Andrea
Andrea comes from a background in Classical ballet, Butoh dance, and Vipassana meditation. At age 11, her father was her first yoga and meditation teacher.
A former instructor at Integral Yoga Institute in New York, where she taught Yoga for Vets, Hatha yoga, restorative yoga, chair yoga, meditation and pranayama.
She is a longtime and devoted student of Sri Dharma Mittra, having studied with him for over ten years in NYC. She has also studied Ashantga Vinyasa Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and has had a Mysore practice for many years.
Her teaching style is steeped in Dharma Yoga - a challenging, yet devotional, graceful form of yoga, that is heavily influenced by vinyasa, lots of inversions, arm balances, and some held poses. This practice can be quite strong and vigorous, though it is meant to be practiced in a gentle, graceful manner. This will aid in creating concentration, deep healing, relaxation, and meditation. Enhancing flexibility (of body and mind), strength, balance, and compassion.
Miles
Miles is a trans-masc, genderfluid, Latinx, NYC-based yoga teacher, writer, cranial therapist, who has led retreats, trainings, workshops and kirtan around the world since 2007.
A spirit and body geek, he has studied many yoga lineages extensively: from meditation to philosophy, to breath work and different movement systems, as well as different kinds of hands on body work. Miles originally trained at Om Yoga back in the day, above the Strand Bookstore in Union Square, with Cyndi Lee and her crew. Some of his most influential teachers in the yoga sphere are: Raghunath Capo, Margi Young, Ana Forrest, Schuyler Grant, Michael Stone, Alan Finger, Eric Shiffman, Rod Stryker, Maty Ezraty, Rusty Wells and Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band. And his work continues to be inspired by articulate, smart movers, thinkers and shakers such as: Ido Portal, Mark Robberds, Wim Hoff, and Jenni Rawlings.
As an anatomy aficionado, Miles, fuses his vast knowledge of the body, physical technique and understanding of philosophy to deliver a wholehearted, creative practice so respectful, that it will leave you with the ever-fresh feeling that can only come from connecting deeply with your breath. His nuanced insights stay with you past the duration of class and his chants will melt your heart wide open. His love of people is infectious and he is passionate about dismantling the learned systems within ourselves that keep us small and using our yoga to create inclusive spaces where difference and diversity become our super powers.
Kelley
When Kelley moved to NYC in 2007, a dance colleague suggested she try a vinyasa class as a way to move, breathe and relieve tension in a non-competitive, judgement free environment. She loved the physical and mental challenges, paired with blissful relaxation and inner clarity. After 5 years of steady practice, she completed a 200-hour training at Yoga Vida. Kelley has since completed advanced trainings with Kat Fowler, Gina Menza, Domenic Savino and Dana Slamp.
Her classes are challenging yet light-hearted, and sequenced to make sense in the body. She believes in finding contentment in going with the flow without expectation or attachment to the outcome. Yoga is a lifelong journey, so enjoy the process!
Ruthie
Ruthie has been sharing the practice of yoga for 4 years. A background in gymnastics and dance led her to get curious and roll out a mat when she was 14. Prior to moving to New York city in 2021, she taught in the Washington DC area. While she has experience teaching in boutique studios, universities, nonprofits, and gyms, she is the most excited about sharing space at St. Marks Yoga. She teaches a moderate Vinyasa with plenty of restorative hip work and lots of room to play and challenge yourself. Her classes epitomize "pitta"--she loves engaging all parts of the body, facilitating strength-building, and making the asana an artform.
Emily
Em, a devoted movement enthusiast, earned her 200HR Certification in the vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica in 2019. Since then, she has been passionately sharing yoga as a pathway to well-being and an enhanced quality of life. With a focus on breath, flow, and inspiration, Em's classes seamlessly integrate her years of experience in both learning and teaching movement. Her teaching philosophy centers on self-acceptance, autonomy, and meeting individuals where they are on their unique journeys. Em holds additional certifications in Acro Yoga and Trauma-Informed Yoga, showcasing her commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach. Beyond the studio, she dedicates herself to education and community building, offering classes that extend beyond physical movement to include mindfulness, community, and personal development. Join Em for a lively and transformative experience.
Juan
Juan received an undergraduate degree in English and Communications in New York, and pursued a successful career in corporate marketing spanning 15+ years. His passion for yoga led to his pursuit of an alternate career path. He holds a certification in Yoga recognized by The Yoga Alliance and is committed to living the principles of Yoga on and off the mat, continuous study and practice.
William Kaplanidis
William Kaplanidis is an internationally known teacher, healer, public speaker and author with over 35 years of teaching and clinical experience guiding and helping thousands heal and transform their lives. A congenital weakness of his joints together with several sports injuries left him unable to walk independently for over seven years. Left with no hope from the Western medical establishment, William turned to the East. T’ai Chi (Tai Ji) as an exercise, philosophy and martial art would literally save his life and open many doors to self-cultivation and serving others.
Over the decades William has taught T’ai Chi in hospitals, clinics, gyms, yoga studios, colleges, health fairs, corporations and privately.
His formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Binghamton University, a Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University and a Master of Science from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. William has also studied here and abroad with high level masters and has advanced training in several healing and martial arts including T’ai Chi, Qigong, Meditation, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Tui Na, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Aromatherapy, Fast Defense and the Sandlin Technique. He has published in the fields of mental health, Chinese medicine and martial arts and has made numerous multimedia appearances (including television, radio and the internet).
William developed the ACUDRAGON® Wellness System a fusion of eastern and western approaches to rapidly and safely assist people on their paths to healing and transformation. As part of the system, William created self-help tools including five proprietary topical blends of essential oils, herbs and homeopathic dilutions known as Acuformulas, as well as instructional, self-help acupressure, Taiji/Qigong/Therapeutic Exercise videos.
Casey
After moving to NYC to pursue a career as a professional dancer, Casey stumbled upon her love for yoga. She maintained a steady practice for several years before deciding to pursue a career as a yoga teacher. She received her 200hr certification from Yoga Vida in 2019 and she is currently in the process of gaining her 300hr certification. Casey has a passion for teaching creatively sequenced vinyasa classes with a focus on linking breath with movement. She hopes to continue to learn from and grow with all of her students!
Matt
Matthew Lombardo has been teaching yoga and meditation in NYC since 2003. Matt is an Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, tours Europe regularly and has been featured in the NY Times, Harpers, Haute Living, OMstars and Prague and Bali Spirit Festival.
Carolyn
Carolyn Lu is a native New Yorker from Flushing, Queens. Her first introduction to yoga was in high school at Brooklyn Tech and since then yoga has been a part of her daily life. In 2014, she completed her first teacher training in LA, where she was working as a Producer. Upon completing her training, she moved to Taiwan, her motherland, to teach yoga full time. Since then, she has taught yoga all over Asia and this year relocated back to the beautiful New York City, where her journey began.
Fiona
Fiona has been teaching Pilates in NYC since 2016. Through her training as a dancer, she was fortunate to have the opportunity to study various somatic practices and cross training methods under accomplished teachers. Pilates particularly resonated with her for its impact on building efficient movement patterns, optimizing performance, and preventing injury. She began teaching at Groundfloor Exercise on the Upper West Side, and received her mat certification through Balanced Pilates.
An avid student of Teri Steele, Fiona became a certified Steele Pilates instructor in 2020, and has taken continuing education credits under Teri’s direction, including in Advanced Mat Exercises/Sequencing and Variations and Pre/Postnatal Pilates. Fiona holds a BA in Dance Education from University of Bath/Royal Academy of Dance and a certificate in Fitness Instruction from Hunter College. Her classes offer a full body workout with focus on proper form and steady pacing. As a teacher, she enjoys witnessing and being part of the results of a consistent and deliberate Pilates practice.
Brian
As a Katonah Yoga teacher and Vipassana meditator, Brian is compelled to share his yoga practice as a means to living life more fully, simply and sensibly. With a formal education from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and through years of study beside his foremost mentors Nevine Michaan and Abbie Galvin, Brian’s lessons draw from a wide vocabulary of yoga, philosophy, musicianship and embodied work.
In class, Brian encourages students to become curious, deliberate and playful in their choice making. His lessons illustrate how to recognize each form for its function and understand natures implicit pattern as found in the body.
Through formal technique, sound adjustments in joint space, breath work and the rhyme and reason of a metaphor; each practitioner can develop their awareness to better refine, relate, re-pair, attune and achieve more harmony in how they conduct themselves and the energy around them.
Brian is delighted and honored to share his loving-kindness and incites with the Katonah conversation. A senior faculty member at many of New York City’s most established yoga schools, Brian has trained and mentored hundreds of teachers over the last decade. He is a regular guest teacher at the United Nations, and annually headlines workshops, retreats, festivals and training programs, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in New York City.
Cassie
Cassie is a certified Katonah Yoga teacher with further training in Vinyasa, Breathwork, Reiki, Restorative Yoga and Hatha. Since 2015, she has been fortunate to study and mentor with Nevine Michaan, founder of Katonah Yoga, and Abbie Galvin of The Studio, on Bowery.
Cassie has a BA in Performing Arts & Dance from The University of Tampa and over ten years’ experience teaching dance.
Ricki
Ricki Rothchild is an excitable and charismatic friend of the studio who has been practicing yoga for over a decade. She leads her classes with a focus on the cultivation of energy: like a strong cup of coffee -- to motivate and lift spirits to a full cup and fire lit through movement.
Will
Mindfulness | Yoga | Breathwork - Teacher
Will Schneider has been teaching yoga, meditation and mindfulness for over 10years in NYC and now globally. Will has also been successfully integrating mindfulness training programs into the cultures of several companies such as AmEx, Weber Shadwick, Stash and Ribbon Home. In 2017, Will climbed to the top of New York City’s yoga world being publicly recognized as one of the best teachers throughout the city.To spread more of the mindfulness message, in 2020 Will teamed up with retired Navy SEAL Commander Jon Macaskill and launched “Men Talking Mindfulness”. A podcast whose goal is to help men, women, veterans and all people understand the essence of mindfulness and learn how to weave it into our lives.
LinkedIn - Will Schneider
Website: willnotfear.com and MenTalkingMindfulness.com
Greg
Greg is a Queens native who found his way to yoga after stints as an entrepreneur and accountant. An avid gym goer, he was drawn to the challenge that the physical posturing can offer. He quickly realized that the body is just the starting point to tap into the mental and spiritual levels of yoga, which now inform his practice and teachings.
Greg’s practice is steeped in self-love and compassion for oneself. The practice is truly for anyone that is open to receive its blessings. It does not discriminate based on the physical, mental, or spiritual state that you are in. He believes that yoga always meets you exactly where you are. It has the healing ability to support and nurture, as well as the discipline to ignite purpose in your life. You can expect a balance of these forces in his classes. It is up to you to decide which one serves you in this moment. After his class, you should feel light in the body, still in the mind, and elevated in spirit.
Teri
Teri Lee Steele graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with her B.A. in Physical Education with an emphasis on Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine in 1990. That same year she received her Health and Fitness Instructor certification from the American College of Sports Medicine.
From 1991 to 2002, Teri worked as a personal trainer to support her dance career and found Pilates via a dance-related injury in 1998.
Teri obtained her Pilates Mat Certification in 2000 and Pilates Apparatus Certification in 2001 from the Kelly Kane School of Core Integration. Teri currently trains her clientele at her studios in midtown and Olivebridge in upstate, NY. She has taught Steele Pilates Mat classes at dance and yoga studios in NYC since 2003 as well as guest teaching for dance institutions around the world.
Amanda
Amanda first heard the phrase, "yoga is politics and politics is yoga" from Seane Corn in 2016 and since then, through a series of *random* events, yoga became her organizing principle; a non-negotiable and a constant source of guidance and joy.
She recently completed her 300hr Teacher Training with Jivamukti Yoga School and will be forever grateful to the teachers at 841 and 33-02 Broadway who supported her journey and continue to inform her teaching.
With a background in organizing and campaign work she aims to bring the elements of service, awareness and community into her practice. Her classes can be described as classical vinyasa; centered around the breath, an approachable yet rigorous asana leaving space for the magic and FUN that is yoga.
Nick
Nick is a Jivamukti yoga instructor trained under Rima Rabbath and Jules Febre. His classes emphasize mindful movement with space for deep breathing. He has also trained in Transcendental Meditation.
Nick's yoga practice extends into community activism supporting small business development and low- and middle-income tenant protections. He is an executive steering committee member of the Justice For All Coalition based in Queensbridge public housing, and a member of the Western Queens Community Land Trust group.
Gillian
Gillian is a certified classical mat pilates and Steele pilates
instructor at St. Marks. She specializes in a fundamentals class
focused on the core principles of Steele Pilates to get students ready
for more advanced sequences. She also teaches open level and advanced
Steele pilates classes at St. Marks and Steele Pilates studio in
Dumbo. When she isn’t at the studio, Gillian works as a lawyer for
media and entertainment clients, and enjoys creative writing, live
music, meditation and yoga (of course).
Ying
Ying is a dedicated yoga and Pilates instructor based in NYC. Her
journey commenced with the attainment of a 500-hour RYT certification from YogaWorks in 2015, marking the beginning of her teaching career. Her evolution as an instructor has been deeply influenced by continuous learning, particularly under the guidance of Nikki Costello since 2018.
In her yoga classes, Ying weaves mindful movement with Iyengar-
inspired alignment, providing students with a space to explore their practice in depth. Her teaching philosophy centers around guiding practitioners, step by step, illuminating the path to even the most visually complex poses.
Pilates is also an inseparable and complementary part of Ying’s yoga journey that even helped her recover from knee and hip injuries. In 2022, she earned her first Pilates Mat certification, and in 2023, she furthered her expertise with the Steele Pilates Certification. Since then, Ying has been sharing the benefits of Steele Pilates Mat classes with her students.
Whether in yoga or Pilates, Ying’s classes aim to cultivate attention to the process. She believes that by fostering acute awareness of their bodies and minds, students can achieve a deeper connection with their
own practice.