Asif

Certifed in Ashthanga and Hatha yoga, Asif's practice integrates his training in – yoga, nutrition, education, herbalism, massage and Ayurveda (panchakarma) - towards a mind-body approach to health and wellness. Through deep practices in yoga and meditation, Asif came to understand that all life is inextricably tied. In turn he has learned how important it is to practice compassion, beginning with self-compassion - especially true in a stress-laden world. Asif is also an Ayurvedic holistic health practitioner, where through Ayurveda he coaches clients through their stressed condition to health and balance.

 

 

 

 

Emily

Emily DeSena is a former actress turned yogini. She discovered Bikram yoga in 2012 and fell in love with the practice. After a hiatus from yoga and having dealt with emotional turmoil, she reclaimed her passion for the practice and realized that yoga was her true calling. After practicing Bikram for years, she decided to broaden her knowledge of yoga and began to study other practices such as Vinyasa, Ashtanga and Yin Yoga. In June 2016 she received her 200 hour teacher training certification from Atmananda Yoga Sequence in New York City. Emily wishes to give to others what yoga has given her - truth, peace of mind and love for oneself. "When yoga practice is sustained with great diligence and dedication over a long period of time, the heat generated from it burns away poisons, and the light of our inner nature shines forth.”

 

 

 

Jennifer

Jennifer began her yoga journey 25 years ago when she used it to help her completely relieve chronic bursitis. Years later, she found it to be a good part of a ‘life recipe’ significantly alleviating the multitude of symptoms of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. This led her to teach therapeutic yoga with a health and wellness focus.

 

With a background in therapeutic yoga and yoga therapy, Jennifer focuses not only on the physical aspect of yoga, but also the psychological and spiritual level. Since 2005, she has brought yoga-based wellness and stress management programs to hospitals, recreational centers, libraries, doctor’s offices and yoga/dance centers. She believes in an individualized approach recognizing the unique needs of students in classes. She especially enjoys working one-on-one with beginners and those who often think they ‘can’t do yoga’ because of a lack of flexibility/coordination, physical limitations, injuries, age, etc.

 

 

 

Jessica

Food lover, turned food blogger, culinary school graduate, turned chef/baker, gym rat, now a full time yogi for life and teacher! Jesicca’s journey began in 2009, when she tried yoga because she heard it was good for her, both physically and mentally. And it did make her feel good! But there were often times that she would sneak peeks at the clock, hoping the full hour was over and the good vibes would automatically flow through her body. She took a class here and there, but never fully dedicated myself to the practice.

 

A few years later, “my mat met me where I was at. It always does. I was ready.” She started to focus on her breath and bringing it back to the breath and being fully present in class. Instead of holding her breath, she let the breath guide her into each pose, it became a moving meditation; a dance of the soul.

 

In 2015, she decided to do my 200 hour teacher training (Vinyasa Flow) with Tiffany Cruikshank. “Truly an amazing journey to discover myself and solidify my passion to help others and guide them in their own journeys to ignite their true self with confidence and joy! The mat is where the magic happens!”

 

Yoga is not about touching your toes, it is what you learn on the way down!

 

 

 

Joanna

Joanna has an extensive global background in yoga, meditation and nutrition. Her focus is on absolute beginner yoga programs and corporate health and wellness development. Her yoga path has taken her from the mountains in Nepal to India, Australia and Bali as well as throughout Europe. She has worked in the USA, Bali & Java Indonesia, Maldives, Hong Kong, France, and Denmark in some of the most exclusive luxury resorts and hotels worldwide as well as various yoga studios, special events and holistic spas. She has individual private clients in a number of countries throughout the world.

 

Her passion is working with people, and supporting them on their journey in health, greater awareness and compassionate change. Her focus is a mind-body-spirit approach for overall wellness and greater health. In Bali she created and facilitated Integrative wellness, nutrition and detox programs and events with yoga and fitness for people of all ages from all over the world. After 10 years in Bali, she moved to Biarritz in the South of France where she owned and operated a yoga studio, Vinyasa Yoga Biarritz.

 

 

 

Katherine

Kate Stern dipped her fingers in many different pots before yoga found her. Having a passion for movement from an early age, she stubbornly pursued math throughout university and landed on a rates trading desk.  Her time in finance quickly brought to light her innate need and passion for creativity.  Not knowing what to do but knowing that she needed to escape her computer screens, she pursued her love of food in culinary school.  She opened and ran a small bakery in London, specializing in French and Italian patisserie as well as vegan treats.  Love brought her back to New York City but she arrived in the big apple an ungrounded emotional mess.  On the verge of breakdown, she stumbled into a yoga class.  Pretty soon, her mat became her 'magic carpet,' taking her on a deeper spiritual journey than she could have ever imagined.  Kate truly views practicing asana as a moving mediation.  She adores teaching children and is currently pursuing further study into the disciplines of Ayurveda and Bhakti.  She worships Kali, carries Ganesh in her pocket, and has never felt more at home in her own skin.

 

 

 

Kayla

Kayla is certified in Hatha yoga and she believes Hatha can offer a gradual appraoch for just about anybody to do yoga. She is also a holistic health and nutrition coach who by surmounting her own obstacles in health through yoga and nutrition, became inspired to share with others in a way that makes a difference in their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lilia

Lilia knows how powerful our mind / body connection is and uses it to guide her classes. Obsessed with the blissful feeling after any yoga class, Lilia teaches a flow filled with dynamic movement, deep stretching, and energy release. Lilia was a dancer growing up and began a yoga practice in high school because she loved the physical similarities to dance. It was only a few years into her practice that she began to connect to the yoga practice spiritually, taking on a whole new meaning to her. Lilia primarily teaches a conscious vinyasa flow, in addition to yin, prenatal, and children’s yoga.

Lilia completed her 200 hour yoga training at Yandara Yoga Institute in Baja, Mexico.

 

 

 

Molly

Molly Drain was introduced to a mindfulness and yoga practice as a way to battle anxiety and depression during her freshman year in college. She was immediately drawn to the power of the breath and its ability to connect the mind and body as one. Molly received her 200-hour training with the Soma Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, where she realized each student is also their own true teacher. In her open level vinyasa flow class, she provides alignment cues to help students develop a safe and sustainable practice, while encouraging them to look inward to the breath, mindfulness, and to find trust from within!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subs:

Alison

Alison is a true believer in the transformational power of yoga and knows first hand how it leads to a deeper connection to Self, both mentally and physically. Yoga has provided her with an invaluable sense of community and universal inter-connectedness. Alison has relied on yoga to recuperate broken bones, build confidence, and bring peace of mind and perspective on life. Past injuries have given her a deep passion for the foundational qualities of the asana practice. She celebrates each student’s uniqueness and believes that through honoring the dualities of yoga – ease & effort, strength & flexibility, fluidity & engagement, grace & exertion – we can learn to better manage our own conflicts and connect with the vast ability and power within ourselves. Alison received her 200-hour teacher certification from Sacred Brooklyn in New York and teaches Vinyasa classes focusing on foundations of postures, proper alignment with attention to injuries, breath, fluidity, strength and meditation. She emphasizes a compassionate, patient, progression and releasing expectations to allow for true self-exploration. As a teacher, Alison is delighted to create a warm and supportive space for students to delve into their unique practice one day at a time. Alison has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition from CUNY School of Public Health and she is recognized by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners as a Certified Holistic Health Coach. Yoga is a powerful accompaniment to her work as a health and nutrition educator and health coach.

 

 

 

Melissa

Melissa is a yoga instructor and an award winning singer/songwriter with a passion for helping others. Yoga became an important part of her life seven years ago after a long battle with depression. Upon discovering yoga and its healing benefits, Melissa dove deep into the practice and finally decided to bring her new found love to others by going through a 200hr Vinyasa Teacher Training in 2015. Melissa hopes to share her love for yoga and music in her classes and inspire others.