Board of Directors

 Ashrams for Autism's volunteer Board of Directors is made up of dedicated individuals that provide a wide range of experiences, competencies and perspectives to help further the mission of the organization. Each Director contributes a significant amount of time, talent and energy to help increase our impact and improve daily operations.

At Ashrams for Autism, we surround ourselves with individuals who share a commitment to the goals and objectives of our organization. If you are a prospective Board of Director who is passionate about our current strategies contact sandy@ashrams4autism.org.

Sharon Manner

With 35 years of yoga and mediation practice, Sharon Manner has experience first hand how yoga helps to reduce stress. For the past 11 years, inspired by parenting a 24 year old daughter with Autism, she has developed and presented programs exclusively tailored to benefit individuals on the Spectrum. To date, Ms. Manner’s work has positively impacted the lives of thousands of adults and children throughout the United States and Canada along with more than 150 individuals  trained to bringher trainings into their schools and community organizations that serve individual with Autism.

Jill Brenner

A corporate communications veteran, Jill has replaced PR strategy, message development, media relations and employee communications with OMs, namastes and downward facings dogs. In 2015, Jill completed the Samadhi Spectrum Yoga for Autism Teacher Training led by Sharon Manner.  Jill teaches for Ashrams for Autism at various locations for Hope Autism Solutions and Volunteer Action Program.

Swami Ashokananda

Swami Asokananda, a monk since 1973, is one of Integral Yoga’s foremost teachers, known for his warmth, intelligence, and good humor. In the past, he has served as the president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® and Integral Yoga® International; he is currently the President of the New York Integral Yoga Institute.

John Margabandhu Martarano

Margabandhu has served as the Director of the Fairlawn, NJ Integral Yoga Institute for more than 35 years. Margabandhu accepted the position at the request of Sri Swami Satchidananda, then founder of IYI. He is a Senior Certified Integral Yoga Instructor, proficient in all aspects of Yoga, having received instruction and guidance directly from Gurudev. Margabandhu is a Certified Massage Therapist, specializing in Accupressure and Reflexology. He is also a Master Herbalist and studied with many noted experts, including, Viktor Kulivinkas, Smoky Santillo and Dr. Ralph Dale.

Satya Scainetti

After 30 days of intensive yoga training in the Bahamas, Satya was given her spiritual name, Satya. She was unsure of the word's meaning, but soon learned that it was "truth". That evening, she had the dream to start making jewelry of all truths and donate to children throughout the world. Now, ten years later, Satya is still designing jewelry that is beautiful, meaningful and inspiring. The Satya Foundation is a 501 (c) organization that has raised over $1 million for children's groups throughout the world.

Dr. Jill Brooks

Dr. Jill Brooks is a clinical neuropsychologist who maintains a private practice, Head to Head Consultants, in Gladstone, New Jersey. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters in the areas of neurogenic speech and language disorders, executive dysfunction, and concussion in sports. Jill also is a keynote facilitator for Ashrams for Autism's Teacher Training. 

Nicholas Marotta

Nick Marotta has over 15 years of experience working at an executive level in sales management, sales representation and product development with both national and international outdoor brands such as Marmot, Merrel and Loa. Nick provides entrepreneurial leadership and management skills to help create and implement actionable plans to follow through with big vision ideas. His "outsiders perspective" also provides a fresh look at different ways to fundraise so we can continue to grow and thrive at Ashrams for Autism.