bodies. By night, I was a 'trying to quit smoking' bartender in an upscale restaurant, pouring toxins into those clients via a martini glass. I struggled with the polarity of my existence. What path was I ultimately on anyway? I knew I wanted to help people improve their lives in a way that was profound for them. I had to get clear about my direction.  I finished my BA in Film and Media and wanted to make films about Healing. As close to a paying gig in documentary filmmaking as I could get, I settled for a reality TV show about 'makeovers'. I was getting warmer, but not quite hitting the mark. In the meantime, I quit smoking, got married, had a child, moved to the burbs, and stayed home with my new baby. But, another profound change came as a complete surprise.  I was slowly becoming  an environmentalist - the conscious Eco-Mama version.    The catalyst for change was clearly, the birth of my daughter, Isabella. I cleaned up my diet, took pre-natal yoga classes, subscribed to Mothering magazine, adopted the Attachment Parenting philosophy, got the cloth diapers, the organic crib mattress and cotton blankets to match, and most importantly, got really clear about FOOD. I lovingly nourished Isabella with breast milk for over 2 years.  I learned and experienced the benefits of eating organic fruits and vegetables, which I pureed daily. I rooted my connection to community by supporting local farmers, and enlightened myself about the connection between my health and the diet of the animals I was feeding my family. I felt a calling to raise the bar and pursue my passion for better health. I needed to share this new knowledge with others.     Last year, I got certified to become a Holistic Health Counselor, and on the path to helping myself and my community improve their health. I am not a purist. I believe in balance. I believe in practicality. I believe in change. I know that change is scary, difficult and disruptive.    Reflecting over the past ten years, I realize my life is a series of small changes, tweaked into fruition by a deliberate intention to be more conscious. The quietude of winter is a time to go inward and contemplate the lessons, growth, and manifestations  of your present  experience, for you are the Co-Creator of your reality. Reflecting this sage advice as the past decade fades and the New Year comes into focus, I shake my head in amazement at the manifestations I helped create thus far. What area of your life are you willing to give your attention to?  As you peer into the New Year, think of change not as a concept to wrestle with, but rather an opportunity to transform, to evolve into a better version of yourself.  Sandra Emmanouilides received her training at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC and is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and founder of Whole Health Circle and Whole Health Project. Sandra's 6-month customized program is designed to counsel individuals, groups, and families, in need of Nutritional and Lifestyle guidance. Sandra has joined the healing community at SOUL SOURCE Center for Conscious Living and will be seeing clients at her new office space at Hillwood Farms, beginning in February. She lives in Moylan with her husband and daughter. To schedule an appointment or to contact Sandra, email Sandra or call 484-442-8258. Introducing Emily Joy Registered Yoga Teacher, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Practitioner and founder of JOY THROUGH YOGA   Emily Joy has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 1999 in Media, Pennsylvania. She has taught a diverse population of students ranging from ages 10 to 80 and has experience with varying needs and skill levels. Along with teaching yoga, Emily has been working at an organic farm for the past six years. Emily's offerings at Soul Source will include assisting in the ongoing organic gardening classes and offering workshops and/or classes combining yoga and mindfulness meditation! Emily believes that yoga can be a powerful tool for healing on all levels. She recently taught at the Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment on the eating disorders unit, is a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher and a Registered Yoga Teacher who has completed continuing education in Thai-Yoga Bodywork Training and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Professionals at the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine. Please contact Emily Joy at Emily.   Vidya Swamy's Indian Vegetarian Cooking Hello and welcome to a new world of possibilities in Indian vegetarian cooking!  I am excited to be a part of Soul Source. Beginning in February I will be offering an Introduction to Indian Vegetarian Cooking  and ongoing classes at the new center so let me introduce myself... I was born in Madras, India, and moved to the US when I was just 20. I grew up in a traditional southern Indian vegetarian home where tasty cooking was extremely important.  I also come from a long line of serious and excellent cooks.    Over time, I further developed my interest in cooking, and my travels and exposure to different cultures and people have enhanced my discriminating taste buds, creativity and love of cooking. The recipes I'll be bringing to the center are straight from my mom's kitchen-completely authentic, wholesome and natural. They are a mix and match of spices I grew up with and new ones I have discovered. The recipes will be nutritionally sound and sensational in taste. I am a health-conscious cook, ever aware of what goes into the food I prepare for my family. However, I refuse to compromise taste for health and vice versa. Hence the foods I prepare not only taste good, but also make you feel good. The ingredients I use which are just now coming to light in the American mainstream, naturally aid good health. There are an incredible variety and an infinite range of dishes in vegetarian cooking that are yet to be discovered by many. Through my workshop and classes I hope to reveal to you everything I know about good, healthy vegetarian food. So, get prepared to discover a new world of possibilities! If you are interested Vidya's workshop or cooking class, please email her at Vidya or visit her Website .